Messenger Drake

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Legality

Format Legality
1v1 Commander Legal
Archenemy Legal
Arena Legal
Block Constructed Legal
Canadian Highlander Legal
Casual Legal
Commander / EDH Legal
Commander: Rule 0 Legal
Custom Legal
Duel Commander Legal
Gladiator Legal
Highlander Legal
Historic Legal
Legacy Legal
Leviathan Legal
Limited Legal
Modern Legal
Oathbreaker Legal
Pauper Legal
Pauper Duel Commander Legal
Pauper EDH Legal
Pioneer Legal
Planechase Legal
Quest Magic Legal
Vanguard Legal
Vintage Legal

Messenger Drake

Creature — Drake

Flying

When Messenger Drake dies, draw a card.

Gidgetimer on Triggered abilities on death?

3 years ago

I know that "because the rules say so" isn't really a satisfactory answer but...

603.10. Normally, objects that exist immediately after an event are checked to see if the event matched any trigger conditions, and continuous effects that exist at that time are used to determine what the trigger conditions are and what the objects involved in the event look like. However, some triggered abilities are exceptions to this rule; the game “looks back in time” to determine if those abilities trigger, using the existence of those abilities and the appearance of objects immediately prior to the event. The list of exceptions is as follows:

603.10a Some zone-change triggers look back in time. These are leaves-the-battlefield abilities, abilities that trigger when a card leaves a graveyard, and abilities that trigger when an object that all players can see is put into a hand or library.

If you prefer a more nuts-and-bolts game design reason that CR603.10 exists, it is to make self LTB abilities such as on Messenger Drake work.

If you prefer a instinctive reason, triggers do not take active input from the permanent they are on. So in the instant that everything is dying the trigger goes off without Grim Haruspex having to do anything. Contrast this with activated abilities that do require an active role from the player and/or the permanent they are on.

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