Can you trigger your own Desecration Demon?
Asked by keibatsu 11 years ago
I realize the first part of his ability says "At the beginning of each combat, any OPPONENT may sacrifice a creature." however the next sentence says "If a player does (sacrifice a creature), tap Desecration Demon and put a +1/+1 counter on it." Since it says "If a PLAYER does" (referring to sacrificing a creature) would that not mean that Desecration Demon's ability would trigger any time anyone had to sacrifice a creature, including its controller? Why doesn't it say "At the beginning of each combat, any opponent may sacrifice a creature. If an OPPONENT does, tap Desecration Demon and put a +1/+1 counter on it."? I'm sure it is not intended to be this way, but going off of the card's text and since gatherer does not clarify about this in the rulings section it seems that it should work...
An opponent is a player, so in this case it doesn't create any rules difference whether it says "player" or "opponent." The second part of the ability (starting with "if a player does") is part of the same ability as the "At the beginning of each combat" text. Standard English rules indicate that the "If a player does" refers to the previously stated action (the sacrifice).
Wizards probably worded it this way because if it said "if an opponent does" it could cause more confusion by people thinking that it might be referencing an opponent of the active player, rather than the controller of the demon.
TL;DR: It means the same thing either way. The "if it does" only applies to sacrifices made because of the first part of the ability.
October 30, 2013 5:20 a.m.
Absinthman says... #3
No, you can't. "If a player does" is a phrase that is used on cards to make a short reference to players who meet the aforementioned criteria. The reference still means "If any of your opponents does so". Imagine if the Demon's wording was slightly different. To comply with your theory of how it works, it would need to look like this: At the beginning of each combat, any opponent who controls more creatures than you can sacrifice a creature. If an opponent who controls more creatures than you does, tap Desecration Demon and put a +1/+1 counter on it. As you can see, this wording is too long and clunky. That's why R&D use "If a player does" to refer to whatever prerequisites the cards set before.
October 30, 2013 5:20 a.m.
@MartialArt: "the controler can choose to sacrifice a creature himself" is incorrect. The first part of the ability specifically allows an opponent to sacrifice a creature. You can't sacrifice a creature for no reason, and only an opponent is given the ability to by the demon. Even if you have some way to sacrifice a creature, it wouldn't be sacrificed to the same effect. You can never sacrifice a creature to the ability of a Desecration Demon which triggered under your control.
TL;DR: You can't sacrifice your own creatures to your demon. Only your opponents can.
October 30, 2013 5:23 a.m.
MartialArt says... #5
Thanks for stating this Drilnoth. Simply overread it.
October 30, 2013 5:28 a.m.
Hernandez1993 says... #6
Desecration Demon in modern is funny. An opponent sacs a creature and taps it, and you put a +1/+1 counter on him then before your combat phase you Twiddle your Desecration Demon and swing for whatever the power is. I have done this.
October 30, 2013 8:25 a.m.
@ Hernandez1993 The Desecration Demon s ability can only be activated at the beggining of the combat step so you wouldn't be able to have and opponent sac to tap it and then cast a spell before that step... idk if you could still untap with Twiddle and attack, I dont see why not but it'd have to be done during your combat phase and not before :)
October 30, 2013 11:31 a.m.
Hernandez1993 says... #8
Panda213 I meant before you declare your attackers lol.
MartialArt says... #1
The part "if a player does" refers to the sentence before so Desecration Demon s ability only triggers if a player sacrifices a creature for his effect.
And it states "if a player does" and not "if an opponent does" so the controler can choose to sacrifice a creature himself.
Why would anyone do this?
For example if an opponent has a big flyer himself that can block your demon and you have a card that lets you sacrifice a creature to deal direct damage. In this case you could sacrifice one of your own creatures to pump your demon, so you can deal one more damage. And this may be really worth it if you simply sacrifice a 1/1 token for it.
greets MA
October 30, 2013 5:16 a.m.