Can you activate Isochron Scepter if no card is imprinted
Asked by notorius-B.D.A.W.G 4 years ago
If Isochron Scepter is cast, enters the battlefield, ETB trigger ability triggers, whilst triggered ability is on the stack it is Stifle d. So Isochron Scepter never imprinted a card, no card is imprinted. Can it’s tap ability be activated in order to tap it? I thought no because it would be an illegal action, but there’s a “may” in it, so is it legal to do activate to chose no to the may, with the result being its tapped and some mana was spent?
notorius-B.D.A.W.G says... #2
Is it OK because of the "may" in the effect?
If the effect was a "must" instead of a "may" would it then be an illegal action and the cost would not be allowed to be paid - the game would rewind if attempted?
January 20, 2020 8:58 a.m.
Raging_Squiggle says... Accepted answer #3
Spells and abilities, when cast and activated (respectively), will do as much as they legally can when they resolve. Whether or not it is a may or a must, if it cannot fulfill a portion of the effect, it simply doesn’t happen. (This is slightly different when “targeting” is involved, but here, that is irrelevant.)
In this case, Isochron Scepter will attempt to do everything it can. Even if it weren’t a may ability to cast it, the game would see nothing exiled with the scepter and therefore nothing would happen.
January 20, 2020 10:28 a.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #4
As long as you're able to pay the cost, choose enough valid targets, and follow any restrictions specifically written into the ability ("activate this only as a sorcery", etc.), you're allowed to activate it. It doesn't matter if the ability would have no result or would give you an impossible instruction as it resolves. As Raging_Squiggle explained, the resolving effect will just try to do as much as it can and skip the impossible parts.
Raging_Squiggle says... #1
Yes you can activate its ability, it just won’t do anything.
January 20, 2020 8:17 a.m.