Iona says 'As Iona, Shield of Emeria enters the battlefield, choose a color.' Why is the first word is an 'as' and not a 'when'? Does it make a difference?
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GMR21=OYS, I know you.
Salt is part of the game. Deal with it.
Yes, it makes an important difference: it's not a triggered ability and it doesn't use the stack. It's a replacement effect that modifies the event of Iona entering. It makes it so her effect applies as soon as she exists on the battlefield, instead of the color-choosing ability going on the stack and leaving an opportunity to kill her with a instant of the color you'd name in response to the triggered ability that the word 'when' would denote.
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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.
Yes, it makes a difference.
If it said “when” then that would ba a “triggered ability”. Iona would come into play, the ability would trigger and go on the stack, and there would be a window before the ability resolved where swords to plowshares or the like could be cast even if the ability named white.
The ability says “as” which makes it a “replacement effect.” This means that the ability comes into effect simultaniously with Iona entering the battlefield. The ability does not go on the stack and then resolve separate from Iona entering and so there is no window where Iona is on the battlefield that spells from the prohibeted color can be cast.
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Iona says 'As Iona, Shield of Emeria enters the battlefield, choose a color.' Why is the first word is an 'as' and not a 'when'? Does it make a difference?
Salt is part of the game. Deal with it.
If it said “when” then that would ba a “triggered ability”. Iona would come into play, the ability would trigger and go on the stack, and there would be a window before the ability resolved where swords to plowshares or the like could be cast even if the ability named white.
The ability says “as” which makes it a “replacement effect.” This means that the ability comes into effect simultaniously with Iona entering the battlefield. The ability does not go on the stack and then resolve separate from Iona entering and so there is no window where Iona is on the battlefield that spells from the prohibeted color can be cast.