Populate targeting?
Asked by WalzY 11 years ago
Does populate target?
Also, need some help with the following scenario: My opponent has a 4/4 Rhino token in play - nothing else. He then chooses to play Druid's Deliverance for the pure purpose of populating his rhino token. In response, I use Rapid Hybridization , putting it on the stack. I assume that he will simply be able to populate a Frog Lizard once the hybridization has occurred, as populate doesn't name targets? But even if populate did name targets, he'd still be able to name the frog lizard because he only names targets upon resolution, right?
In a similar scenario, I assume you don't have to name targets for spells until they resolve, unless it's a cost - so for Restoration Angel I assume you don't name targets until you know it's resolving.
Here's a scenario - I have two Thragtusk s. I use one to chump block a 9/9 Prime Speaker Zegana , then cast Restoration Angel to save it and gain value. In response, my opponent plays Murder on the chump blocking Thragtusk . Because this is on the stack (as letting my Restoration Angel resolve would allow it to immediately blink the targeted Thragtusk due to my opponent having passed priority and allowing the stack to clear (i.e. he couldn't let it resolve + cast Murder after I name my blink target]]), I can now choose a different target than I originally had in mind as I only name targets upon resolution, and instead blink my other Thragtusk . Is all of this correct?
Ultimately, I'm just trying to clarify my knowledge both of populate and the whole concept of naming targets for spells as late as possible to maximise my advantage.
Similarly, what happens if I cast my Restoration Angel and immediately name the blocking Thragtusk - is that statement binding? E.g. Is it legal for me to name the blocking Thragtusk as my Restoration Angel 's target as I cast it, he then names that Thragtusk with Murder , and I say ok I'm actually going to target the other Thragtusk when the stack is clearing and my Restoration Angel resolves.
I assume it isn't for reasons of deception - e.g. I name my 1/1 bird as I cast my Restoration Angel , he decides to do nothing and pass priority, then I say... oh actually I'll name my Thragtusk as my Restoration Angel actually resolves, after he's passed priority (but I had no binding obligation to tell the truth when I said I was targeting my 1/1 bird as it only says name targets as it enters the battlefield?) Would that amount to cheating/allow for gamestate rewinds?
Note: The only abilities that target actually say "target".
May 17, 2013 2:46 a.m.
Also:
Situation 1 - Yes he can just populate the frog lizard token.
Situation 2 - Yes, you can simply blink something else with the Angel, since her ability is triggered upon entering the battlefield.
Naming a target with Resto Angel before its ability triggers is considered a shortcut. If that shortcut is accepted, then it will be carried out and it is binding. If somebody interrupts with something in response, then you will be able to change your choice, as the ability has yet to trigger.
May 17, 2013 2:50 a.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #4
To clarify when you name targets: If a spell or activated ability has targets, you have to name the targets as you cast/activate it. If there aren't enough legal targets to choose from then you can't cast/activate it at all. If a triggered ability has targets, you have to name the targets when the ability is first put onto the stack. If there aren't enough legal targets to choose from then you remove it from the stack and ignore it.
For Restoration Angel you name the target when her triggered ability is put onto the stack (that is, after she resolves as a spell and enters the battlefield), not while the triggered ability is resolving. Also, if you propose a shortcut and your opponent accepts it then you have to perform it exactly as you described. You can't change things at the end and say "nah, I lied - sucks to be you".
May 17, 2013 7:38 a.m.
And to add to what you are saying "For Restoration Angel you name the target when her triggered ability is put onto the stack (that is, after she resolves as a spell and enters the battlefield), not while the triggered ability is resolving." Then the opponent can respond to this triggered ability on the stack by Murder ing the target.
Soulbound is what always confuses me as to resolving and the stack and responding...
May 17, 2013 4:30 p.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #6
The difference with soulbond is that it doesn't target, which means you don't make any choices about what to bond with until the ability is actually resolving.
May 17, 2013 5:19 p.m.
And then there's nothing to respond to right?
So, for instance:
my opponent attacks with a Thragtusk
, Silverblade Paladin
that is bound to another Thragtusk
and it's attacking too. He announces the attackers, we both pass priority, so then I declare blockers. Let's say I assign a Doomed Traveler
to block the thragtusk that is soulbound and has double strike. I also assign a Wolfir Avenger
to block the paladin.
He then responds to my assignment with a Restoration Angel
. We both pass priority, so the angel resolves - he then puts that trigger on the stack and targets his paladin. We both pass priority again. Now the blink effect goes off and the silverblade exiles and comes back into play. After it's in play, he soulbonds to the unblocked Thragtusk
.
Would there be any points between the Silverblade Paladin entering the battlefield - soulbinding, and damage phase to respond? I think there's a response time when the creature hits play, before it's actually soulbound to anything, but after that and after he chooses what it rebinds too, I don't think there's a place to respond.
May 17, 2013 5:38 p.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #8
Yes, you have the right idea about it. Part of soulbond is a triggered ability that triggers whenever either the creature with the ability enters the battlefield or another creature enters while the creature with the ability is unpaired. When the Silverblade Paladin blinked by Restoration Angel re-enters the battlefield, his soulbond ability triggers. Before that trigger resolves, you can make a response.
May 18, 2013 12:12 a.m.
Just to clarify, you will not know what creature they wish to soulbond together unless they shortcut and tell you before it actually resolves. Technically they can blink the Paladin and announce the trigger of soulbond and wait for you to allow it to resolve and then make their choice on if they want to soulbond it to a creature or not.
Skyfolk says... #1
No, populate does not target.
May 17, 2013 2:45 a.m.