Activate Oracle en-Vec before Peacekeeper upkeep payment?
Asked by Andromedus 1 year ago
Assume at the end of my opponent's turn I have Oracle en-Vec and Peacekeeper on the field.
The turn passes to me and the untap step ends. At this point I would like to use the Oracle's active (in order to force my opponent to declare attackers for their next turn) before I make a decision on whether to pay the Peacekeeper's upkeep cost.
Is this possible? Do I have to make the decision to do something with the Peacekeeper first (i.e. pay or not pay the upkeep), and then use the Oracle's active in response to my own decision? And if so can I then change my decision regarding whether I pay the Peacekeeper's upkeep cost after my opponent declares attackers?
Thanks for the help.
Andromedus says... #2
Ok that makes sense. The oracle text makes it a bit easier to conceptualize, I should have checked that. Thanks for the detailed response!
Delphen7 says... Accepted answer #1
The oracle text of Peacekeeper reads "At the beginning of your upkeep...", which is a triggered ability.
603.1: "Triggered abilities have a trigger condition and an effect. They are written as “[When/Whenever/At] [trigger condition or event], [effect]. [Instructions (if any).]” "
Since it's a triggered ability, all players will have a chance to respond to it by casting spells and activating abilities, including you.
117.5: "Each time a player would get priority, the game first performs all applicable state-based action ... Then triggered abilities are put on the stack (see rule 603, “Handling Triggered Abilities”).... Then the player who would have received priority does so."
At that point you can activate Oracle En-Vec, targeting your opponent. As part of resolving that ability, your opponent will need to state which creatures they are choosing. Then your Peacekeeper trigger is next on the stack. When it resolves, at that point you can choose whether or not you want to pay the cost.
December 22, 2022 6:58 p.m.