Mistveil Plains, Sejiri Steppe, KotR, Terror
Asked by Andromedus 6 years ago
I have a Mistveil Plains in play, a Sejiri Steppe in my graveyard, and a Knight of the Reliquary in play. Assume that I control two or more white permanents and a Plains as well.
My opponent casts Terror on my KotR. I respond by using Mistveil Plains' ability to return Sejiri Steppe to my library, and then use KotR's active to sacrifice the plains to bring the Sejiri Steppe into play, targeting the KotR with protection from black with its landfall ability.
Would this work in preventing the KotR from being destroyed? Or does the KotR ability have to wait for the Sejiri Steppe to resolve, which then allows the Terror to resolve, causing the KotR to be destroyed?
I appreciate the help.
hyperlocke says... Accepted answer #2
Short answer: Yes.
Longer answer:
After a player cast a spell or activates an ability, beginning with him/her, all players receive priority and may cast instants/activate abilities or pass. Only after every player has passed priority on the spell/ability on top of the stack in succession does it resolve, after which the active player receives priority.
Take a look at rule 116.
Let's look at your example:
- your opponent casts Terror and passes priority to you
- you activate Mistveil Plains's ability and pass priority
- your opponent passes priority, so the ability resolves, putting Sejiri Steppe on your library
- now the active player receives priority. If it's your opponent's turn, he/she will pass priority to you, else you receive priority
- you activate Knight of the Reliquary' ability, pass, your opponent passes, it resolves
- before priority is passed to the active player, state-based actions are checked and any triggered abilities (in this case Sejiri Steppe) are put on the stack
- the active player receives priority (see above)
- everybody passes in turn, Sejiri Steppe resolves, giving KotR protection from black
- now only Terror is left on the stack, the active player receives priority
- all players pass priority in turn
- Terror tries to resolve, but its only target is illegal, so it's countered by the game (it "fizzles") (rule 608.2b)
- now the stack is empty, the active player receives priority
January 5, 2018 9:13 p.m.
Andromedus says... #3
Ok, fantastic, thank you for the detailed explanation. That helps me apply the lesson to other situations.
Andromedus says... #1
Also assume that I have the mana to perform all active abilities.
January 5, 2018 8:26 p.m.