Does Hostility count count creatures as spells?

Asked by blemay 9 years ago

The card Hostility says "when a spell..." Does a creature count as a spell?

The_Raven says... Accepted answer #1

Every card on the stack is a spell. Cards in the graveyard, libary, battlefield etc. are not spells. Therefore, Hostility doesn't work with creatures on the battlefield.

However, as long as a creature is on the stack, it is considered a spell.

November 7, 2015 10:14 a.m. Edited.

blemay says... #2

So I'm guessing it also wouldn't take into account abilities such as Warstorm Surge or Omnath, Locus of Rage's second ability?

November 7, 2015 10:21 a.m.

The_Raven says... #3

Yea, it doesn't take those abilities into account. Since they only trigger when the creature is on the battlefield, it unfortunately won't work.

November 7, 2015 10:22 a.m.

blemay says... #4

Thank you for helping refine my Omnath, Locus of Rage build.

November 7, 2015 10:25 a.m.

Epochalyptik says... #5

An ability is, by definition, not a spell.

A spell is a card, or a copy of a card, on the stack. Every card type except lands can be cast as a spell, whether from your hand or, in some cases, from your graveyard, your library, exile, or the command zone.

Whenever a creature, artifact, planeswalker, or enchantment spell resolves, it becomes a permanent (objects on the battlefield are permanents).

Permanent spells generally don't do much on the stack. Even permanent cards that do something while on the stack (such as Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger) do so through triggered abilities, so the spells themselves won't do anything.

Hostility's ability only triggers if the spell is the source of the damage (e.g., Shock).

November 7, 2015 10:26 a.m.

Epochalyptik says... #6

If your question has been sufficiently answered, please mark an answer as selected to remove this question from the active queue.

November 7, 2015 10:27 a.m.

This discussion has been closed