Can the action of a spell be used as payment for an activated ability?

Asked by noobgenius 11 years ago

Can I cast the card TAKE (Give//Take) which states "Remove all +1/+1 counters from target creature you control. Draw that many cards."... and use the removal of all the counters to activate the ability on SAGE OF HOURS which states, "Remove all +1/+1 counters from Sage of Hours: xxxxx..."

Bottom Line: If I cast TAKE and remove 5 +1/+1 counters from SAGE OF HOURS, do I then draw 5 cards and take an extra turn?

xq948 says... Accepted answer #1

Please link all cards in your question:
Give / Take
Sage of Hours

You will only take turns if you use Sage of Hours 's ability. Since casting Give / Take isn't Sage of Hours 's ability, you won't take turns.

May 18, 2014 1:45 p.m.

Absinthman says... #2

No you don't. The amount of cards you draw fore Give / Take is based on the number of counters you actually remove as a part of its resolution. If you respond to your casting of Give / Take by activating the ability of Sage of Hours , you'll remove all counters from it as a cost, then the ability will resolve, creating an extra turn for you, and when Take starts resolving, you won't have any more counters to remove with it.

May 18, 2014 2:21 p.m.

megawurmple says... #3

Here's a good analogy you hear often on these kinds of questions: you can't pay for two $1 items with the same dollar bill. Similarly, you cannot use the same 5 +1/+1 counters to pay for two different abilities.

May 18, 2014 3:06 p.m.

Colten_Lee says... #4

That analogy makes it so much simpler.

May 19, 2014 2:17 p.m.

This discussion has been closed