Each time Stonehorn Dignitary‘s ability resolves, it sets up a replacement effect that is extremely patient. It does not immediately decide “It’s currently turn X, so that means you skip combat in turn X+1.” Instead, it sets up a delayed effect and waits for the next time the specified event would happen. Right before your opponent would get a combat phase, the magic steps in and and replaces that phase with… NOTHING. It just takes it away.

If you use Cloudshift to make your Stonehorn Dignitary leave the battlefield, it will also then return. When it does, an opponent has to skip their next combat phase. That seems fairly clear, right? What if you had just cast Stonehorn Dignitary and they hadn’t skipped their combat phase yet?

Imagine that, on the play, you cast and resolve the Dignitary on turn 5. There is now an effect waiting to replace your opponent’s next combat phase. Now, if you Cloudshift your Dignitary (still during your turn 5), it will return and again trigger. Now there are TWO effects waiting to replace combat. When combat time comes around, one of these replaces it, and the other one says “Oh, there’s nothing for me to do,” and it just keeps waiting. The NEXT time your opponent would get a combat phase, the remaining effect is still there… just waiting for its chance to apply.

Who needs Fog? Skipping combat is better!

Today’s Rules Tip written by
David Hibbs, Level 3 judge from League City, TX