Iona, Shield of Emeria + Torpor Orb
Asked by Dracog 13 years ago
I don't think her ability you be affected by Torpor Orb , but I'd like to make sure.
Au contraire, Dracog. if Torpor Orb was in play already when you or your opponent plays Iona, she is effectively reduced to a 7/7 flyer. The deal with Torpor Orb is either, if a creatures abiability contains "when ~ enters the battlefield", that entire ability is canceled (usually, unless there are some circumstances.) or if there is a card of any type which contains the text, "whenever a creature enters the battlefield...". Also note that the orb only cancels the abilities triggering, nothing else; the creature still enters the battlefield, it doesn't cancel activated abilities with the clause, "when a creature enters the battlefield." Torpor orb is fun, and can not only be used to get rid of your opponents annoying creatures, but can be used to beef up your own Phyrexian Dreadnought , or Hunted Horror .
May 22, 2011 11:47 a.m.
As or when matters not, as it's still entering the battlefield...
May 22, 2011 11:54 a.m.
lukemwillis says... #4
You're correct Dracog, Iona's ability still occurs as she enters the battlefield. Here's why: Iona's ability is a replacement effect and not a triggered ability. Triggered abilities are worded with "whenever" or "when" and would be stopped by Torpor Orb . Replacement effects are worded with "as" or "if" and allow you to do something (such as with Phyrexian Revoker , Iona, Shield of Emeria , etc.). So, Replacement effects are not stopped by Torpor Orb .
May 22, 2011 12:03 p.m.
Actually max, I'm pretty sure Dracog and BrightGreenLine have it right here. Torpor Orb specifically refers to abilities that "trigger", and choosing a colour for Iona, Shield of Emeria is not a triggered ability. Triggered abilities begin with "when", "whenever" or "at", referring to some event in the game that will cause the ability to be put on the stack. I can't find in the rules exactly what Iona's first ability is, though I'm sure you'd find it somewhere under the "characteristic defining" or "static" headings. Bright gave a good example before, of the first ability being worded similarly to, and thus behaving in the same way as, Clone or Phyrexian Metamorph 's abilities
May 22, 2011 12:07 p.m.
Ninja'd. If I'd read one more section on, I would have seen the section lukemwillis was referring to. Replacement effect is the one you're looking for.
May 22, 2011 12:09 p.m.
think of iona as "when this spell hasnt been cancelled and begins to resolve, choose a color and tell your opponent they had a cool mono color deck"
May 22, 2011 2:21 p.m.
delphinous says... #8
according to the comprehensive rules 603.6e when a card reads As [this permanent] enters the battlefield... is considered a static ability that takes place at the same time as the ability that cause it to enter the battle field i/e casting a spell or ability and therefore it is not affected by topor orb,
BrightGreenLine says... Accepted answer #1
The difference with Iona is that her ability says "As Iona enters the battlefield", which is not a triggered ability. It's the same wording as Clone or Phyrexian Metamorph, and what it means is that once the spell has successfully resolved but before you put it on the battlefield, you choose the color that Iona locks out.
It's also important to note that Iona hasn't actually entered the battlefield at this time either, so the ability would trigger.
May 22, 2011 11:33 a.m.