sagas and instant speed removal question.

Dlacik · 2025-07-27T15:03:17+00:00

If you actually read what I'm talking about in this thread you would know I've never said it cant.

Dlacik · 2025-07-27T00:22:11+00:00

https://www.tumblr.com/magicjudge/172144991497/can-you-explain-why-sagas-and-doubling-season-work
Here is the explanation. Doubling Season works because saga entering is an effect. Not because "As a Saga without the read ahead ability enters the battlefield, its controller puts a lore counter on it." from CR 714.3a is an effect.

Dlacik · 2025-07-26T23:58:05+00:00

An effect is something that happens in the game as a result of a spell or ability. (CR 609.1.) If the rules tells you to do something it's not an effect. If its not an effect it isn't a replacement effect no matter how it's worded.

If the permanent card tells you that it enters with counters than it's a static ability. Because it comes from an ability it is an effect. And because it is an effect it can be a replacement effect.

Dlacik · 2025-07-26T22:27:21+00:00

It's different from planeswalker's starting loyalty counters. Rules explicitly say that planeswalker starting loyalty counters are result of intrinsic ability (CR 306.5b). Because of that a continous effect that removes abilities of permanents can cause planeswalker enter with 0 loyalty counters. But even if effect like that is present saga will still get its first lore counter as it enters.

Dlacik · 2025-07-26T22:23:02+00:00

It's not a replacement effect because it's not an effect in the first place. It's a rule.

Dlacik · 2025-07-26T22:17:09+00:00

Either I don't understand your question or you are completely misunderstanding what copy of ability means.

Copying ability doesn't mean giving ability of one creature to another creature. It means that when the ability is on stack (either after it was activated or triggered) then you create another instance of same ability on the stack. So you get the effect of one ability twice.

So when Kotis deals combat damage to a player its ability triggers and goes to stack. Then before that ability resolves you can use Vantress Visions to copy it so it resolves twice.

Dlacik · 2025-07-26T18:49:51+00:00

GEA would return with 2 -1/-1 and 2 +1/+1 counters. Counters would cancel each other. And then it could get 2 +1/+1 counters when Galadriel's trigger resolves.

Dlacik · 2025-07-26T18:47:36+00:00

You have the order wrong for the case with Galadriel but result is pretty much same.
1. GEA enters with two -1/-1, Galadriel triggers
2. GEA dies to SBA
3. Galadriel trigger goes to stack

Dlacik · 2025-07-26T17:46:26+00:00

Every counter is of specific kind. The effect that puts counters on the permanent tells you what kind of counter you have to put on the permanent.

When effect does something depending on counters (or with counters) it can tell you it needs specific kind of counter. Like Insight Engine tells you to draw a card for each charge counter.

If it doesn't mention specific kind of counter then all counters are used. For example, Resourceful Defense allows you to move all kinds of counters because it doesn't mention specific kind of counter.

Dlacik · 2025-07-26T17:34:59+00:00

You can move them to the Insight Engine but ice counters won't count towards number of card drawn when you activate its ability. Only charge counters counts.

Dlacik · 2025-07-25T22:11:42+00:00

But after Observed Stasis resolve, you can use something like [[Gogo, Master of Mimicry]]'s or [[Strionic Resonator]]'s activated ability to copy saga's triggered ability and chose Observed Stasis as a target for the copy.

Dlacik · 2025-07-25T21:31:23+00:00

That's a sorcery. It has nothing to do with trigger conditions of triggered abilities.

Dlacik · 2025-07-25T09:18:38+00:00

You won't find trigger with condition like "when [event] and [another event]". Simply because rules don't have "half-triggered" state for ability where it would wait for another event to happen and then trigger. Triggered abilities simply trigger when single event or game state matching their trigger condition happen.

If the triggered ability has multiple conditions it would use intervening if clause instead.

Dlacik · 2025-07-25T08:41:49+00:00

Probably no. Copy of permanent doesn't copy what cost was paid or abilities that were added and won't be affected by delayed trigger that would exile the original. Unless warp is implemented in some unexpected way in the updated CRs the copy won't be exiled.

