Can I activate Ice Cauldron's exiling ability every time it untaps or do I have to remove the charge counter first?

Asked by versus64 2 years ago

"Put a charge counter on Ice Cauldron and exile a nonland card from your hand. You may cast that card for as long as it remains exiled. Note the type and amount of mana spent to pay this activation cost. Activate this ability only if there are no charge counters on Ice Cauldron." This makes it seems like I basically get to exile a card every other turn because in between I have to activate its second ability to remove the charge counter first.

Yesterday says... Accepted answer #1

By default, you would only be able to activate Ice Cauldron's first ability every other turn, yes, because of that text, "Activate this ability only if there are no charge counters on Ice Cauldron."

You're free to use other methods to stop the Ice Cauldron from having a counter on it (like Nesting Grounds or Solemnity), though the applications are niche. You won't be able to activate the Cauldron's second ability unless it already has a counter on it, as removing a counter from it is part of that second ability's activation cost.

September 28, 2021 8:13 a.m.