Path to Exile - obligatory shuffling?
Asked by Emzed 11 years ago
If my opponent uses Path to Exile on my creature and i decide not to search for a basic land, do i have to shuffle my library anyway? It is certainly possible to search, fail to find and shuffle (in case i want to increase the odds of drawing a card that was somehow put to the bottom of my library) but maybe after using scry or another effect that manipulates the top of my library, i want to avoid shuffling. Is that possible?
Two things tend to be really important with card's effects: Wording and sentence structure. The second sentence is an entire thought with the operative word "may" You may search, put on the battlefield, shuffle, or you may not. If you search (not necessarily FIND, but search), you shuffle, but if you choose not to search, you don't shuffle (not don't need to, but don't have the option to).
Devonin says... Accepted answer #1
Since the search is a 'may' you can just opt out of the whole thing. You could also opt in, and fail to find just for the shuffle. But if you elect to not search your library, you also won't put a land into play or shuffle.
December 10, 2013 3:28 p.m.