How are substitution effects prioritized?

Asked by TheAmazingSalsa 4 years ago

I have my Anafenza, the Foremost out on the field and my friend attacks an opponent with Undead Alchemist , which ability goes first on the stack? Does my friend get the zombie token or not?

Kogarashi says... Accepted answer #1

Replacement effects don't use the stack.

When your friend attacks your mutual opponent, assuming the Undead Alchemist will deal combat damage to said opponent, what happens is this:

  • Undead Alchemist would deal combat damage, so its replacement effect applies. Instead of the Alchemist dealing damage, the opponent puts four cards from the top of their library into their graveyard.

  • Assuming there are one or more creature cards among those four, Anafenza, the Foremost 's replacement effect applies. Those creature cards are instead exiled. They never go to the graveyard.

  • Your friend does not get any zombie tokens because its second ability (which is a triggered ability) never triggers, due to those creature cards never going to the graveyard in the first place. That event was replaced by Anafenza.

August 7, 2019 8:31 a.m.

Caerwyn says... #2

In the future, please remember to hit the green “mark as answer” button to indicate your question has been resolved. Since this question has been answered for a couple of days with no follow-up questions, I have gone ahead and marked an answer on your behalf.

August 12, 2019 9:42 a.m.

Please login to comment