Sacrificing Merciless Executioner's Target
Asked by Hurikane 10 years ago
If I play Merciless Executioner and then sacrifice it's target using Blood-Chin Fanatic ability, does Merciless resolve normally?
And since the MtG rules say you can sacrifice Merciless itself, can I basically use Blood-Chin Fanatic to sacrifice Merciless as I play it, thus causing opponent to sac creature and lose 3 life?
You can only sacrifice a creature to 1 ability. When you play your executioner, you can respond to his ETB Trigger with Blood-Chin Fanatic and sac it for the drain 3, however you still need to sac another creature once the executioner's ability resolves (if no other creatures are on your board, it has to be Blood-Chin).
Also, rules questions belong in the Q&A, for future reference :)
April 12, 2015 9:49 p.m.
You should probably ask questions in the MTG Q&A section.
The main problem with your question is that you misunderstand the way sacrifice works. You don't target anything when sacrificing something, you simple choose a relevant permanent and it goes to the graveyard while the spell or ability is resolving.
What this means is this: if Merciless Executioner comes into play, its ETB ability triggers and goes on the stack. That ability doesn't target anything, it just asks each player to sacrifice a creature. If you sacrifice a creature with Blood-Chin Fanatic before the triggered ability resolves, you'll just have one less creature to choose from to sacrifice.
In your scenario, if you play the butcher and sac it with fanatic before butcher's ability resolves, you'll have to sacrifice the fanatic or any other creature you have on the board.
April 12, 2015 9:52 p.m.
GoldGhost012 says... #4
First off, sacrificing a creature isn't a cost to cast Merciless Executioner. It's a triggered ability that triggers when Merciless Executioner enters the battlefield.
Secondly, Merciless Executioner's ability doesn't target. You just choose a creature to sacrifice when the trigger resolves, then immediately sacrifice it.
Thirdly, let's say you have a 1/1 Warrior token and Blood-Chin Fanatic when you cast Merciless Executioner. You cast Merciless Executioner and it resolves, triggering its ability when it enters the battlefield. What you can't do is say you're going to sacrifice the Warrior token to Merciless Executioner's ability, activate Blood-Chin Fanatic's ability and sacrifice the token, and then expect to not have to sacrifice anything else. The way it would work is the Blood-Chin Fanatic's ability would resolve and you'd gain 1 life and your opponent would lose 1 life, but Merciless Executioner's ability still needs a sacrifice, so you would have to choose between Merciless Executioner or Blood-Chin Fanatic.
Fourthly, no you can't, for the same reason above. When Merciless Executioner is cast and resolves and you sacrifice Merciless Executioner to the Blood-Chin Fanatic, you'd still have to sacrifice Blood-Chin Fanatic to Merciless Executioner's ability if it's your only creature.
April 12, 2015 9:55 p.m.
Ok thank you, I understand the mechanics more fully now, and your answers cleared everything up for me. Thanks community LoL
The Doctor says... #1
You let the spell resolve, and respond to the Executioner sac trigger.
April 12, 2015 9:48 p.m.