Wording on Brain Maggot

Asked by harrydemon117 11 years ago

Brain Maggot

The wording on this is a bit confusing. If it ETB's and I sac/destroy it while it's on the stack, does my opponent get their card back or is it exiled forever?

RussischerZar says... Accepted answer #1

Think of it as a Banisher Priest but instead of exiling a creature, it exiles a card from the hand.

See also the FAQ on Journey into Nyx:

• Brain Maggot 's ability causes a zone change with a duration, a new style of ability that's somewhat reminiscent of older cards like Tidehollow Sculler . However, unlike Tidehollow Sculler , Brain Maggot has a single ability that creates two one-shot effects: one that exiles the nonland card when the ability resolves, and another that returns the exiled card to its owner's hand immediately after Brain Maggot leaves the battlefield.
• If Brain Maggot leaves the battlefield before its enters-the-battlefield ability resolves, the opponent will reveal his or her hand, but no card will be exiled.
• The exiled card returns to its owner's hand immediately after Brain Maggot leaves the battlefield. Nothing happens between the two events, including state-based actions.
• In a multiplayer game, if Brain Maggot 's owner leaves the game, the exiled card will return to its owner's hand. Because the one-shot effect that returns the card isn't an ability that goes on the stack, it won't cease to exist along with the leaving player's spells and abilities on the stack.

April 25, 2014 11:33 a.m.

greensaleen says... #2

It works like Banisher Priest so it is one ability that causes 2 effects, essentially if you sac/destroy Brain Maggot the card never gets exiled.

http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=banisher+priest

the rulings explain it pretty well

April 25, 2014 11:38 a.m.

harrydemon117 says... #3

Dang it. I guess they did it this way to avoid "permanent exile" effects

April 25, 2014 12:09 p.m.