does Contagion Clasp fizzle if there is no creatures on the filed?
Asked by TowerOfBad 14 years ago
So, I try to play Contagion Clasp and there are no creatures on the battlefield. Does it fizzle?
Why and why not? This has been a constant source of disagreement with cards like this.
TowerOfBad says... #2
Well, "this guy on the Internet said" isn't going to cut it with my group.
Can you help me with a ruling to print out?
April 1, 2011 12:03 p.m.
djdauenbaugh says... Accepted answer #3
601.2. To cast a spell is to take it from where it is (usually the hand), put it on the stack, and pay its costs, so that it will eventually resolve and have its effect. Casting a spell follows the steps listed below, in order. If, at any point during the casting of a spell, a player is unable to comply with any of the steps listed below, the casting of the spell is illegal; the game returns to the moment before that spell started to be cast (see rule 715, Handling Illegal Actions). Announcements and payments cant be altered after theyve been made.
Essentially, you declare you're casting a spell, follow steps 601.2a-601.2h. They can be found at http://www.wizards.com/magic/comprules/MagicCompRules_20110204.pdfIf the spell resolves it "enters the battlefield."
Once it enters the battlefield, it's triggered ability goes on the stack.
603.1. Triggered abilities have a trigger condition and an effect. They are written as [Trigger condition], [effect], and begin with the word when, whenever, or at. They can also be expressed as [When/Whenever/At] [trigger event], [effect].
"When Contagion Clasp enters the battlefield, put a -1/-1 counter on target creature"
The triggered ability has nothing to do with the casting cost of the card, they are two seperate events that are placed on the stack at different times. Hope this helps.
April 1, 2011 12:44 p.m.
toastymcslugnugget says... #4
Contagion Clasp has to resolve before the ETB effect kicks in. THe clasp will still be on the field, but the ability won't do anything if there are no creatures.
Also,
"Contagion Clasp's first ability is mandatory. If you're the only player who controls a creature, you must target one of them."
April 1, 2011 12:44 p.m.
djdauenbaugh says... #5
sorry, http://www.wizards.com/magic/comprules/MagicCompRules_20110204.pdf if the spell resolves it "enters the battlefield"
April 1, 2011 12:45 p.m.
MagnorCriol says... #6
djdauenbaugh's right. The -1/-1 counter isn't part of casting Contagion Clasp, it's a triggered ability.
603.6a Enters-the-battlefield abilities trigger when a permanent enters the battlefield. These are written, "When [this object] enters the battlefield, . . . " or "Whenever a [type] enters the battlefield, . . ."Which means it's not something that's going to counter the Clasp. It's just a trigger that gets put onto the stack when the Clasp resolves - in other words, in order for there to be a -1/-1 counter ability in the first place, the clasp has to have already resolved safely on the battlefield, and "fizzling" is completely out of the question.
April 1, 2011 1:58 p.m.
djdauenbaugh says... #7
@MagnorCriol it "fizzles" if it has no legal targets, i.e. no creatures on the board.
April 1, 2011 2:01 p.m.
djdauenbaugh says... #8
I should say, the triggered ability fizzles from the stack if the triggered ability has no legal targets, i.e. there are no creatures on the board. Thanks for the backup. I tried to post all the rules and it was more than double the amount of legal characters for a post. :(
April 1, 2011 2:03 p.m.
MagnorCriol says... #9
Heh, definitely been there. =p
You're right though, I should've been clearer. The ability fizzles, yeah, but the Contagion Clasp itself has already resolved, and it can't fizzle, by definition.
April 1, 2011 2:11 p.m.
thaimaishuu says... #10
Everyone here has the right idea. The ruiling, TowerOfBad, that you are looking for is 405.1 which simply says triggered abilities go on to the stack without associating with the original spell. So an ability fizzling on the stack does not effect the spell it triggered from. In your case, the spell aka Contagion Clasp is already a permanent so I don't know how it could fizzle at all.
405.1. When a spell is cast, the physical card is put on the stack (see rule 601.2a). When an ability is activated or triggers, it goes on top of the stack without any card associated with it (see rules 602.2a and 603.3).
April 1, 2011 2:17 p.m.
Jarrod_0067 says... #11
And it isn't worded like "as an additional cost to cast ___, put a -1/-1 counter on target creature" or "...if you cannot, it is sacrificed when it enters the battlefield"
Siegfried says... #1
The ability to put a -1/-1 counter on a creature fizzles. Contagion Clasp entering the battlefield doesn't rely on you putting that counter somewhere, it's just an ability that triggers when it does enter the battlefield.
Spells which have had all of their targets become illegal 'fizzle'. Spells with no targets can't be cast in the first place. Clasp's ability is an enters-the-battlefield triggered ability, if it fizzles it doesn't affect the card in any way.
April 1, 2011 11:58 a.m.