How do the legend rule and ETB effects stack?
Asked by bobano 7 years ago
If I was to play an Olivia, Mobilized for War with one already in play, does the first's etb effect trigger and allow me to make the new one a hasty 4/4? Or does the legend rule make me choose one before the etb effect is put on the stack?
DarkMagician says... #2
Boza I believe the trigger stacks then you sacrifice one as a state based effect.
May 17, 2016 4:20 a.m.
State-based actions, like the one checking whether you have two of the same legendary cards, are checked before a player would receive priority. So, it goes like this:
State-based actions are checked > put Old Olivia in the graveyard > triggered ability is put on the stack > active player receives priority > triggered ability resolves if nothing else happens
May 17, 2016 4:26 a.m.
Raging_Squiggle says... Accepted answer #4
Boza, I got your back for rule checking! :)
116.5. Each time a player would get priority, the game first performs all applicable state-based actions as a single event (see rule 704, “State-Based Actions”), then repeats this process until no state-based actions are performed. Then triggered abilities are put on the stack (see rule 603, “Handling Triggered Abilities”). These steps repeat in order until no further state-based actions are performed and no abilities trigger. Then the player who would have received priority does so.
May 17, 2016 4:48 a.m.
DarkMagician says... #5
I always thought it would work out as put triggered ability on the stack>check state based effects (sacrifice an olivia)>non-active player receives priority (as priority would pass after active player casts Olivia). Not that it actually makes a difference
May 17, 2016 4:50 a.m.
DarkMagician says... #6
No player needs priority for a trigger to go on the stack.
May 17, 2016 4:51 a.m.
Raging_Squiggle says... #7
"No player needs priority for a trigger to go on the stack".
This is incorrect. Nothing can go on the stack when no player has priority for any reason, whether it be because something is resolving, or you're in the untap step, or what have you.
During the resolution of a spell or ability, if an ability triggers during such time, it "waits" to go on the stack the next instant any player would receive priority. Take Nekusar, the Mindrazer as a prime example. An opponent casts Brainstorm and draws their 3 cards. Nekusar triggers 3 times, but those triggers do Not go on the stack until Brainstorm has finished resolving.
As for State based actions and triggered abilities:
603.3. Once an ability has triggered, its controller puts it on the stack as an object thats not a card the next time a player would receive priority. See rule 116, Timing and Priority. The ability becomes the topmost object on the stack. It has the text of the ability that created it, and no other characteristics. It remains on the stack until its countered, it resolves, a rule causes it to be removed from the stack, or an effect moves it elsewhere.
405.6f State-based actions dont use the stack; they happen automatically when certain conditions are met. See rule 704. They are dealt with before a player would receive priority. See rule 116.5.
May 17, 2016 5 a.m.
Raging_Squiggle says... #9
Also worth pointing out:
Applying the legend rule does not result in sacrificing. Nor destroying. You simply keep the chosen card and put the rest into their owner's graveyard per the State based action.
704.5k If a player controls two or more legendary permanents with the same name, that player chooses one of them, and the rest are put into their owners graveyards. This is called the legend rule.
May 17, 2016 5:07 a.m.
DarkMagician says... #10
All of this time I thought you were sacrificing the creature
Boza says... #1
You will have to choose which Olivia to place in the graveyard, before the triggered ability even goes on the stack. However, this will not stop the ability from triggering in any way.
If you choose NewLivia to stay on the battlefield, the trigger will then resolve, allowing you to attack with a hasty 4/4 Olivia.
May 17, 2016 3:24 a.m.