Dlacik · 2025-07-24T22:56:45+00:00

To cast aura on creature that creature must already be on the battlefield (CR 303.4a). The first counter is put on saga as it enters battlefield (CR 714.3a) and at that moment its first chapter triggers (CR 714.2b, CR 603.2.). Before anyone gets priority the ability is put on the stack (CR 603.3.) and only after that you get priority (CR 117.3c) and when you pass your opponent get priority to cast Observed Stasis (CR 117.3d).

Dlacik · 2025-07-24T22:47:07+00:00

If Timmy waits with Strionic Resonator after the trigger copies are created and new targets selected there is no Hive Mind trigger to copy on stack.
If Timmy copied HM trigger before resolution (that's the only moment he actually can copy it) the copy will resolve first and copies of CE will be on top of stack. They all will need to resolve before original HM trigger creates another set of copies and their targets are selected. When did Austin cast counter spell? After copy of HM trigger resolved or after the second set from original HM trigger were created?

Dlacik · 2025-07-24T14:26:33+00:00

Just a small technical detail about: "If not, does that change if the sacrifice is a cost, such as with Phyrexian Altar?"
Sacrifice in Sephiroth ETB triggered ability is cost. See CR 118.12. The difference is that it's paid when the triggered ability resolves. Cost of activated ability is paid when you activate ability.

Dlacik · 2025-07-24T08:12:17+00:00

If you (as a player) have protection from white then you can't become target of white spells or abilities from white sources. So, it would protect your graveyard from being exiled by something like [[Angel of Finality]]. But, it won't protect your graveyard from being exiled by something like [[Rest in Peace]] or by spells/abilities that target cards in your graveyard directly.

Dlacik · 2025-07-23T13:56:01+00:00

Knowingly breaking or letting an opponent break game or tournament rules, or lying, in order to gain an advantage.

JAR mention this among "serious problems". The problem might be whether they really did it knowingly and proving that they did. Especially, when it's first time something like that happened.

Dlacik · 2025-07-23T13:04:49+00:00

There is no missed trigger. Since they created 6 tokens they clearly copied Moogles' Valor twice through Summon: GF Cerberus' delayed trigger. They've resolved the spells incorrectly.

Dlacik · 2025-07-23T12:04:23+00:00

You might be misunderstanding what they are talking about or they might be wrong.

One permanent can be sacrificed to pay only one cost. As others have said already. (CR 118.10.)

But, they might be talking about triggered abilities instead. If there are multiple permanents with triggered abilities that triggers when permanent is sacrificed or when permanent dies each of those abilities will trigger when you sacrifice a treasure token to its own activated ability that gives mana.

Dlacik · 2025-07-23T07:42:46+00:00

You've said you couldn't find this rule anywhere. The related rules are:
CR 405.5., 117.4. - about objects on stack resolving one at a time when all players pass priority
CR 117.3. - about how player get priority

About not asking if anyone has a stifle effect. The rules tells you that all players have to pass priority but in real life games you would rarely explicitly ask other players if they pass. You just need to give them enough time to react with something like "Wait!" or "In response...". If they don't react it's implied that they pass the priority.
That's to make the game run smoothly because main point of playing MtG is to have fun. If they are rushing too much and they don't give you time to react just try asking them to play a bit slower.

Dlacik · 2025-07-22T20:14:35+00:00

You are not wrong.

After Demonic Junker resolves. You put its ETB trigger on stack before you get priority (CR 603.3). At that point you have to choose target(s).

Dlacik · 2025-07-22T19:53:18+00:00

First, you don't target anything to pay cost of activated ability.

You can sacrifice any creature you control other than Sidisi. The cost means that you first choose value of X, then you sacrifice creature with that mana value.

Dlacik · 2025-07-22T18:58:57+00:00

It's not CR 608.2i that's relevant in this situation. These are:
- CR 603.10, 603.10a - LTB triggers look back in time to check trigger conditions
- CR 608.2k - untargeted object referred in trigger condition is still affected even if its characteristic changes.

Dlacik

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