Cipher ability still runs when the spell is countered?
Asked by heyfrede 8 years ago
When I cast the sorcery Whispering Madness, and the opponent counter this spell, for an example, with Mana Leak.
As the Whispering Madness has not resolved, the ability CIPHER doesn't activate, right?
Thanks in advance!
Rhadamanthus says... #2
If a spell is countered then none of its effects happen. In your example the Cipher ability won't encode Whispering Madness onto a creature.
FYI "activate" is a technical term only used for activated abilities, i.e. ones that are written as "Cost : Effect". Making that distinction and keeping it straight does matter for certain cards (Linvala, Keeper of Silence, etc.).
August 13, 2015 10:08 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #3
It's also worth noting that cipher functions as a spell ability while the source card is on the stack. It's not an activated or a triggered ability, do it doesn't exist independently of the card. Rather, it's just an effect that the spell executes when it resolves.
This is different from an on-cast triggered ability, such as that of Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre, that happens regardless of whether the spell resolves.
filledelanuit says... Accepted answer #1
Please check the gatherer ruling before asking a question.
4/15/2013: If the spell with cipher is countered, none of its effects will happen, including cipher. The card will go to its owner's graveyard and won't be encoded on a creature.
August 13, 2015 10:05 a.m.