is there a way to counter the ability of scorched ruin?
Asked by diamondback 7 years ago
so I had an idea but I don't know if it will work. if I play scorched ruin can I counter it using something like Stifle
So in black border land, no, you cannot stop Scorched Ruins from demanding a sacrifice. If you move to silver border land and toss in R&D's Secret Lair you can use the as printed text, which is a triggered ability you'd be able to stifle, though it's also worth noting in that case you'd be able to respond to the trigger by tapping it for four colorless mana before burying it.
June 15, 2017 2:21 p.m.
chosenone124 says... #3
There is a way to stop Scorched Ruins from demanding a sacrifice.
First a side note: If you have Nature's Revolt and make a land drop, ETB effects such as Dual Nature are triggered. Therefore making a land drop with Nature's Revolt is considered the event "a creature is entering the battlefield".
Note 2: Rule 616.1. If two or more replacement and/or prevention effects are attempting to modify the way an event affects an object or player, the affected objects controller (or its owner if it has no controller) or the affected player chooses one to apply.
Therefore, all you need is an effect that replaces "Scorched Ruins enters the battlefield". Then you can choose between Scorched Ruins' "If Scorched Ruins would enter the battlefield, sacrifice two untapped lands instead" and the other replacement effect! Isn't that fabulous?
For example, let's say you control Containment Priest and Nature's Revolt (in other words, you hate fun). When you attempt to play Scorched Ruins, two replacement effects will coincide, attempting to replace the event "Scorched Ruins enters the battlefield"
Sacrifice two untapped lands instead (Scorched Ruins)
Exile it instead (Containment Priest)
You can choose to ignore the Scorched Ruins replacement and pick the Containment Priest replacement! Isn't that fabulous?
June 16, 2017 1:58 a.m. Edited.
chosenone124 says... #4
I apologize for my previous comment. 614.12 clarifies how these effects interact, and I missed one of its clauses, as a result, those effects don't actually work like that.
June 16, 2017 2:15 a.m.
I was actually tempted to point out if you were replacing it entering the battlefield with something else you could avoid it's replacement effect, but didn't want to come up with the scenario that would do that, as it ultimately defeats the purpose of playing the land. My hat is off to you for putting for the effort of creating this scenario. However, in this scenario I do not believe Containment Priest's effect applies, as rule 614.12 tells you to look at it as it would exist on the battlefield only considering replacement effects, continuous effects created by spells or abilities, and continuous effects from it's own abilities. So you wouldn't be applying the continuous effect of another permanent, thus it wouldn't be entering as a creature for the priest's replacement effect (even though it would still be considered a creature for ETB triggers).
June 16, 2017 2:16 a.m.
And you caught it. It is a complicated rule and I had to look it up to verify myself.
June 16, 2017 2:17 a.m.
chosenone124 says... #7
Sadly, I could not find a card that replaces "If a permanent would enter the battlefield" or "If a land would enter the battlefield". The only continuous effect that could possibly modify the characteristics of Scorched Ruins before the player attempts to play it is Painter's Servant. Maybe someday...
RicketyEng says... Accepted answer #1
Please remember to link cards in your question to make it easier for people to reference them. (Do this by adding double square brackets around the card names)
Scorched Ruins, Stifle
The oracle text for Scorched Ruins's ability:
If Scorched Ruins would enter the battlefield, sacrifice two untapped lands instead. If you do, put Scorched Ruins onto the battlefield. If you don't, put it into its owner's graveyard.
The Scorched Ruins's ability is actually a replacement effect so it cannot be countered by Stifle.
June 15, 2017 10:51 a.m.