Now I know there is some shenanigans to be had with using Angel of Serenity and instant removal to exile three critters indefinitely.
My question is, how to better understand how this interaction works so I can explain it while I'm using it. (I am also playing with some really new players.
After the Angel's ETB trigger has been put on the stack and its targets have been selected, players can respond to that trigger. If you respond by removing the Angel somehow (for example with Razaketh's sac ability), its trigger is still on the stack waiting to do its thing. But its other trigger is now put on the stack, too, and as always, it is put on top of the stack, so somewhere on top of the other trigger. This means, that the return trigger resolves first, but there is nothing to return, because nothing has been exiled yet. The exile trigger will still resolve (because abilities on the stack exist independent of their sources) and do its thing, exiling all its targets that are still legal. In order to return those cards now, the Angel has to leave the battlefield, but it's not even there anymore, so the trigger can't go off. Even if the Angel returns and then leaves again, the game considers it a new object and thus its return abilty won't refer to the previously exiled cards since they were exiled by a different Angel as far as the game is concerned.
Also, just a note - you will find a lot of info explaining this and deck examples for older cards with a similar ability, like Faceless Butcher and Fiend Hunter.
Now I know there is some shenanigans to be had with using Angel of Serenity and instant removal to exile three critters indefinitely.
My question is, how to better understand how this interaction works so I can explain it while I'm using it. (I am also playing with some really new players.
Question 2: Can I abuse this with Razaketh, the Foulblooded's Sac ability?
Numot - Retired
Razaketh, the Foulblooded
After the Angel's ETB trigger has been put on the stack and its targets have been selected, players can respond to that trigger. If you respond by removing the Angel somehow (for example with Razaketh's sac ability), its trigger is still on the stack waiting to do its thing. But its other trigger is now put on the stack, too, and as always, it is put on top of the stack, so somewhere on top of the other trigger. This means, that the return trigger resolves first, but there is nothing to return, because nothing has been exiled yet. The exile trigger will still resolve (because abilities on the stack exist independent of their sources) and do its thing, exiling all its targets that are still legal. In order to return those cards now, the Angel has to leave the battlefield, but it's not even there anymore, so the trigger can't go off. Even if the Angel returns and then leaves again, the game considers it a new object and thus its return abilty won't refer to the previously exiled cards since they were exiled by a different Angel as far as the game is concerned.
Former Rules Advisor
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(The Gamers: Dorkness Rising)
"Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from science."
(Girl Genius - Fairy Tale Theater Break - Cinderella, end of volume 8)
Numot - Retired
2023 Average Peasant Cube|and Discussion
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