Spell Copy Targeting Timing
Asked by thar_b_dragons 2 months ago
In play, I have Precursor Golem, the two golem tokens it created when it entered, and Amoeboid Changeling. My opponent casts a Lightning Bolt targeting Precursor. I tap Amoeboid Changeling and use its ability to change Precursor's creature type to Elf...were my other Golems already being targeted by bolts due to Precursor's triggered ability, or will this stop that since he isn't a golem anymore?
Thanks!
Also, a small point on Amoeboid Changeling. You can use it to remove Precursor Golem's Golem type, but it requires the third ability which will make it not have any creature types. You can also make Precursor Golem an Elf with it, but that means using it's second ability which will still leave it as a Golem, as well as giving it all other creature types, not just Elf. You cannot use Amoeboid Changeling to set a creature to only having 1 creature type.
Rhadamanthus says... Accepted answer #1
Unfortunately this won't work. Precursor Golem's ability triggers whenever a Golem becomes the target of a single-target instant/sorcery. This happens during the casting process of that spell, or the copying process, if it's being targeted by a copy of a spell. The first opportunity anyone has to make a response is after the ability has already triggered and has been put onto the stack (on top of the spell that triggered it). Responding by changing the Golem's creature type won't go back in time and "un-trigger" the ability.
If Precursor Golem's trigger was written with an "intervening 'if' clause" (e.g. "Whenever a player casts an instant or sorcery spell, if that spell targets a single Golem, ...") then this would work, since the trigger would check the condition again before it started resolving, but that's not how the Golem's rules text is written.
March 26, 2025 9:44 a.m. Edited.