‘Artifact’ is a type, not a subtype. When an effect has you choose a subtype, like a creature subtype, you cannot choose artifact. This also applies to effects that depend on or apply to specific creature subtypes. Years ago, it was more common for an artifact creature to exist without a creature type. However that […]
Category: Abilities
How Deathtouch works.
Deathtouch is a static ability that changes the end result when a source with Deathtouch deals damage to a creature. When an object (which is usually a creature) with Deathtouch deals damage to a creature, that creature receiving the damage is destroyed when state-based actions are applied. A single point of damage from a source […]
‘Becomes blocked’ vs. ‘becomes blocked by a creature’
Many triggered abilities trigger when an attacking creature becomes blocked. However some of them trigger just once regardless of the number of creatures that are blocking the attacking creature and others trigger once per each blocking creature. The difference is in how the trigger condition is written. Abilities that say ‘Whenever ~this creature~ becomes blocked’ […]
Ethersworn Canonist can prevent spells from being cast via alternate methods
‘s ability prevents players from playing more than one non-artifact spell per turn. This limitation applies to playing spells via alternate means; such as Cascade or Hideaway. Even the triggered ability of can be interfered with by the Canonist’s ability. With Ethersworn Canonist and Knowledge Pool in play, if a player casts a non-artifact spell […]
Equipment can target the creature it is on.
While it is generally not necessary, you can target a creature with an equip ability even if that equipment is already attached to that creature. For example, if the only creature you control is equipped by , you can activated the equip ability of the Piston Sledge targeting this same creature and choosing to sacrifice […]
You can only pay Mirrorworks cost once per trigger
With triggered abilities that allow you to pay a cost to get an effect, you are only allowed to pay that specified cost once unless stated otherwise. An example of this would be with the triggered ability of . When a nontoken artifact enters the battlefield under your control, Mirrorwork’s ability will trigger. When this […]
How Kuldotha Flamefiend’s triggered ability works.
Triggered abilities are not played or cast, then automatically trigger when their trigger condition is met. Because of this, there is not a cost to have these abilities trigger. However many trigger do have costs associated with them when they resolve. This matters with cards like from Mirrodin Besieged. The Flamefiend’s ability triggers when it […]
Hero of Bladehold has two combat triggered abilities.
has two triggered abilities that trigger whenever the Hero attacks; the Battle Cry ability that gives +1/+0 to other attacking creatures and a separate trigger that puts two 1/1 token creatures into play attacking. Because these two triggered abilities trigger at the same time, the controller of Hero of Bladehold will determine the order that […]
When Vengevine’s ability triggers.
‘s triggered ability is pretty easy to understand and deal with in most situations. But because the conditions placed on when it triggers, how it works in some games can get a bit odd. The easiest way think of Vengevine’s trigger is that it will trigger if these two conditions are true; 1) Vengevine is […]