Distinction between Narset, Enlightened Master and Etali, Primal Storm
Asked by jwanders 5 years ago
I like to think I have a pretty good understanding of the rules, but this confuses me: if Narset exiles a sorcery you have to wait for your post-combat main phase to cast it, while if Etali does you can cast it during combat. I can't see how that distinction is clear from their rules text. Should Etali have an "as though they have flash" clause?
Because Etali, Primal Storm casts them as part of the ability's resolution it also means that if you don't cast them right then, they're lost to exile forever. You won't be able to wait for blockers to be delcared to choose a target, for example.
May 22, 2018 4:52 p.m.
Rhadamanthus says... Accepted answer #3
In your example:
- Narset, Enlightened Master allows you to cast the cards from exile without paying their mana costs this turn, but doesn't give any extra permission to cast them at an unusual time
- Etali, Primal Storm allows you to cast the card from exile without paying the mana cost right now, during the resolution of the triggered ability, but not at any other time
The only reason a player is able to do anything in a game of Magic is because some rule or effect gives them permission to do so (the concept of a "timing restriction" is a bit of a misnomer, as the only true "restriction" in the timing rules is that you can't play a land on someone else's turn). The rules of the game give you the permissions that allow you to do things "normally", but effects from the cards themselves can give you permission to do things in an unusual way or restrict certain things from happening in a particular way.
FancyTuesday says... #1
The "Until end of turn" provision in Narset, Enlightened Master sets up a condition where Narset's ability resolves, then you have cards you can cast under the conditions set up by her ability. Etali, Primal Storm says "exile cards, then cast them", allowing you to cast those spells as part of the resolution of its ability, thus ignoring timing restrictions.
May 22, 2018 2:08 p.m. Edited.