Killing a Banisher Priest that lost it's ability (Turn to Frog)

Asked by Renaud 9 years ago

What happens when a card with a "until leaves the battlefield" effect loses it (via cards like Turn to Frog ), and then leaves the battlefield.

I'm assuming the creature that was exiled by the Banisher Priest will remain exiled forever?

GJTanner87 says... #1

As the returning of the creature is part of the original Enter the Battlefield trigger Turn to Frog has no effect on it. So the creature will return as normal.

July 18, 2014 3:26 a.m.

BboyGeologic says... Accepted answer #2

Returning the creature is not an ability that can be lost, it's all part of the original trigger.

This question also comes from the common misunderstanding that a card must always still have it's original characteristics for it to do something that it's supposed to do at a certain time. What I mean by that is, as far as the rules are concerned the wording on Banisher Priest is:

"When This Object enters the battlefield, exile target creature an opponent controls until This Object leaves the battlefield."

It doesn't matter if it has been turned into a frog or a dragon or a plant, it's still the same exact object, so when that object leaves the battlefield they get their guy back.

Hope that helps.

July 18, 2014 3:51 a.m.

hyperlocke says... #3

The returning of the exiled creature is part of the ETB trigger, so removing all abilities of Banisher Priest and then killing it won't stop the creature from returning to the field.

Fiend Hunter has a similar effect, but the return part is a separate ability. If you remove all its abilities and kill it, the second ability won't trigger (because it's not there) and the exiled card stays in exile.

July 18, 2014 4:36 a.m.

This discussion has been closed