Questions about the stack
Asked by SpliceIntoCantrip 5 years ago
I have a few questions regarding the stack, I have these instances come up in my games.
Example 1: I have Logic Knot in my hand and my opponent casts Bloodbraid Elf and the card they cascade is Tarmogoyf. Can I counter Bloodbraid Elf after they announce what card they cascaded to or is it too late?
Example 2: My opponent plays Scavenging Ooze, I have Snapcaster Mage in my graveyard and I cast Kolaghan's Command to return Snapcaster Mage to my hand and deal 2 damage to Scavenging Ooze, they respond with the creature's exile ability. Is the creature exiled or put into my hand? And if it's exiled is Kolaghan's Command countered or will it still deal 2 damage and resolve?
Example 3: I have Nihil Spellbomb on the battlefield, my opponent has 6 instants/soceries in their graveyard and casts Bedlam Reveler, I respond by using Nihil Spellbomb ability, now Bedlam Reveler costs 6RR and he doesn't have enough mana. Does Bedlam Reveler still resolve and enter the battlefield? If not, is it countered?
Thank you for your help!
SpliceIntoCantrip says... #2
Thanks for the reply! It was very helpful, much appreciated.
October 14, 2018 5:47 p.m.
A note on scenario 1, you can use Logic Knot to counter either Bloodbraid Elf or Tarmogoyf, it won't counter both.
Kogarashi says... Accepted answer #1
Bloodbraid Elf remains on the stack until the card you cascade into is resolved (at the very least), so you can still counter it once you know what card is being cascaded into.
If Scavenging Ooze's ability is being activated in response to Kolaghan's Command, then it will resolve first and exile Snapcaster Mage before the Command is able to return it to your hand. However, a spell only "fizzles" when all of its targets become invalid. The other mode you chose for Kolaghan's Command still has a valid target, so that part still resolves. The part returning Snapcaster to your hand is simply ignored.
The cost of Bedlam Reveler is paid when it's put on the stack, before priority is passed, including all cost-adjusting effects. Using Nihil Spellbomb to exile the Reveler's controller's graveyard won't change its cost after the fact, so Bedlam Reveler still resolves and enters the battlefield.
October 14, 2018 5:13 p.m.