Bloodthirst interaction with ETB damage?

Asked by AverageDragon 8 years ago

So if I have Scourge of Valkas or Dragon Tempest on the battlefield, and I drop a Furyborn Hellkite, can I deal the damage to an opponent and have the Hellkite enter the battlefield with the 6 +1/+1 counters, or do I need to deal damage prior to dropping it to get the Bloodthirst effect?

Raging_Squiggle says... Accepted answer #1

You must deal damage prior to the creature actually entering the battlefield.

Bloodthirsty is a replacement effect that modifies how the creature enters the battlefield: either with 6 +1/+1 counters or without them.

Note the reminder text for Bloodthirsty:

• if an opponent was dealt damage this turn, this creature enters the battlefield with 6 +1/+1 counters on it.

The creature can't "reenter" the battlefield after the trigger from Dragon Tempest has resolved from said creature ETB'ing.

April 8, 2016 1:03 a.m.

acbooster says... #2

You would need to deal damage prior. If a creature (or any permanent really) would enter the battlefield with some modification to it, in this case +1/+1 counters, it comes in with those already applied. Bloodthirst looks to see if damage has been dealt before the creature enters, then makes the modification as it does so. If you didn't dealt damage before Furyborn Hellkite resolves, it would enter as a 6/6 and would deal damage from the ETB trigger on Dragon Tempest.

April 8, 2016 1:03 a.m.