Help with City of Solitude and abilities
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on June 8, 2014, 11:20 p.m. by DodgyBros
Hi there. I've just started playing EDH (mostly play standard) and put together a Omnath, Locus of Mana EDH deck.
Looking at popping in a City of Solitude where it only allows spells/abilities to be played during each players turn.
In this instance, does tapping land (which would go to my mana pool, and therefore to Omanth) count as an ability?
If I am also using something like Extraplanar Lens and other such mana producing cards, does this count as an ability also?
They're not activated abilities, they are mana abilities, so I thought this would be ok.
aeonstoremyliver says... #3
This is more of a rules question, and there is a Q&A link in the header bar. Make sure to read the description :-)
My understanding is that tapping land for mana is not an ability, per say. You're not spending it to cast anything, merely putting it into your mana pool. I could be wrong, though.
June 8, 2014 11:30 p.m.
NoPantsParade says... #4
If you want to have a similar effect but not for lands, Dosan the Falling Leaf would work to prevent counterspells and stuff.
June 8, 2014 11:31 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #6
Rules questions should be asked in the Q&A, which is linked in the header bar.
ljs54321 has the correct answer. Note that City of Solitude 's ability does not mention that it excludes mana abilities, so activated mana abilities (note that being a mana ability doesn't mean an ability can't also be a mana ability) cannot be activated during other players' turns. Triggered abilities are unaffected.
Extraplanar Lens has two triggered abilities. The first triggers when Extraplanar Lens enters the battlefield, and the second triggers whenever specific lands are tapped for mana (i.e. when tap-t-activate mana abilities of those lands are activated).
@aeonstoremyliver: Mana can be added to a player's mana pool either as part of a spell's resolution or as the result of a mana ability. Mana abilities are definitely abilities, even though they follow special rules.
June 9, 2014 12:10 a.m.
OK, first post, noted about the Q&A. Shall check and do so in the future ;)So in summary, as it is not specific in mentioning which ability, it is all abilities.Thanks for reading/answering.
June 9, 2014 1:04 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #8
It's all activated abilities (the Oracle [updated] text specifically says "activated abilities").
ljs54321 says... #2
Here is the Gatherer page.
First, Extraplanar Lens has a Triggered ability, not a mana ability, which are not prevented by City of Solitude
Second, the City does prevent mana abilities.
June 8, 2014 11:28 p.m.