Kalastria Highborn vs. Blood Artist rules
Asked by Bovine073 8 years ago
Let's say my Fugitive Wizard dies to a Flesh to Dust. I pay a black mana to pay my highborn ability. Here's a few questions regarding this scenario:
-Is highborn's ability a triggered ability (as opposed to an activated or mana or some other type of ability)?
-Could I (is it possible for me to) play something like a Skullcrack in before highborn (or Blood Artist's) abilities resolve?
-Which would resolve first: Blood Artist's ability or highborn's? (Is there a difference from "dying" and being "put into a graveyard")?
-Can I even say "resolve" here?
Sorry for so many questions, I just had a lot of hypothetical scenarios playing against a vampire deck with these two cards out at the same time, and wanted answers.
Thanks!
Rhadamanthus says... Accepted answer #2
One problem: Fugitive Wizard isn't a Vampire, and doesn't interact with Kalastria Highborn. Let's not worry too much about the details and just assume a Vampire died.
- Yes, Kalastria Highborn's ability is triggered because it starts with one of the specific words associated with triggered abilities: "when", "Whenever", or "At". Same with Blood Artist. One side note: a mana ability is an ability that makes mana, not one that costs mana to use.
- Yes, a triggered ability goes onto the stack when it triggers and everyone has a chance to make responses before it starts resolving.
- The order they resolve depends on the situation. If multiple triggered abilities controlled by the same player are trying to go onto the stack at the same time, that player chooses the order to put them onto the stack. If they're controlled by different players then the Active player's triggers will be put onto the stack first, then the Non-Active player's triggers will be put onto the stack on top of those (and will end up resolving first). Also, "dies" is just a short way of saying "goes to the graveyard from the battlefield" for effects that usually care about creatures. This templating standard wasn't yet in effect at the time Kalastria Highborn was printed.
- Yes. Resolve, resolve, resolve. Sounds great, doesn't it?
- The decision about what to do with Vexing Devil is made as its own triggered ability resolves. The player will have taken damage before a trigger like Blood Artist etc. would be put onto the stack.
April 18, 2016 2:06 p.m.
Thanks a whole bunch, Rhadamanthus! Sorry for the whole Fugitive Wizard isn't a vampire thing lol, forgot about that clause on highborn. (And with Vexing Devil).
April 18, 2016 2:15 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #4
Kalastria Highborn says her or another vampire you control so Fugitive Wizard does nothing with her and neither does Vexing Devil in your final question. For the first series of questions I will use Vampire Nighthawk and I'll only discuss Blood Artist in the last question.
Supposing you have both Kalastria Highborn and Blood Artist out and Vampire Nighthawk is destroyed what happens is:
Both abilities trigger (yes Kalastria Highborn's ability is a triggered ability with an optional cost) at the same time ("Dies" is magic shorthand for "is sent to the graveyard from play". As a matter of fact Kalastria Highborn's oracle text says "dies".). Because you control both abilities, you get to decide what order they will go on the stack.
Once the abilities are on the stack they will wait for each player to pass priority so that the topmost (the one you put on second) can resolve. After the topmost resolves there is another round of priority before the other resolves.
At any time that you have priority you can cast an instant. Skullcrack is an odd one to cast as you are about to gain life. You could cast it if you were worried about damage prevention I guess.
As for the question about Vexing Devil. When Vexing Devil ETB his ability goes on the stack. When it resolves your opponent has the opportunity to pay 4 life, if they do you sacrifice the Vexing Devil. The life is paid before the devil is sacrificed. After he is sacrificed Blood Artist will trigger.
Bovine073 says... #1
Also, how would a sac'd Vexing Devil interact between these cards? Would I get the damage first or would the opponent get their life/me losing life first?
April 18, 2016 1:48 p.m.