A question regarding the use of Mox Opal.
Asked by TheGodofNight 9 years ago
I was playing with an opponent this past weekend, and my first turn went something like this:
T1: Darksteel Citadel , Mox Opal , 2nd Mox Opal , I tapped both Mox Opal s before sacrificing one. My opponent told me that I couldn't tap it for mana before sacrificing it due to the legendary rule. I was pretty sure that I could tap them for mana, and then sacrifice one. As a show of good faith, I replayed the opening hand, laying out an Ornithopter , then tapping the 1st Mox Opal for a mana, and then laying the second Mox Opal sacrificing the tapped one.
Just to clarify, was my first play illegal, or was I right? Thanks in advance for clarifying.
filledelanuit says... Accepted answer #2
Your first play was illegal. This is because after the second Mox Opal resolves state based actions will be checked and you will have to put one in your graveyard as a state based action. Then you will receive priority and be able to activate abilities.
October 27, 2014 2:36 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #3
Actually, all of your proposed scenarios are illegal.
The legend rule is a state-based action. It happens before players get priority, so you can't do anything until SBAs are performed. In your first scenario, one Mox Opal would have to be put into your graveyard before you could do anything. After that, you wouldn't have metalcraft, so you wouldn't be able to activate Mox Opal 's ability.
In your second scenario, you never even had metalcraft to begin with, so you couldn't activate Mox Opal 's ability.
Also, the legend rule does not cause things to be sacrificed. The extra permanents are simply put into their owner's graveyard.
October 27, 2014 4:58 p.m.
filledelanuit says... #4
@Epochalyptik In the second scenario he still would have Darksteel Citadel and would have metalcraft.
October 27, 2014 5 p.m.
TheGodofNight says... #5
@ Epochalyptik Wouldn't Darksteel Citadel +Ornithopter +Mox Opal have given me metalcraft in that second scenario, or I am mistaken about that?
October 27, 2014 5:12 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #6
Ah, you're correct. I missed that you kept Darksteel Citadel from the first scenario.
Note that at any level above FNM, you would not be allowed to replay the scenario, though. Even at FNM level, it's a matter of judge discretion.
October 27, 2014 5:20 p.m.
TheGodofNight says... #7
Well, it was a casual game of modern between friends. My opponent offered me a "do-over" as a nice gesture. In a competitive environment, I doubt someone would be granted a "do-over." Well, thanks for clearing that up for me.
TheGodofNight says... #1
Just to expand on it, I was tapping both Mox Opal s to play a Cranial Plating , not that it's important, but I thought I would elaborate.
October 27, 2014 2:16 p.m.