What Is The Proper Timing To Use Vexing Shusher's Effect?

Asked by Rayze_Darr 8 years ago

Vexing Shusher is a beautiful anti-counter card I found for my sideboard, but I'm not sure where on the stack he's supposed to go.

My assumption is, I have Shusher on the field already, I play a spell, and then my opponent chooses to counter. Shusher then goes on top of the counter spell, resolving as Shusher, then the counter spell fizzling out, then my spell going off as normal.

I can see other possibilities, though. Maybe I use Shusher on the spell while it's in my hand? Maybe I play the spell and his effect simultaneously?

Example: I have Vexing Shusher on my side of the field, Lightning Bolt in my hand, and two untapped Mountains. My opponent has two untapped Islands and Counterspell in their hand. How would this resolve, should I desire to play my Lightning Bolt without it being countered?

Boza says... Accepted answer #1

Ok, the only thing Shusher's ability affects is the spell while it is on the stack. For example, in the interaction you describe, the stack will look this

Top of the stack -> Shusher's ability -> Counterspell -> Lightning Bolt -> Bottom of the stack

Spells and abilities on the stack resolve in LIFO order (last in, first out). So, after shusher's ability resolves, the spell will become uncounterable. The Counterspell is next but it will basically do nothing. And finally, the original spell resolves.

July 10, 2015 7:02 a.m.

Rayze_Darr says... #2

Beautiful, that's how I thought it worked. Thanks for the confirm!

July 10, 2015 7:10 a.m.

Epochalyptik says... #3

Note that Vexing Shusher doesn't make anything an illegal target for counterspells. "Cant be countered" just means that effects that would try to counter it assignees; other effects are applied as they normally would be.

July 10, 2015 7:47 a.m.

Rayze_Darr says... #4

So if I tried summoning a Goblin Guide, they countered with Bone to Ash, and I responded with Vexing Shusher, my Goblin would still be summoned successfully, but they'd still get to draw their card?

July 10, 2015 12:48 p.m.

Epochalyptik says... #5

Yes. Bone to Ash's draw effect is not predicated on Bone to Ash successfully countering the spell. The draw effect will still be applied even though he counter effect did nothing.

July 10, 2015 12:53 p.m.

This discussion has been closed