Sadistic Hypnotist, how does it's ability stack?
General forum
Posted on Aug. 2, 2012, 12:28 a.m. by bdrichar
If I have Nath of the Gilt-Leaf and Sadistic Hypnotist and one elf token out, and I used Sadistic Hypnotist 's ability by sacrificing the elf, I would end up with two elves. I know that I can then repeat this process indefinitely until all of my opponents have no cards in hand. My question is if someone destroys Sadistic Hypnotist in response to his ability being triggered, can I trigger his ability again in response to that so long as I choose a different target for the ability (a different sac's elf token)?
Epochalyptik says... #3
You don't target the token you're sacrificing. As the payment of the activation cost, you sacrifice a creature of your choice. You may activate an ability as long as you can pay for it, have priority, and meet the timing restrictions of that ability. Therefore, it you could activate Sadistic Hypnotist 's ability at instant speed, you could respond to an attempt to remove the Sadistic Hypnotist by activating its ability again.
August 2, 2012 12:35 a.m.
And yes the Hypnotist says "Play this ability only any time you can use a sorcery." not "Play this ability as a sorcery." so like almost all (or all, not sure) activated abilities, it is still an instant speed effect. They just don't want you using it during your opponents turn to make them discard the card they just drew.
August 2, 2012 1:04 a.m.
Oops I messed up the wording on the Hypnotist a bit. Should be "any time you could play a sorcery" instead of "any time you can use a sorcery."
bdrichar says... #2
WAIT, so his ability says play only as a sorcery so the question is moot, but I would like to know if that kind of play would be legal if it could be used at instant speed.
August 2, 2012 12:29 a.m.