I know they can't actually draw any more than 1 card, but the question really is what would actually happen if they decided they did want to use the Library trigger? Do they draw their one card for turn, then zero off Library, then have to put the one back or pay 4 life? Or is the first clause of Sylvan Library a cost which cannot be payed with Leovold out?
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"The Ancients teach us that if we can but last, we shall prevail."
—Kaysa, Elder Druid of the Juniper Order
Your opponent draws their normal card for the turn, then the Library's trigger goes on the stack. When it resolves, they cannot choose to draw cards with the ability. So the rest of Library's effect following 'if you do' won't happen. Library just doesn't do anything.
I'm a former judge (lapsed), who keeps up to date on rules and policy. Keep in mind that judges' answers aren't necessarily more valid than those of people who aren't judges; what matters is we can quote the rules to back up our answers. When in doubt, ask for such quotes.
Your opponent draws their normal card for the turn, then the Library's trigger goes on the stack. When it resolves, they cannot choose to draw cards with the ability. So the rest of Library's effect following 'if you do' won't happen. Library just doesn't do anything.
Thanks! I hadn't pegged it as a cost in my mind, but I see now why it would be.
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"The Ancients teach us that if we can but last, we shall prevail."
—Kaysa, Elder Druid of the Juniper Order
Your opponent draws their normal card for the turn, then the Library's trigger goes on the stack. When it resolves, they cannot choose to draw cards with the ability. So the rest of Library's effect following 'if you do' won't happen. Library just doesn't do anything.
Thanks! I hadn't pegged it as a cost in my mind, but I see now why it would be.
It's not a cost, but it is a choice. The effect offers him or her a choice to take an action. Leovold has defined that action as impossible, and you are not allowed to do things that are impossible. If an effect just tells you to do something, and it is impossible, then you don't do it either. But then there's nothing to care about a "choice" you didn't make.
If an effect tells you to do one thing "or" another thing (which is a lot less common), and one of those things is impossible, you gotta do the other thing. Unless it's also impossible, of course. This turned out to prove the original wording of Twiddles was incorrect, and is why those all say "may" now. You follow me?
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With the release of Commander 2017, the answer to comment 1 is clearly that the opponent can't choose to draw two cards with Sylvan Library's ability, whether or not they've drawn any cards previously this turn before that ability resolved; this is because the text "you may draw two additional cards. If you do, ..." is expressed as a choice and as a cost (C.R. 121.2b, 603.5, 608.2d, 117.12).
EDIT (Mar. 22, 2019; Mar. 24, 2019): Edited.
EDIT (Apr. 6, 2011): One rule was renumbered in the meantime.
I know they can't actually draw any more than 1 card, but the question really is what would actually happen if they decided they did want to use the Library trigger? Do they draw their one card for turn, then zero off Library, then have to put the one back or pay 4 life? Or is the first clause of Sylvan Library a cost which cannot be payed with Leovold out?
—Kaysa, Elder Druid of the Juniper Order
Thanks! I hadn't pegged it as a cost in my mind, but I see now why it would be.
—Kaysa, Elder Druid of the Juniper Order
It's not a cost, but it is a choice. The effect offers him or her a choice to take an action. Leovold has defined that action as impossible, and you are not allowed to do things that are impossible. If an effect just tells you to do something, and it is impossible, then you don't do it either. But then there's nothing to care about a "choice" you didn't make.
If an effect tells you to do one thing "or" another thing (which is a lot less common), and one of those things is impossible, you gotta do the other thing. Unless it's also impossible, of course. This turned out to prove the original wording of Twiddles was incorrect, and is why those all say "may" now. You follow me?
Awesome avatar provided by Krashbot @ [Epic Graphics].
EDIT (Mar. 22, 2019; Mar. 24, 2019): Edited.
EDIT (Apr. 6, 2011): One rule was renumbered in the meantime.