Fork and priority
Asked by -Orvos- 5 years ago
If I cast Lightning Bolt then target it with Fork then before anything resolves my oppontent Counterspells my lightning bolt will Fork fizzle?
If your opponent counters Lightning Bolt while Fork is still on the stack, then Fork's only target becomes illegal. Per rule 608.2b, "If all its targets, for every instance of the word “target,” are now illegal, the spell or ability doesn’t resolve. It’s removed from the stack and, if it’s a spell, put into its owner’s graveyard."
So Fork will fizzle.
If, however, your opponent allows Fork to resolve first, the copy of Lightning Bolt will still resolve even though the original is countered.
Caerwyn says... Accepted answer #1
Your Fork will fizzle.
Like any targeted spell or ability, you lock in your target when the spell is cast, and then check the legality of the target again upon resolution.
Here, Counterspell will resolve before Fork, because it was put on the stack last. The Lightning Bolt will be countered, the Fork will no longer have a valid target, and thus will not resolve.
Now, let's say we change the order some.
You cast Lightning Bolt, and, instead of holding priority and casting Fork, pass priority to your opponenet. Your opponent casts Counterspell and you gain priority again. You can cast Fork now--it will be last on the stack, so will resolve first. You will copy Lightning Bolt; then the copy is put on the stack and resolves, dealing 3 damage; then the Counterspell resolves, countering the original Lightning Bolt.
This allows you to get past the Counterspell, but there is a problem. If you pass priority and then your opponent passes without countering, you do not gain priority again, and your lightning bolt will resolve without being copied. Ultimately, however, the result in this case is the same--you end up with 3 damage to the target.
October 22, 2018 10:34 p.m.