If I cast a Languish on my main phase, then cast another creature with power less than 4, will it still die? I assume that Languish gives 'until end of turn effects'...
Asked by BrianBartilet 8 years ago
Board Wipe and Recovery
Raging_Squiggle says... Accepted answer #2
Please remember to link all cards in your question. Languish.
When Languish resolves, it does what's known as a continuous effect. It only applies to all relevant objects on the battlefield as the continuous effect begins. So if a creature comes in afterwards, it'll be unaffected.
611.2c If a continuous effect generated by the resolution of a spell or ability modifies the characteristics or changes the controller of any objects, the set of objects it affects is determined when that continuous effect begins. After that point, the set wont change. (Note that this works differently than a continuous effect from a static ability.) A continuous effect generated by the resolution of a spell or ability that doesnt modify the characteristics or change the controller of any objects modifies the rules of the game, so it can affect objects that werent affected when that continuous effect began. If a single continuous effect has parts that modify the characteristics or changes the controller of any objects and other parts that dont, the set of objects each part applies to is determined independently.
Example: An effect that reads Prevent all damage creatures would deal this turn doesnt modify any objects characteristics, so its modifying the rules of the game. That means the effect will apply even to damage from creatures that werent on the battlefield when the continuous effect began. It also affects damage from permanents that become creatures later in the turn.
Note that Wrath of God and Inferno are not exactly the same interaction as Languish because they have what is called a "one-shot" effect meaning "this happens and that's it", while Languish's effect is a continuous effect with a duration.
February 16, 2016 11:57 a.m.
TheRedMage says... #3
My rule of thumb:
- Effects that say that creatures are "gaining" or "getting" something only affect the creatures that are on the battlefield (and satisfy whichever condition is set for the effect) at the time the effect resolves. Let's say I control Glory Seeker and Wild Mongrel and cast Sanctified Charge, then cast a Mons's Goblin Raiders and discard a card to make Wild Mongrel white. Mons's Goblin Raiders will be a 1/1, not a 3/2, because it was not on the battlefield when Sanctified Charge resolved; and Wild Mongrel will not get First Strike since it was not white when Sanctified Charge resolved. Conversely, Glory Seeker will retain First Strike even if it stops being white for whatever reason. This is the case for Languish.
- Effects that say "each creature" (or "each artifact", "each permanent", etc) also work the same way. If I activate the ability on Immobilizer Eldrazi, my opponent won't be able to block with his Warden of Geometries, even if they target it with Unnatural Endurance and make it into a 4/3 after the immobilizing ability has resolved. Conversely, they can still flash in a Void Grafter after the ability resolved, and block with it, even if its toughness is greater than its power, since it wasn't on the battlefield at the time.
- Effects that don't fall in either category don't "tag" the creatures and will affect creatures regardless of whether they were on the battlefield at the time the ability resolved - basically these abilities create a temporary change in the rules of the game. If my opponent casts Temur Charm choosing the third mode ("creatures with power 3 or less cannot block this turn") and I control a face-down Efreet Weaponmaster and a Jeskai Windscout, I can go to flip up my weaponmaster, target the windscout with the abilites, and now my creatures (a 4/3 and a 5/1) can actually block.
Hmmm. I think I might try to make this into an article. Not sure, but I think knowing this "rule of thumb" might be interesting for the people out there.
February 16, 2016 4:48 p.m. Edited.
TheRedMage says... #4
Welp, it appears I was wrong on one count. The "each creature" clause is false. In the scenario I described, my Warden of Geometries that has become a 4/3 after being affected by Immobilizer Eldrazi would be able to block, and my Void Grafter that I flashed in after the fact still wouldn't.
nobu_the_bard says... #1
Languish's effect is immediate upon resolution, but only affects creatures that could be affected when it resolved. Creatures that enter play after it resolves aren't affected. The "until end of turn" limitation is to keep the effect from being permanent on creatures that aren't put into a graveyard by it (it cleans up similarly to damage because of this).
Most spells work this way; Inferno doesn't damage creatures that enter play after it resolves, Wrath of God doesn't destroy creatures after it resolves.
February 16, 2016 11:01 a.m.