Scavenging Ooze vs Snapcaster Mage's flashback.

Asked by Ryotenchi 8 years ago

Can I activate Scavenging Ooze to respond to the card receiving the flashback, exiling it before my opponent gets the chance to pay for it?

(I think I lose priority when I accept the Snapcaster Mage's resolution, and since they have priority to cast it, I cant respond to it, as its already left the yard.)

(Prob still gotta switch away from Rest in Peace.. burn is mean..)

Rhadamanthus says... #1

It depends on exactly what you mean by "in response to the card receiving the flashback".

Snapcaster Mage has a triggered ability (starts with "when/whenever/at"), and like any other triggered ability everyone gets a chance to respond to it after it goes onto the stack but before it resolves. If you use Scavenging Ooze at this time, then the target will be gone from the graveyard before it gains flashback.

Waiting and letting the triggered ability actually resolve is usually not a good idea. If it's your turn then you'll get priority before your opponent does, but if it's your opponent's turn then he'll get priority first and can cast the spell before you get a chance at any more responses.

April 20, 2015 1:21 a.m.

Ryotenchi says... #2

So tricky priority bit like I thought. Id be better off preemptively eating dangerous spells and attracting removal Im sure what have happened already. Good enough for me. :3

April 20, 2015 2 a.m.

JustLikeFM says... Accepted answer #3

Ryotenchi - It's really not that tricky. When Snapcaster Mage enters the battlefield, it's ability goes on the stack (targeting a spell in his graveyard). In response to that ability you can then exile that card with Scavenging Ooze. This is completely safe.

Premptively 'eating' dangerous spells might actually be a bad call if he has mana open to cast both Snapcaster Mage and the spell in the graveyard.

If you spend your last mana trying to eat his spell, then your opononent can, in response to Scavenging Ooze's ability, cast Snapcaster Mage, give his spell flashback and then play his spell, before Scavenging Ooze's ability resolves.

April 20, 2015 7:02 a.m.

Ryotenchi says... #4

Woot. :3 So its gtg then. I get priority to respond when Taigo comes in. Thanx dude. Just wanted to clarify.. Trying to decide whether I need to switch over to scooze or just have it for maybe board..

April 20, 2015 1:56 p.m.

BlueScope says... #5

Activating the Ooze in response is actually better for you once your opponent has more possible targets in their graveyard than you could scavenge for. You'd have to guess which spell they'd choose, whereas if you wait, you get to exile exactly the spell they announced as the target with Snapcaster Mage.

Assuming your opponent has only one Snapcaster Mage in hand and 6 possible targets, even if you have enough mana to exile them all, you get to exile the ne they announce as the target and have the other 5 mana open for other shenanigans or exiling what you actually want - creatures!

April 20, 2015 4:18 p.m.

Ryotenchi says... #6

I was just concerned with say Cryptic Command locks.. but thats still saying that my opponent didnt remove the scooze..

I just wanted to make sure I understood the timing.. and that I could actually get priority to do that.

April 20, 2015 6:50 p.m.

JustLikeFM says... #7

Seems you understood it all along :)

April 21, 2015 9:34 a.m.

Ryotenchi says... #8

Quite possibly JustLikeFM.. but sometimes we just need to either freshen our memory or someone challenges your knowledge of a ruling and claims that it works differentely.. so.. I make sure Im right.

April 21, 2015 3:14 p.m.

This discussion has been closed