How does Extort work?
Asked by Wingwire 9 years ago
Basilica Screecher has Extort, that refers to "when you cast a spell", since creatures count as spells, does that mean when I summon a creature I can use Extort? Or only when I cast things like sorcery?
To also answer the more in-general question of how Extort works: Whenever you cast a spell, for every creature with Extort on the battlefield, you may choose to pay the Extort cost. For those you paid, the effect will go on the stack. That means your opponents will lose life and you will gain life before the spell itself resolves.
Also, keep in mind you can't use the Extort abilities of creatures you cast. So if you have no permanent with Extort on the battlefield and you cast Basilica Screecher, you can't choose to pay the Extort cost of it, as it's not currently on the battlefield at that time. You can also pay the Extort cost only once per Extort. That usually means you can pay it only once per permanent you control, however cards such as Pontiff of Blight may give creatures multiple instances of Extort that can be payed for once each.
As a minor correction to what you said, creatures only count as spells when they're on the stack.
June 1, 2014 8:32 a.m.
BlueScope Almost right, but the decision of whether to pay the extort cost or not is part of the extort ability resolving. Extort triggers will go on the stack always and only when they are resolving you get to choose whether to pay the cost or not. Triggers with 'may' contain a choice and choices are made during resolution of abilities.
June 2, 2014 1:50 a.m.
Draugo: Ah, you would be right... the stacking had me confused, I believe. :)
BlueScope says... Accepted answer #1
Extort will apply to creatures as well, yes. It basically refers to everything you cast.
June 1, 2014 8:16 a.m.