Will my opponents have to sacrifice all their lands and creatures?
Asked by Dreykon 6 years ago
If I cast Balance, assuming no one else responds, I respond with Teferi's Protection. Once my permanents are phased out Balance resolves. Do I still control any lands or creature? or are they treated as exiled? therefor my opponents have to sacrifice all their lands and creatures.
Rhadamanthus says... #3
Yes, this works. The game ignores phased-out permanents completely when making calculations and comparisons for any effect, including Balance.
Note that they aren't treated as "exiled". Rather, as the reminder text says, they're treated as if they don't exist. This is actually an important distinction to make since there are effects in the game that specifically care about exiled cards (for example, the Eldrazi Processors from BfZ block).
October 13, 2017 10:43 a.m.
Follow up question if you don't mind Neotrup why do I want to make sure to respond first?
October 13, 2017 10:43 a.m.
If you cast Balance without responding first, then none of your opponents respond, Balance resolves. You don't get a chance to cast Teferi's Response because you already passed up that opportunity. You'll want to say along the lines of "Casting Balance and while holding priority casting Teferi's Response" because usually if you cast a spell/activate an ability it's assumed you pass priority unless you state otherwise. Floating the mana and casting spells one at a time is typically a safer strategy because, even though your opponents will suspect your up to something when you cast a Teferi's Response on your own turn while floating mana, you don't open yourself up as much to getting blown out by counterspells or other responses.
October 13, 2017 10:51 a.m.
Thank you again Neotrup ;-) totally didn't not think of that.
Neotrup says... Accepted answer #1
You won't be considered to control any permanents, so each other player will have to sacrifice all lands and creatures. Note that you have to respond first, not last however. You can also float the mana required to cast both spells, resolve Teferi's Protection, then cast Balance.
October 13, 2017 10:39 a.m.