Does "Once per turn" really mean only once?
Asked by any_response 4 years ago
I have a question regarding cards with abilities worded "activate only once each turn" or similar.
Is there a certain point to check and to end the turn (defining that after this point the ability can be activated again) like it works for abilities that specify "until end of turn", because they expire in the cleanup already and not at the beginning of the next turn? If so, could i use an ability that is only allowed to be activated once per turn multiple times if i keep chaining cleanup steps (using discard triggers e.g.)?
Gidgetimer says... Accepted answer #2
There is no way to cheat it. If the ability has been activated during the current turn it can not be activated again. "Only once each turn" is a static effect that creates a restriction on the activation of the ability. As such it just checks the game state to see if the restriction applies at all times and does not need a specified duration. "Until end of turn" is defining an end point for an effect. By it's very nature this means that it needs a specified time to wear off.
April 2, 2021 6:02 p.m.
any_response says... #3
So that means, if i have an ability that is only allowed to be activated once each turn - i can activate it in my cleanup step (if i have not used it before), but only once, no matter how many cleanups i have, and then the next time i have to wait for my opponents turn and until i have priority?
April 2, 2021 6:17 p.m.
you only get one cleanup step. once per turn is once per turn no matter how you slice it. same as trying to do something once per day. you can't just start doing it repeatedly at 11:59pm and still say "yep only did that once today".
April 3, 2021 12:29 a.m.
Gidgetimer says... #6
As OP said, you can create multiple cleanup steps by forcing a trigger during the clean up step multiple times. The easiest example of this to understand is discarding and then dredging Dakmor Salvage with The Gitrog Monster . OP's question is valid on the premise of most things ending on the cleanup step. They just missed the distinction that I made in my initial comment.
514.3a At this point, the game checks to see if any state-based actions would be performed and/or any triggered abilities are waiting to be put onto the stack (including those that trigger “at the beginning of the next cleanup step”). If so, those state-based actions are performed, then those triggered abilities are put on the stack, then the active player gets priority. Players may cast spells and activate abilities. Once the stack is empty and all players pass in succession, another cleanup step begins.
any_response says... #1
I hope my question is understandable. If not, please feel free to ask. Thank you in advance :)
April 2, 2021 5:33 p.m.