Stack interaction with instants and abilities
Asked by justindulging 6 years ago
I have two situations I want to ask about guys
On one play I had a Olivia's Dragoon and I discarded a card to give it flying. My opponent then responded by playing Clip Wings . I assume that the first discard resolves before he plays that so that the dragoon gains flying. Before Clip Wings resolves can I discard another card with its ability while Clip Wings is still on the stack? Just to take advantage of a madness burn spell namely Fiery Temper
On another interaction, on my turn I declare that I want to play Insolent Neonate 's ability , my opponent responds with Splendid Agony . Would it be out of the question to declare the ability again to get on top of the stack? If not, then if the Splendid Agony kills the neonate before I can play its ability, I don't get to play the discard portion of its ability do I? Would appreciate a structured sequence of how this plays out.
Thanks a lot.
If your opponent response to first action of Olivia's Dragoon, it means ability is still in stack and dragoon does not have flying yet.
July 16, 2017 4:25 p.m.
In conclusion, both of your opponent's plays were bad. In number 1, Clip Wings resolves before your creature gains flying, so nothing happens. In number 2, your Insolent Neonate is already dead, so Splendid Agony just fizzles out.
July 16, 2017 6:10 p.m.
shinobigarth says... #4
like Colgate said, it depends on if they are actually responding to you activating Dragoon's ability or not. in unclear cases like this you need to ask your opponent whether they are responding to you activating it or they are letting the ability resolve first, then casting it once the stack is empty and they get priority again. because if they are responding, in this case Clip Wings goes on the stack on top and resolves first, meaning if you don't have any creatures with flying (as Dragoon doesn't have flying yet), then Clip Wings does nothing.
so simply ask them at what point are they casting it, you also aren't required to help them by explaining that Clip Wings would do nothing until after the ability resolves and Dragoon gains flying, so if that's something they didn't understand, its not your problem.
a-sir says... Accepted answer #1
First question:
Yes, in response to you're opponent playing Clip Wings you may activate the ability again. This is due to the fact that these abilities (unless specified otherwise) can be activated on instant speed.
Second question:
In order for your opponent to respond Insolent Neonate's ability, this first needs to be put on the stack. For something to be put on the stack, it requires that all applicable costs have been paid.
In this case it means that Insolent Neonate needs to be sacrificed before its ability is put on the stack. This leads to the opponent's Splendid Agony never being able to target Insolent Neonate
July 16, 2017 11:24 a.m.