Vexing Devil VS Witchbane Orb

Asked by aantosh 12 years ago

If my opponent has Witchbane Orb and I play Vexing Devil shouldn't Witchbane Orb make it so that my opponent can't have the 4 damage dealt to them. Vexing Devil is doing the damage as declared by the card and abilities that say can't take precedence and Witchbane states that a player can't be the target of a spell or ability that your opponents control. I control the vexing Devil but because my opponent chooses to take the damage do they control that ability? This has caused me a lot of confusion and I'd appreciate an answer ASAP.

Aquamaniac says... #1

"When Vexing Devil enters the battlefield, any opponent may have it deal 4 damage to him or her. If a player does, sacrifice Vexing Devil ". It's not targeting anybody when it enters, so a player with a Witchbane Orb out may in fact choose to take the 4 damage to prevent Vexing Devil from sticking.

June 26, 2012 1:34 p.m.

aantosh says... #2

So is Vexing DevilMTG Card: Vexing Devil's damage considered an ability I control?

June 26, 2012 1:39 p.m.

Rhadamanthus says... Accepted answer #3

Yes, it's an ability you control because it's a triggered ability from a source you control. What makes Aquamaniac's answer correct is that Vexing Devil 's ability doesn't target. A spell or ability only targets if it specifically uses the word "target" to describe its effect, and Vexing Devil doesn't say that.

June 26, 2012 1:41 p.m.

pheonix_222 says... #4

if someone however had a Torpor Orb on the field, Vexing Devil 's Enter the battlefield trigger wouldn't go on the stack, thus noone could pay the cost for the sacrifice.

June 26, 2012 1:48 p.m.

MTG_Player says... #5

It is an ability that you control, Torpor Orb would prevent the opponent from paying 4 life. Witchbane Orb would not effect the abilities of Vexing Devil .

June 26, 2012 3:09 p.m.

This discussion has been closed