Detention Sphere question in a multiplayer game.

Asked by FrozenDuck96 6 years ago

Had a situation last night and I wasn't sure if the rule was right or not. Player A played three different Detention Spheres on player B and C permanents. Player A dies first. Player B and C go to play the cards that were affected by Detention Sphere, player A says we can't because they are gone for good because he left the game. Is this true? Player B and C thought because he left the game his Detention Spheres went with him therefore our cards were no longer in exile.

Tyrant-Thanatos says... Accepted answer #1

First, you can link cards with double brackets. Detention Sphere

This will help people sort out your question.

As for the answer,

800.4a When a player leaves the game, all objects (see rule 109) owned by that player leave the game and any effects which give that player control of any objects or players end. Then, if that player controlled any objects on the stack not represented by cards, those objects cease to exist. Then, if there are any objects still controlled by that player, those objects are exiled. This is not a state-based action. It happens as soon as the player leaves the game. If the player who left the game had priority at the time he or she left, priority passes to the next player in turn order who’s still in the game.

This is the rule regarding players leaving the game. Everything they own ceases to exist. As far as I know, this does not trigger Detention Sphere's second triggered ability, which returns the permanents to the battlefield. Even if it does, that trigger would then also cease to exist before it can resolve. In short, the cards Detention Sphere exiled will remain in exile.

800.4d If an object that would be owned by a player who has left the game would be created in any zone, it isn’t created. If a triggered ability that would be controlled by a player who has left the game would be put onto the stack, it isn’t put on the stack.

This further expands, once the player has left the game, any triggered ability that would be put onto the stack under their control is not, so Detention Sphere's trigger would never even hit the stack.

May 10, 2017 7 p.m. Edited.

Raging_Squiggle says... #2

Detention Sphere has 2 triggered abilities, one when it enters, and one when it leaves.

800.4d If an object that would be owned by a player who has left the game would be created in any zone, it isnt created. If a triggered ability that would be controlled by a player who has left the game would be put onto the stack, it isnt put on the stack.

If the player controlling the D-sphere dies or leaves the game, it's LTB ability never resolves, so the exiled cards never return.

May 10, 2017 7:15 p.m.

Neotrup says... #3

Note that newer cards like Cast Out use a single ability to achieve a similar effect, however they are more friendly, and will return the exiled permanent. Returning permanents with these new cards also doesn't use the stack.

May 10, 2017 8:32 p.m.