Can I bounce creatures with Unsubstantiate
Asked by Iron_eye2 5 years ago
I was playing against my friend, and he cast Niblis of Frost. Before it resolved, I cast Unsubstantiate on it to bounce it. He said I can't do that because creatures are permanents, nos spells. I said that I can do it because it didn't hit the battlefield or resolved, therefore it is a spell. Which one of us is correct, and can I actually do that?
It's also worth noting that if it weren't a spell, because it had resolved, it would be a creature, which is still a valid target for Unsubstantiate.
FancyTuesday says... Accepted answer #1
You are correct. "Casting" is a game action that takes a card from your hand and moves it to the stack, where it becomes a spell. In this case it's a creature spell, but it's still a spell. See for example: Remove Soul.
If however your friend put their creature onto the battlefield without "casting" it (for instance, with Quicksilver Amulet) then it wouldn't be a spell, it goes straight from their hand to the battlefield as the ability putting it there resolves.
July 17, 2018 2:47 p.m.