Grand Architect and Illusion questions

Asked by CGiese 13 years ago

So grand architects third ability is "Tap an untapped blue creature you control: Add (2) to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast artifact spells or activate abilities of artifacts." Can you tap down a blue illusion creature, such as Phantasmal Bear, for (2) mana using his ability? Or does the bear simply die as a result of being the target of the Architect's ability? If the bear does die, will you still get the (2) mana?

Is the blue illusion actually being the target of his ability or are you simply tapping him which triggers the architects ability. If the ruling is this way, why can you tap a blue creature with summoning sickness for (2) mana?

In other regards to illusions; Can you equip an Argentum armor to an illusion? The ruling on illusions states "If becomes the target of a Spell or Ability, Sacrifice it." Equipping something is not a spell or ability. Or is it?

I would like some clarification for an upcoming deck idea.

Siegfried says... Accepted answer #1

Alright.

1)If an ability doesn't actually have the word "target" in it, it doesn't target. Along with that, Architect's tapping thing is part of the cost for an ability, not an ability itself.

2)Equip is an ability of equipment that attaches it to target creature you control (a lot of the old equipment have reminder text next to the ability). So yes, it will kill the bear to equip it. Think of it like trying to throw a sword at a creature made of mist, the creature disappears and the sword passes right through it.

July 10, 2011 2:48 a.m.