If I have an ichorid in my yard or a the scarab god in play, but nothing that can currently meet the requirements of their abilities, is there a window in my upkeep for me to give them the ability to do something? For example am I able to discard or mill a black creature to animate ichorid or create a zombie or activate a mutavault to make use of the scarab god's drain/scry ability?
They both read "at the beginning of your upkeep..." so is there a trigger that goes on the stack I can respond to or does their effects only go on the stack if their requirements are met in advance?
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And on that day, Garfield said unto the world "Go ye forth and durdle!"
In general, abilities that trigger at the beginning of an upkeep have an effect when they resolve (C.R. 608.2c), including--
the choice to exile a black creature card other than Ichorid from your graveyard (C.R. 603.5), in the case of Ichorid's last ability, and
the loss of life and scry from The Scarab God's first ability.
Until they resolve, though, players have priority to cast spells and abilities; only do all players pass in a row does the top spell or ability resolve (C.R. 116.4). However, for Ichorid's last ability, Ichorid must be in your graveyard both when that ability would trigger and when it resolves (C.R. 603.4).
EDIT (Jul. 19; Mar. 8): Correctness edit after comment 7 was posted.
So if ichorid is in my yard, in my upkeep i can discard a black creature and have the ability to eat it and bring back ichorid? And the same for animating a mutavault or otherwise making a zombie at instant speed in my upkeep to get the scry effect from the scarab god? Most excellent.
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And on that day, Garfield said unto the world "Go ye forth and durdle!"
However, watch out for triggered abilities with an intervening if clause. For something similar to your Ichorid example, see Nether Shadow: "At the beginning of your upkeep, if Nether Shadow is in your graveyard with three or more creature cards above it, you may put Nether Shadow onto the battlefield." (intervening if clause bolded)
A trigger with an intervening if won't even be put on the stack if the clause isn't satisfied.
They both read "at the beginning of your upkeep..." so is there a trigger that goes on the stack I can respond to or does their effects only go on the stack if their requirements are met in advance?
EDIT (Jul. 19; Mar. 8): Correctness edit after comment 7 was posted.
A trigger with an intervening if won't even be put on the stack if the clause isn't satisfied.
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