Pact of Negation off of Hive Mind

Asked by Bovine073 7 years ago

Let's say I'm playing a jolly good game of commander and on T4/T5 I play Hive Mind into Pact of Negation.

Can the other three players each target each other's copies of pact of negation? Who resolves first? Which is put on the stack first?

BlueScope says... Accepted answer #1

First, let's quote the relevant Gatherer Ruling that explains nicely what happens:

If a player casts an instant or sorcery spell, Hive Minds ability triggers and is put on the stack on top of that spell. Hive Minds ability will resolve first. When it does, it creates a number of copies of that spell equal to the number of players in the game minus one. First the player whose turn it is (or, if thats the player who cast the original spell, the player to that players left) puts his or her copy on the stack, choosing new targets for it if he or she likes. Then each other player in turn order does the same. The last copy put on the stack will be the first one that resolves. (Note that the very last thing to happen is that the original spell resolves.)

So, with three other players, the player to your left will first put their spell on the stack, and at the same time having to choose a target. Assuming you were countering a single, non-instant-or-sorcery spell first - say, Krark's Thumb - they will have to counter either your Pact of Negation, or that spell. Either will save you, as your Pact won't resolve (by the time it normally would, it either got countered, or it's only target did).

Now, each other player gets a more deciding choice - from the second opponent on, that opponent can choose to also counter Krark's Thumb or your Pact, or save one of the opponents before them, as they may pick any previously cast Pact as a target. Only the last opponent in line will certainly have to resolve their Pact if nothing else happens.

September 20, 2016 6:45 a.m.

Bovine073 says... #2

Thank you BlueScope.

September 20, 2016 8:13 a.m.