Triggered abilities on death?
Asked by Jordan_7890 3 years ago
I'm brand new to magic and I'm told that in the following example, Grim Haruspex still draws you a card:
--Grim Haruspex + Muck Rats die to Damnation--
See, in my mind, Grim Haruspex is dead before it's ability can draw you a card. Sure, another creature died, Grim Haruspex is also dead so how can it's ability go off?
Can a kind stranger help me understand why this is?
Jordan_7890 says... #2
Gidgetimer Thanks for such a well explained answer. You are my hero
Gidgetimer says... Accepted answer #1
I know that "because the rules say so" isn't really a satisfactory answer but...
603.10. Normally, objects that exist immediately after an event are checked to see if the event matched any trigger conditions, and continuous effects that exist at that time are used to determine what the trigger conditions are and what the objects involved in the event look like. However, some triggered abilities are exceptions to this rule; the game “looks back in time” to determine if those abilities trigger, using the existence of those abilities and the appearance of objects immediately prior to the event. The list of exceptions is as follows:
603.10a Some zone-change triggers look back in time. These are leaves-the-battlefield abilities, abilities that trigger when a card leaves a graveyard, and abilities that trigger when an object that all players can see is put into a hand or library.
If you prefer a more nuts-and-bolts game design reason that CR603.10 exists, it is to make self LTB abilities such as on Messenger Drake work.
If you prefer a instinctive reason, triggers do not take active input from the permanent they are on. So in the instant that everything is dying the trigger goes off without Grim Haruspex having to do anything. Contrast this with activated abilities that do require an active role from the player and/or the permanent they are on.
September 21, 2020 7:51 p.m.