Underworld Connections doesn't actually have any activated abilities, so naming that card with Pithing Needle won't do anything good. Instead, name the land that Underworld Connections is enchanting, because that's what gains the activated ability!
Category: Abilities
Two Ophiomancer’s probably won’t get you 2 snakes.
Ophiomancer's ability has an "intervening-if" clause, which means you can't really end up with more than one snake no matter how many Ophiomancers you control.
When it’s missed: Triggers with visible impact or a choice made on resolution
Continuing our series on Comp REL triggers, we cover how to tell when someone has missed a trigger with a visible impact on the game state or that requires a choice on resolution.
Illusionist’s Bracers and Beetleform Mage
"Activate this ability only once each turn" doesn't mean a copy of that ability can't be created and resolve in the same turn!
If you Whip out an Adephage and get a token, it sticks around.
Whip of Erebos's "exile that thing" trigger isn't copiable, so if you get a token copy of a resurrected Giant Adephage, for example, the token has no obligation to go away at end of turn. Value!
When it’s missed: Triggers with targets or modes
We're running a series of Comp REL trigger tips, regarding when they would be considered missed. Today covers those that have a target or mode.
Gods, 4 devotion, and evolve.
Gods that enter while you have 4 devotion will be a creature when they enter, even though they aren't entering "as a creature." This is confusing, but we explain how that difference matters for enter-the-battlefield triggered abilities!
When Polukranos becomes monstrous, you must choose a legal target if there is one.
Normally, "any number of target [things]" can be "zero," but when you're dividing something (like damage), at least one target must be chosen if possible. So don't monstrify Polukranos when your opponent only has a deathtouch creature!
Activated Abilities: How Many Times They Can Be Used
“How many times can I use my creature’s ability? Just once?” I’ve heard that one a lot, especially among newer players; they want to know how many times they can activate a given ability per turn. The answer is pretty simple: As many times as you can pay for it! The vast majority of activated […]