What happens when I 'Fling' a creature with deathtouch at another creature?
Asked by goodolegearhulk 6 years ago
For example;
I sacrifice a Gifted Aetherborn when I cast Fling to target a larger creature on my opponent's board (let's say its an Glorybringer).
Question 1; Will the Glorybringer die immediately because the creature I 'flinged' has deathtouch?
Question 2; If so, would I also get the lifelink trigger (from Gifted Aetherborn) as it resolves?
Hope it's not too silly of a question, thanks!
Gidgetimer says... #2
Fling is the thing doing the damage, not the creature you sacrificed to it. This means that any abilities that creature had do not apply to the fling damage.
Also a small detail, lifelink is not a trigger. It doesn't use the stack like triggers do and can save you from lethal damage dealt to you in combat if you also had a creature with lifelink deal damage at the same time.
November 21, 2017 2:06 p.m.
goodolegearhulk says... #3
That makes a lot of sense, so in order for me to use the creatures ability in a damage-dealing situation I would need to look for cards that force the creature itself to do the damage...
so in an effort to stay in Standard, I would need to use cards like Ambuscade or Nature's Way to gain the creatures deathtouch/lifelink abilities?
November 21, 2017 2:08 p.m.
Tyrant-Thanatos says... #4
Yes, cards like Ambuscade or Nature's Way will work with Deathtouch/Lifelink because they specify that the creature is dealing the damage.
November 21, 2017 2:12 p.m.
goodolegearhulk says... #5
Thanks for all the help guys, it's all clear now..
It's a good think Walking Ballista doesn't have deathtouch!
November 21, 2017 2:37 p.m.
That's why Basilisk Collar is very good with Walking Ballista :)
Also, don't forget to mark an answer, so this can get moved out of the "unanswered questions" queue.
November 21, 2017 4:26 p.m.
Monomanamaniac says... #7
That's why Pathway Arrows saw some love. And in modern the Thornbite Staff and Viridian Longbow see some limited play
Tyrant-Thanatos says... Accepted answer #1
Fling reads "Fling deals damage equal to the sacrificed creature's power to target creature or player."
The important bit here is the first three words, Fling deals damage. Not the creature. So any abilities on the creature that would modify, affect, or trigger off of, damage that creature would deal, such as Deathtouch and Lifelink, will not come in to effect because the creature is not dealing damage, Fling is.
November 21, 2017 1:59 p.m.