Responding to Sire Of Insanity ?

Asked by Esper_Silence 9 years ago

Say it's my opponents 2nd main phase, and he's moving to end step, can I respond to the end of his second main phase with a point-kill or any removal to avoid discarding my hand to Sire Of Insanity ?

(Even if I already had the removal in 1st main, I'd want to wait until after combat phase if it's summoning sick.)

Also, in a less-likely sequence, can I respond to the beginning of his end-step and spot remove Sire Of Insanity before the ability triggers?

Thanks in advance.

Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #1

First, Sire Of Insanity 's ability is a triggered ability, which means it uses the stack. You can respond to the ability itself if you want to do so.

Alternatively, you can preempt the ability by casting an instant or spell with flash or by activating an ability at the end of the second main phase. Players must all pass priority in sequence over an empty stack in order to advance the game to the next step or phase, so players get priority before a step or phase ends and the next one begins.

You cannot, however, wait until the beginning of the end step and then kill Sire Of Insanity before its ability triggers. When a step or phase begins, turn-based actions (such as drawing a card or declaring attackers) are performed, then triggered abilities are put onto the stack. Only after that point do players receive priority. Destroying Sire Of Insanity at this point will also not counter the ability because abilities, once on the stack, exist independently of their sources.

August 4, 2014 2:46 p.m.

Esper_Silence says... #2

Thanks for clearing that up, while you're here, is it the same for activated abilities? Such as Nevinyrral's Disk can anyone prevent the activated ability by destroying the source?

August 4, 2014 2:59 p.m.

Epochalyptik says... #3

Yes and no.

Once again, abilities on the stack exist independently of their source, so abilities can never be countered by destroying the source.

Additionally, players cannot wait for an opponent to announce an ability, then preempt that opponent from actually entering the activation process. You begin the activation process by announcing the ability. At that time, players lose priority for the duration of the activation process, so responses can only come after the ability has been activated.

However, you can legally preempt the ability by destroying its source at a time when your opponent cannot activate the ability (such as while Nevinyrral's Disk is tapped), but this is usually a limited and sporadic window of opportunity.

August 4, 2014 3:03 p.m.

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