Question about countering a Kolaghan's Command

Asked by tonycheat9 8 years ago

Hello, so if a person cast a Kolaghan's Command does that person have to pick the 2 options before it resolves or after it resolves? So I see it on the stack and I'm thinking of Dissolve it. My friend says he doesn't pick the 2 options until after it resolves so I don't get to know which options he would have chosen if I did counter it? Or do you have to pick the 2 options the moment you cast Kolaghan's Command

All modes of a spell or ability must be chosen as part of the cast.

Refer to rule 700.2a

September 27, 2015 3:17 p.m.

Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #2

It's best to actually provide the text of any rules you quote. Otherwise, other users have to look the rules up themselves.

700.2a The controller of a modal spell or activated ability chooses the mode(s) as part of casting that spell or activating that ability. If one of the modes would be illegal (due to an inability to choose legal targets, for example), that mode can't be chosen. (See rule 601.2b.)

When you cast a modal spell, you choose the modes as one of your first casting decisions. This is because mode choices influence other aspects of the casting process; for example, choice of modes may affect the number and kind of targets necessary (remember that targets are chosen when you cast a spell, activate an ability, or put a triggered ability onto the stack).

September 27, 2015 5:41 p.m.

@ Epochalyptik I know, but I'm using mobile and my phone wouldn't let me highlight and copy the text itself for some reason, so I did what I could.

September 27, 2015 6:47 p.m.

phoenix0012 says... #4

I would like to add that some modal cards like Citadel Siege say choose a mode when they enter the battlefield so in that case you do not know until after the spell has resolved.

September 29, 2015 6:37 p.m.

Epochalyptik says... #5

In those cases, you aren't casting a modal spell. A modal spell, by definition, has modes. If the modes are part of an ability that functions when the spell becomes a permanent, then the spell itself does not have those modes.

September 29, 2015 6:57 p.m.

This discussion has been closed