How many times is "when"?
Asked by vic 7 years ago
I have a Fabrication Module and an Aetherstorm Roc on my board. I play a Thriving Ibex, which gives me Energy Counters.
Is this considered two separate instances of getting EC's (Ibex + Roc), therefore letting Fabrication Module trigger twice?
The use of the word "when" has always made me question things like this, since it happens at the same time.
And to explain more precisely what happens: Triggered abilities trigger at the same time, but are put on the stack seperately (and obviously, resolve seperately).
In this case, Thriving Ibex entering the battlefield triggers it's own ETB ability, as well as Aetherstorm Roc's ability. At this point, you as the controller of the abilities get to put them on the stack in any order you choose (if multiple people controlled the triggered abilities, they'd be put on the stack in APNAP order).
The stack resolves last-in-first-out, and since both of your abilities involve gaining energy counters, they both trigger Fabrication Module during resolution. After each of them resolves, Fabrication Module's trigger is put on the stack and resolves.
October 26, 2016 5:36 a.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #3
In case you're wondering, whether a triggered ability starts with "when", "whenever", or "at" really just has to do with grammar and templating standards. There's no in-game functional difference.
- "When" is used when the triggering event is expected to only happen one time (but it's still possible to make it happen more than once)
- "Whenever" is used when the triggering event is expected to happen multiple times
- "At" is used when the triggering event is the beginning of a specific step or phase of the turn
Gidgetimer says... #1
Both Aetherstorm Roc and Thriving Ibex trigger when the Ibex enters the battlefield. Triggered abilities use the stack however and resolve one at a time so you do not gain all three energy at the same time. Each time one of the abilities resolves it triggers the Fabrication Module so you will gain three total energy and Fabrication Module will trigger twice.
October 26, 2016 5:03 a.m.