Desertion on EDH General
Asked by DarkMagician 9 years ago
If I counter my opponents general with Desertion do I get to put it into play before my opponent can simply return it to their command zone?
Arachnarchist says... #2
I'm not sure about this at all, but this is my interpretation:
Desertion sets up a replacement effect which puts the creature or artifact card on to the battlefield instead of putting it into the graveyard. Returning your commander to the command zone is also a replacement effect (I believe). If multiple replacement affect would apply to the same thing, the affected player or the affected permanents owner chooses the order to apply them. So I think your opponent can choose to apply the Command zone replacement effect first and then Desertion s effect cannot apply, since the creature would no longer be put into the graveyard.
Epochalyptik would really be the ideal person to answer this question as he knows the rules and EDH quite well.
June 1, 2014 12:37 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #3
Normally, Arachnarchist would be correct. However, Desertion creates a special kind of replacement effect called a self-replacement effect. This effect is applied before other replacement effects are applied, so the command zone replacement effect is not relevant.
614.15. Some replacement effects are not continuous effects. Rather, they are an effect of a resolving spell or ability that replace part or all of that spell or ability's own effect(s). Such effects are called self-replacement effects. When applying replacement effects to an event, self-replacement effects are applied before other replacement effects.
Drilnoth says... #1
You can put it into play. Instead of putting the countered spell into the graveyard, Desertion causes you to put it onto the battlefield under your control. Players can only put their generals into the command zone if it would be put into the graveyard or exile zone. Since it never goes to the graveyard, that option isn't available.
June 1, 2014 2:08 a.m.