When do banished creatures return?
Asked by TheHroth 8 years ago
Just wondering about what sounds like an interesting interaction here...
Say someone Silkwraps my Hangarback Walker. Can I cast Abzan Advantage, and bolster onto the 0/0 Hangarback Walker, or will the game not recognize Hangarback Walker as an object on the battlefield until Abzan Advantage finishes resolving?
A similar interaction can be given another example in The Great Aurora and a banished Omnath, Locus of Rage (choosing examples from standard for simplicity). This combo works, letting you get a 5/5 per land played, because Omnath is immediately returned to play once the banishing effect is removed.
I believe I just answered my own question, but confirmation would be nice. Thanks!
Epochalyptik says... #2
This actually is possible. Silkwrap's exile effect defines a duration. When Silkwrap leaves the battlefield, the exiles card immediately returns (it's not part of a triggered ability, so it doesn't use the stack). Therefore, assuming Silkwrap is the enchantment sacrificed, Hangarback Walker will return in time for bolster. And Hangarback Walker wouldn't die as a 0/0 either because state-based actions are only checked once the resolution process is complete.
November 23, 2015 3:36 p.m.
Raging_Squiggle says... #3
This is an interesting interaction that I haven't actually heard of before. And the fact that it works makes it even cooler.
November 23, 2015 3:38 p.m.
Good stuff, thanks Raging_Squiggle and Epochalyptik!
November 23, 2015 3:44 p.m.
Antoniobizarro says... #5
Does it work the same for a Dromoka's Command?
November 30, 2015 8:16 p.m.
Assuming you are referring to the +1/+1 counter mode on Dromoka's Command, no. You must declare a target for the mode at the time you cast the spell, and the creature banished at the time is not on the battlefield so it cannot be targeted.
Raging_Squiggle says... Accepted answer #1
11/24/2014 The enchantment will have already left the battlefield when you bolster 1. (Taken from the Gatherer rulings for Abzan Advantage)
Silkwrap's, Banishing Light's, or Chained to the Rocks are all similar here regarding their effects for purpose of illustration.
4/26/2014 The exiled card returns to the battlefield immediately after Banishing Light leaves the battlefield. Nothing happens between the two events, including state-based actions. Banishing Light and the returned card arent on the battlefield at the same time. (Taken from the Gatherer rulings for Banishing Light)
This means that you will be able to bolster 1 on to your 0/0 Hangarback Walker making it a 1/1.
This is important because normally State Based Actions would send the Walker to your graveyard for having a toughness of 0. But SBA's only occur whenever a player would receive priority, and during the resolution of a spell, no player has priority until it has finished resolving so once SBA's are checked, the game will see Hangarback Walker as a 1/1.
Similar to Omnath, Locus of Rage. During the part of the resolution where all permanents are shuffled, he will return to play and stay there to see each land entering the battlefield as the spell continues to resolve.
November 23, 2015 3:34 p.m.