If I have Mairsil, the Pretender and I cage AEtherling, when Mairsil is returned can I use Conjurer's Closet?

Asked by Redcat7264 5 years ago

If I have Mairsil, the Pretender and I cage AEtherling, because it technically is the begining of the end step when Mairsil is returned, can I use Conjurer's Closet to exile Mairsil again at the begining of the end step still?

Kogarashi says... Accepted answer #1

Unfortunately no.

All abilities that have "at the beginning of your/the next end step" in them trigger at the same time. This includes both Conjurer's Closet and the delayed triggered ability of AEtherling. When Conjurer's Closet triggers and goes on the stack, you have to choose its target at that point. Mairsil, the Pretender will still be in exile and thus not a valid target.

If Conjurer's Closet instead read "you may exile a creature you control" instead of "target creature," then it would work if you put the triggers in the right order on the stack, as in that case the Closet wouldn't target, and therefore wouldn't need to have a trigger chosen when it goes on the stack.

September 19, 2018 10:13 p.m.

LGFlatron says... #2

Kogarashi has answered this well.

Just for reference, the relevant rulings are below:

Ruling 603.2b Show

Advises that the the triggered abilities are added to the stack simultaneously:

• 603.2b When a phase or step begins, all abilities that trigger “at the beginning of” that phase or step trigger.

Ruling 114.1d Show

Advises that a triggered ability with a “target” must have its target declared as it’s added to the stack:

• 114.1d A triggered ability is targeted if it identifies something it will affect by using the phrase “target [something],” where the “something” is a phrase that describes an object, player, or zone. The target(s) are chosen as the ability is put on the stack; see rule 603.3d.

Ruling 114.2 Show

Advises that the creature in this case is not a legal target while it’s still in the exile zone:

• 114.2. Only permanents are legal targets for spells and abilities, unless a spell or ability (a) specifies that it can target an object in another zone or a player, (b) targets an object that can’t exist on the battlefield, such as a spell or ability, or (c) targets a zone.

September 20, 2018 5:50 a.m.