Nyx Weaver vs Burn Away
Asked by Vtecmag 9 years ago
I have a Sultai deck so my graveyard is like currency. I was playing against my friend and he tried to use Burn Away on one of my creatures. I, in response, tapped the mana and exiled Nyx Weaver, I pulled Hero's Downfall from my graveyard and used it on the creature he tried to burn away. He then proceeded to go ballistic. Said my creature still was a victim of burn away and that I HAD to exile my graveyard anyway. Is this the case? He claims that the stack cleared after I exiled nyx weaver.
Gidgetimer says... Accepted answer #2
An in depth look at the stack during this:
Burn Away is cast and becomes the bottom object on the stack (stack top to bottom: Burn Away)
You activate Nyx Weaver's ability and it goes on top (stack top to bottom: Weaver's ability-Burn Away)
Both players pass priority and Nyx Weaver's ability resolves (stack top to bottom: Burn Away)
During the next round of priority you cast the returned Hero's Downfall (stack top to bottom: Hero's Downfall-Burn Away)
Both players pass priority Hero's Downfall resolves (stack top to bottom: Burn Away)
Both players pass priority Burn Away is countered by the rules of the game for having no legal targets.
If your buddy wants to argue this you can show him rule 608 in the comp rules entitled "Resolving Spells and Abilities" the first clause of which clearly states that the top object of the stack resolves when players pass in succession.
608.1. Each time all players pass in succession, the spell or ability on top of the stack resolves.
November 6, 2014 4:43 p.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #3
Objects on the stack resolve one at a time, not all at once. Everyone gets an opportunity to make responses in-between objects resolving. Your play was legal, and Burn Away will end up getting countered for lack of a legal target. None of its effects will happen.
There was a period in the game's past when different timing rules wouldn't have allowed your play, and it would have turned out like how your friend said. Maybe your friend learned to play a long time ago, or was taught by someone who learned a long time ago (or maybe someone just taught him wrong).
November 6, 2014 4:44 p.m.
Thanks guys, i think he just could not handle that i countered him and could keep my graveyard. He doesnt know the rules, but neither do all, at least not all of them. Thanks guys
Gidgetimer says... #1
All players must pass priority and then the top object on the stack resolves. Before anything else resolves there is another round of priority. What you did was correct, and would result in you keeping your graveyard.
November 6, 2014 4:31 p.m.