If I have no cards in may hand, can I still use Slate of Ancestry ability?
Asked by Synergix 12 years ago
If I have no cards in may hand, can I still use Slate of Ancestry ability? Meaning can I discard my and if I have no cards there?
AztecaSaint says... #2
I'm no judge but the text demands you to discard your hand. State of hand: 0 cards (4),T, Discard hand, ditch all that is present, 0 cards discarded: Draw a card for each creature you control. So answering this with a yes.
September 26, 2012 5:23 a.m.
the andser of mafteechr is correct but his example would consider diffrend explanation.
Discard hand on Slate is a cost the Discard 2 cards sounds more like the effect of Mind Rot .
Slate hand say Discard hand if hand is 0 discard 0 if hand is 4 discard 4.
Now return to the exaple Discard 2 if this was stated instead of discard hand you wouldnt be able to cast it since its the cost and you would only hold 1 in hand.
September 26, 2012 6:47 a.m.
harrydemon117 says... #4
Sagi007 is correct. Anything before a : on a card is considered a cost. You MUST pay these in order to activate the ability
September 26, 2012 7:18 a.m.
Personal favorite of mine with Opposition and Zombie Infestation . I've abused Slate of Ancestry many times.
September 26, 2012 8:28 a.m.
GoblinsInc says... #6
Yeah, 609.3 doesn't apply here, as we're dealing with a cost, not an effect. But his answer is correct.
September 26, 2012 8:55 a.m.
How can you even tell what Sagi007 was saying?
Your hand = 0. You're discarding your 0 card hand.
September 26, 2012 9:53 a.m.
Hey, it was 5 in the morning, cut me some slack for quoting the wrong rule :-P
September 26, 2012 12:48 p.m.
It happens, I abuse Slate with Krenko all the time and it works miracles for card advantage.
September 26, 2012 3:06 p.m.
harrydemon117 says... #11
Right. As I was saying you pay the cost. If you don't have any cards in hand you can STILL activate it as it says "hand" and not "cards".
If the cost would say something similar to Zombie Infestation where you have to discard 2 CARDS and not your HAND then you couldn't activate it.
September 26, 2012 4:23 p.m.
GoblinsInc says... #12
You know I'll cut a fellow judge slack maf :) But just because we make mistakes doesn't mean I can't point it out :D
mafteechr says... Accepted answer #1
Yes. There is no qualifier in the ability that requires you to have cards in your hand.
609.3. If an effect attempts to do something impossible, it does only as much as possible.
Example: If a player is holding only one card, an effect that reads "Discard two cards" causes him or her to discard only that card. If an effect moves cards out of the library (as opposed to drawing), it moves as many as possible.
September 26, 2012 5:22 a.m.