Does Pact of Negation / Sudden Substitution work?
Asked by nyxnyxnyx 2 years ago
Player A plays a spell, say Ratchet Bomb.
Can Player B use Pact of Negation + Sudden Substitution to cause player C to lose in a Commander game?
This does not work, however other pacts do. The issue is Sudden Substitution let's them change the target. Sudden Substitution will still be on the stack when their choosing a target, so they can choose it. Once Pact of Negation goes to resolve the target will be illegal as Sudden Substitution left the stack when it finished resolving, so Pact of Negation will be put into the graveyard without creating its delayed triggered ability.
September 12, 2021 5:13 p.m.
Neotrup Ah, there's the angle I'd been looking for. You're quite right.
September 13, 2021 9:53 a.m.
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Polaris says... #1
Pact of Negation, Sudden Substitution
Yes, this works. It's evil, but it works. Pact of Negation sets up a delayed triggered ability when it resolves, so if it resolves under another player's control they'll have to pay the cost.
However, there are a few ways around it. Once upon a time this would be a guaranteed kill on a player that didn't have blue (assuming Pact resolves, of course), but under current Commander rules, lands or creatures that can tap for mana of "any color" (i.e. Archway Commons), Treasure tokens, an effect that gives lands all types like Prismatic Omen, or an effect like Chromatic Orrery will let them pay the in the cost.
September 11, 2021 7:13 p.m.