Copy effects with regards to the timing of an opponent's Return to Dust
Asked by th3giv3r 6 years ago
Okay, I feel I may already know the answer to this because of how copy effects on spells are not defined as being "cast" and copy effects on activated/triggered abilities are not defined as being "activated/triggered" by the owner of the copy effect, but:
If I cast a Reverberate on an opponent's Return to Dust that was cast during THEIR main phase, meaning that their spell allows them to select two targets instead of just one, does this mean that I, too, get to select two targets instead of one with my copy after it goes on the stack and resolves first?
I imagine that I would, even though my copy wasn't put onto the stack during MY main phase, since the rules text for Return to Dust specifically reads, "Exile target artifact or enchantment. If you CAST this spell during your main phase, you may exile up to one other target artifact or enchantment," and copying is strictly defined as NOT casting.
I'm still suspect that this might not be an open and shut case, so I was wondering what the community thought about it.
Thanks, folks.
You can always select two targets with Return to Dust , regardless of when it's cast, per its Gatherer rulings:
"Regardless of when Return to Dust is cast, its controller may choose one target or two targets. It can always be cast even if there’s only one legal target. If it’s cast at a time other than its controller’s main phase and a second target is chosen, nothing will happen to that target. (2006-09-25)"
When you copy the spell, you'll end up copying the "if you cast this during your main phase" text. Since it wouldn't be your own main phase, you won't meet the condition for exiling the second target, and thus nothing will happen to it.
March 2, 2019 8:38 p.m.
PlatinumOne says... #3
Kogarashi: it wouldn't just be the timing that was off, it would also be the "cast" part as well.
March 2, 2019 11 p.m.
If you copy your own Return to Dust that was cast during your own main phase, the copy would not be able to exile a second target, as the copy was not cast, even though it is your main phase.
March 3, 2019 9:09 a.m.
PlatinumOne says... #6
if you've found a satisfactory answer, please mark it so this can move to the "answered" section.
March 11, 2019 7:11 p.m.
In the future, please remember to hit the "Mark as Answer" button once your question has been resolved. This helps keep the Rules Q&A section clutter-free and helps future users with the same question quickly identify the correct answer.
I have gone ahead and marked an answer as accepted on your behalf; if you could do so in the future, that would be appreciated.
PlatinumOne says... #1
in order to select a 2nd target, the spell must be cast. since the copy isn't being cast, its not eligible to select a 2nd target.
March 2, 2019 2:55 p.m.