Does Grip of Chaos stop Zada, Hedron Grinder from triggering?
Asked by ThePoisonMuse 3 years ago
When you cast a spell that targets Zada, Hedron Grinder with Possibility Storm on the battlefield you can stack the triggers so that you get all the copies before Possibility Storm replaces it. Can I do something similar with Grip of Chaos? Like if I cast Crimson Wisps targeting Zada, Hedron Grinder would I still be able to draw all the cards?
Tylord2894 says... Accepted answer #2
Neither Posibility Storm nor Grip of Chaos stop Zada. So, you will be able to copy your Crimson Wisps with Zada. You can do this without stack your triggers in a specific way.
First, the Grip of Chaos trigger will go on the stack at the same time as Zada's triggers (shortly after you cast a spell that targets them). Like with your Possibility Storm example, you can order the triggers so that Zada's trigger resolves first. In this case, when the Zada trigger resolves, there will be a bunch of Grip triggers since several spells were put onto the stack. Normally, things don't trigger when you copy a spell, but Grip triggers when a spell is put onto the stack.
Now, why don't you need to worry about stacking the triggers? For starters, Zada's trigger doesn't target that spell that targets Zada, so it won't fizzle. Also, there is no "intervening if" clause in Zada's trigger (i.e. it isn't written "when you cast a spell, if it only targets Zada, ..."), so it won't check to make sure the spell is still targeting Zada when the trigger resolves (which is important for the Grip situation). Lastly, Zada's trigger functions a lot like the Storm trigger on cards like Grapeshot. Even if the original spell ceases to exist, the trigger "remembers" the traits of the original spell and makes its copies. Zada's trigger will do that too, so you don't have to stack the Possibility Storm trigger to resolve after the Zada trigger.
Hope this helps!!
August 10, 2020 6:50 p.m.
The main thrust of this question has already been answered, but I'd just like to add that while Grip won't stop Zada from copying the spell (she's already triggered by the time Grip changes the target), it will retarget all the copies. You'll end up with as many copies of the spell as you have creatures, but all of them will be targeted at random—they'll stack up in weird ways and probably won't all be aimed at your own creatures (for most pump spells).
Gidgetimer says... #1
Grip of Chaos, Possibility Storm, and Zada, Hedron Grinder will all trigger from the same event when you target Zada. No matter how you stack the triggers you will always get the copies from Zada's ability.
August 10, 2020 6:25 p.m.