How is Pyxis of Pandemonium cracked?
Asked by Arvail 11 years ago
So there's this doofus at my EDH group that insists on running Pyxis of Pandemonium in each of his decks. It's caused us a lot of headaches before.
How exactly do the permanents enter the field? How do priority and state-based actions behave here? I'd appreciate if someone were to walk me through the motions of a Pyxis of Pandemonium activation.
Absinthman says... Accepted answer #2
Unfortunately, your question is not specific enought as to what exactly caused problems in your group, so the only thing I can do is say what generally happens.
When Pyxis of Pandemonium
is cracked, its ability goes onto the stack. When (and if) it resolves, all cards that were previously exiled with it are simultaneously turned face up. All permanent cards from among them are then simultaneously put onto the battlefield under their respective owners' control. If this results into any abilities having been triggered, they are put onto the stack in the following order: first the active player puts his or her abilities onto the stack, then the player who would be active next, and so on, until all abilities have been put onto the stack. For each respective player, if multiple abilities would trigger for that player, he or she may put them onto the stack in his or her prefered order. For each ability that triggers, if it has targets, those must be chosen right away when it is being put onto the stack. Then, assuming nothing else happens, those abilities start resolving from top to bottom. Of course, players get priority in between individual resolution and may cast spells or activate abilities there. State-based actions are checked whenever a player would get priority, which is after the activation of Pyxis resolves, after any item is put onto the stack, after any item on the stack has resolved and after every state-based action check that yielded positive results.
April 29, 2014 4:16 a.m.
Alright. So let's say my buddy turns over a really spiffy Storm Crow and I feel like I must have it. Let's say I happen to turn over something like Volition Reins . Would it be legal for me to target the bird or any other permanent played with Pyxis or is it illegal since it hasn't actually hit the field yet? I'm guessing the latter.
Also, what order would the triggers of permanents entering the battlefield enter the stack? Let's say player 1 designates permanents A, B, and C, all of which have abilities, and then passes to player 2. He then places the abilities of permanents D, E, and F on the stack.
Does the stack then resolve F to A?
April 29, 2014 5:05 a.m.
Absinthman says... #4
Here is the rule relevant to your situation:
303.4f If an Aura is entering the battlefield under a players control by any means other than by resolving as an Aura spell, and the effect putting it onto the battlefield doesnt specify the object or player the Aura will enchant, that player chooses what it will enchant as the Aura enters the battlefield. The player must choose a legal object or player according to the Auras enchant ability and any other applicable effects.
You can't enchant the Storm Crow
, because you must choose what the aura will be attached to as it is entering the battlefield, at which point everything else that's affected by Pyxis of Pandemonium
is also in the "entering the battlefield" state, but not on the battlefield yet. You must choose something else for it, or if you can't, it will remain in exile. It works the same way with creatures like Clone
which also can't copy something that's entering the battlefield at the same time as they do.
Yes, the stack will resolve F to A.
April 29, 2014 5:51 a.m.
andrehziinhu says... #6
Hi. I want to ask something here also (if I may).
What if I'm planing to build a deck that uses Pyxis of Pandemonium , many enchantments like Chained to the Rocks and Banishing Light along with the important card here, which is Forgeborn Oreads . all cards entered the battlefield at the same time. so I'm assuming that nothing will trigger from it as mentioned earlier in this timeline... but can someone with better rulling skills confirm it for me?
I would love to have this working ahah!
Thanks!
April 29, 2014 2:49 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #7
@andrehziinhu: Whenever multiple permanents enter or leave the battlefield simultaneously, they all "see" one another entering or leaving. Abilities trigger accordingly.
Forgeborn Oreads 's ability will trigger for itself and each other enchantment that enters the battlefield with it.
Epochalyptik says... #1
The permanents all enter the battlefield at the same time. Relevant abilities trigger and wait, then SBAs are performed, then any waiting triggered abilities are put onto the stack in APNAP order.
April 29, 2014 4:13 a.m.