Activated ability on stack and priority to activate it
Asked by Gzuis 7 years ago
Playing casual yesterday, I tried to destroy a Royal Assassin with a instant Mortify , when he used the tap ability to destroy one of my creature, and they said: that the ability to tap and destroy was used anyway, no matter when I played the instant, before or after he tap the creature, the effect will be always activated.
So my question is: activated abilities of creatures, they will always be activated, no matter when i use a card to destroy, cause damage, return to hand or tap the that target creature, (EVEN IF I USE BEFORE HE TAP?)
I know that there is already questions like mine sorry about that.
Gidgetimer says... #2
Yes, in Magic abilities exist independently of their sources and each player gets priority to cast a spell or activate an ability before each object on the stack resolves. So you cast Mortify and then each player gets an opportunity to do something before his creature is destroyed. He decides to tap the assassin to kill one of your creatures.
If you had waited until after he had activated the ability, you could destroy the Royal Assassin before the ability resolves, but because the ability exist independently of its source it will resolve anyway unless the ability itself is countered or otherwise removed from the stack.
August 13, 2016 7:21 p.m.
If you had waited until after he had activated the ability, you could destroy the Royal Assassin before the ability resolves, So... what does that mean? I did this. This does not go against what I just aske?
Sorry I'm pretty newbie at it.
August 13, 2016 7:52 p.m.
In that case you will destroy the assassin, but even though he is dead, his ability will still resolve. Here's an analogy... A person throws a ball. that person is shot and dies, the ball is still thrown, i.e. the ability still happens.
Sorry about that, it was a bit dark but it was all i could think of.
August 13, 2016 9:11 p.m.
Thanks for all help, explain alot for me.
I realized that it is better to help my creature to escape from death, to try to prevent the effect, is that right? Removing my creature from combat(or back to my hand), or protecting it prevents the effect, even if he uses the skill before or after?
August 13, 2016 9:30 p.m.
Yes, that is better than trying to get rid of effects that harm your creature, just get your creature to safety.
August 13, 2016 9:39 p.m.
lucal13 that exact analogy is in the little rulebook that used to come with a starter deck 20+ years ago...except it said "grenade" instead of "ball". So yours was actually less dark :)
January 18, 2017 5:48 a.m.
vic Wow, I had no idea! I've only been playing for a few years. That's pretty neat.
BlueScope says... #1
Abilities on the stack exist independent from their sources. If a player activates the ability of a creature or another permanent, the ability is put on the stack. Destroying the creature won't "counter" the ability, or do anything to it at all. This is how "Sacrifice this creature: Something happens" abilities can work.
The other situation is that you cast a spell to destroy their creature. They may activate their ability in response, in many ways having the same outcome as before: The ability will be placed on the stack, resolves, then your spell will destroy the creature (unless something else happened, such as you targetting a Mother of Runes, and it's controller tapping it to give it protection from black in response, for example - in this case, your spell would fizzle.)
August 13, 2016 7:20 p.m.