Intervening Ifs
Asked by DruneGrey 8 years ago
So intervening If clauses in abilities check both for the ability to trigger and check again as it resolves. My question is, does this mean that ability is placed on the stack?
So the example being a Chance Encounter with 10 counters on it, during my upkeep. It is checked and met so does the "Win the Game" ability get placed on the stack so it can be responded to before resolution?
No it does not mean that the ability is placed on the stack. it checks both essentially means that there are 2 opportunities for the spell to fail.
If Chance Encounter has 9 counters on it, it will not trigger at all
If Chance Encounter does trigger, but it has 9 counters when it resolves, it will not win you the game.
August 27, 2015 10:31 a.m.
Yes.
Only If CE has 10 counters does the ability trigger. It never actually goes to the stack otherwise.
After it triggers, it acts like any old triggered ability. You can respond to it freely - Stifle works really well.
Vampire Hexmage works as well, since the if clause means that the condition (of 10 counters in this case) has to be met on resolution as well. So, Vampire Hexmage with prevent the CE player from winning.
For similar abilites with intervening if clauses, check out evolve on cards like Cloudfin Raptor.
August 27, 2015 10:32 a.m.
canterlotguardian says... #4
And this is why I run Hex Parasite and Vampire Hexmage in literally every B/x EDH deck that I build. Lol
August 27, 2015 10:33 a.m.
I should probably add that if someone destroys Chance Encounter in response, you will still win the game, as abilities exist independant of the source that created them, and it's last known information will be used, which is that it has 10 or more counters on it. However if someone responds with Hex Parasites ability to put Chance Encounter below 10 counters, you're out of luck, as by the time the ability resolves, it will have an insufficient amount of counters.
BlueScope says... Accepted answer #1
All abilities use the stack. Not all of them can be responded to, but that's entirely unrelated. What the intervening if clause thing means is that it will only trigger if the condition is met. Otherwise, it won't trigger and therefore never be put on the stack. As with other abilities, all players have to pass priority in order for the effect to resolve.
So yes, if Chance Encounter has 10 counters on it, the ability will trigger, and players can respond to it before it will resolve. It will only win you the game if the permanent still has 10 counters on it.
August 27, 2015 10:28 a.m.