1. If all my opponents have shroud or hexproof can I use the ability and just keep him or can the ability not be used at all?
2. If I somehow give him vigilance and attack with him then use the ability after attacking what happens?
3. If I have an instant speed sacrifice method am I able to draw the cards and sac him before he switched to the other player? If not under what circumstances does this ruling apply "If Humble Defector isn’t on the battlefield as its ability resolves, but the target player is still a legal target, the ability will resolve. You’ll draw two cards, even though the player won’t gain control of Humble Defector."
I was the guy playing the relentless rats deck back during mirrodin and kamigawa blocks. Yes, cranial extraction was used on me. No, I didn't win much. Yes, I do have a relentless rats edh deck. No, it doesn't win much either...
In the first case you would be able to activate the ability. However, the ability would be countered on resolution. As the opponent would be a illegal target. And since there is no legal targets for the ability it would be countered and you would not draw any cards. I used the gatherer on wizards typing in cryptic command for reference.
1. In order to put an activated ability on the stack you need to select a legal option for each target of the ability. If all of your opponents already have shroud/hexproof you will not be able to select a legal target, and thus you cannot activate the ability. If your targeted opponent gains hexproof/shroud after you have already activated the ability, it will be countered when it tries to resolve because none of the targets are legal anymore.
2. If someone other than the active player gains control of an attacking creature, it is removed from combat as a state-based action.
3. Once the ability is placed on the stack it is independent of its source. As the ruling says, as long as the target is still legal (the opponent in this case), the ability will still resolve even if the Defector is no longer on the battlefield.
In the first case you would be able to activate the ability. However, the ability would be countered on resolution. As the opponent would be a illegal target. And since there is no legal targets for the ability it would be countered and you would not draw any cards. I used the gatherer on wizards typing in cryptic command for reference.
This is incorrect. You cannot activate the ability unless you can choose legal targets for it. If none of your opponents can be targeted, then you cannot activate the ability in the first place.
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Scientists have calculated that the chance of anything so patently absurd actually existing are millions to one. But magicians have calculated that million-to-one chances crop up nine times out of ten.
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1. If all my opponents have shroud or hexproof can I use the ability and just keep him or can the ability not be used at all?
2. If I somehow give him vigilance and attack with him then use the ability after attacking what happens?
3. If I have an instant speed sacrifice method am I able to draw the cards and sac him before he switched to the other player? If not under what circumstances does this ruling apply "If Humble Defector isn’t on the battlefield as its ability resolves, but the target player is still a legal target, the ability will resolve. You’ll draw two cards, even though the player won’t gain control of Humble Defector."
Thanks for all the info
For the second one: if a creature changes controllers during combat after attacks that creature will be removed from combat. Reference: http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/magic-fundamentals/magic-rulings/magic-rulings-archives/287881-gaining-control-of-an-attacing-creature-in-the
For the last one: You draw the cards. The ruling does apply!
Hope that helps.
2. If someone other than the active player gains control of an attacking creature, it is removed from combat as a state-based action.
3. Once the ability is placed on the stack it is independent of its source. As the ruling says, as long as the target is still legal (the opponent in this case), the ability will still resolve even if the Defector is no longer on the battlefield.
This is incorrect. You cannot activate the ability unless you can choose legal targets for it. If none of your opponents can be targeted, then you cannot activate the ability in the first place.
Scientists have calculated that the chance of anything so patently absurd actually existing are millions to one. But magicians have calculated that million-to-one chances crop up nine times out of ten.