“As ETB” vs. “When ETB”
Asked by nhhale 3 months ago
I’ve noticed that certain cards say “As this permanent enters the battlefield, do XYZ” (XYZ usually being “pick a creature type”). Arcane Adaptation is one such card. Is this a triggered ability? Can it be copied (for example, to cause Arcane Adaptation’s static effect to apply to more than one creature type)?
"As X enters the battlefield" is not a triggered ability. The key words for triggered abilities are "when", "whenever" and "at".
When: Armored Kincaller
Whenever: Belligerent Yearling
At: Hulking Raptor
Anything else is not a triggered ability.
Rhadamanthus says... Accepted answer #1
No, it's not a triggered ability. Rather, it's a replacement effect generated by a static ability. Effects that specifically interact with triggered abilities can't do anything with it.
Triggered abilities are always written to start with one of the words "when", "whenever" or "at". Activated abilities are always written in the form "[cost] : [effect]". Anything else is some kind of static ability. Replacement effects can be identified by the use of "as", "with", "instead" or "prevent", as well as a few other less common constructions.
February 29, 2024 5:36 p.m.