Hello! Here’s my question: I have a permanent in play, such as Cowardice or Dismiss into dream, which cause a permanent to leave the battlefield when they are targeted. What happens to a Licid (let’s say Tempting licid just to illustrate) when I target a creature in this scenario? Is the ability countered because it no longer has a valid target and the licid doesn’t become an enchantment? Does it die because it’s an aura enchanting nothing? Can I pay the cost to end the effect and save it?
Follow-up question: what happens when I have Tiana, Ship's Caretaker in play and a Licid dies as an aura?
An ability of the form "[Cost]: [This permanent] loses this ability and becomes an Aura enchantment with enchant creature. Attach it to target creature. You may pay [another cost] to end this effect.", such as found in Tempting Licid, targets a creature (C.R. 108.1, 115.1c). If that creature leaves the battlefield before that ability resolves (e.g., due to Cowardice's ability or an ability granted to that creature by Dismiss into Dream), the ability will fail to resolve for having its only target illegal and its source won't become an Aura enchantment (C.R. 608.2b). (In general, though, if it's a spell or ability that still has a legal target—think of Hex or Seeds of Strength—the ability will still resolve ignoring any illegal targets [C.R. 608.2b].)
But if Tempting Licid is already an Aura attached to a creature and that creature leaves the battlefield due to Cowardice's ability or an ability granted to that creature by Dismiss into Dream, Tempting Licid will go to the graveyard as a state-based action for not being attached to anything (C.R. 704.5m). On the other hand, however, you can end the effect of Tempting Licid in response to that ability (before that ability resolves) by paying G (C.R. 116.2c; see also C.R. 117.7). If you do, Tempting Licid will stop being an Aura (and regain its activated ability) immediately.
Tiana's triggered ability will trigger as appropriate even if the Aura or Equipment in question isn't normally an Aura or Equipment (such as if Tempting Licid is an Aura or if an artifact is an Equipment due to Bludgeon Brawl). And "you may return that card to its owner's hand at the beginning of the next end step" even if that card isn't an Aura or Equipment card.
Note that the Licid creature type (C.R. 205.3m) has no abilities or game mechanics inherent to it.
I have one other question about the “paying to end the effect part”. It is described as a special action. What exactly does that mean and how is it different from, for example, an activated ability? The timings where I can use the licid’s ability are different? Does it have any restrictions (or benefits) attached to it that are different from regular actions in the game?
A special action doesn't use the stack, but you still have to have priority to take it. The most obvious benefit is, that it cannot be responded to. The most common special action is playing a land. Another quite known one is unmorphing a creature. Activated abilities use the stack, and alweays have the template [cost]:[effect]. The colon is a dead give away. Without it, an ability is not an activated ability. (The colon may be hidden in the rules for keyword abilities, though.) Cards like the Licids, that let you end an effect of some kind for a cost, create new special actions.
116. Special Actions
116.1. Special actions are actions a player may take when they have priority that don’t use the stack. These are not to be confused with turn-based actions and state-based actions, which the game generates automatically.
116.2. There are nine special actions:
116.2a Playing a land is a special action. (...)
116.2c Some effects allow a player to take an action at a later time, usually to end a continuous effect (...). Doing so is a special action. A player can take such an action any time they have priority,(...)
Follow-up question: what happens when I have Tiana, Ship's Caretaker in play and a Licid dies as an aura?
Thank you very much!
But if Tempting Licid is already an Aura attached to a creature and that creature leaves the battlefield due to Cowardice's ability or an ability granted to that creature by Dismiss into Dream, Tempting Licid will go to the graveyard as a state-based action for not being attached to anything (C.R. 704.5m). On the other hand, however, you can end the effect of Tempting Licid in response to that ability (before that ability resolves) by paying G (C.R. 116.2c; see also C.R. 117.7). If you do, Tempting Licid will stop being an Aura (and regain its activated ability) immediately.
Tiana's triggered ability will trigger as appropriate even if the Aura or Equipment in question isn't normally an Aura or Equipment (such as if Tempting Licid is an Aura or if an artifact is an Equipment due to Bludgeon Brawl). And "you may return that card to its owner's hand at the beginning of the next end step" even if that card isn't an Aura or Equipment card.
Note that the Licid creature type (C.R. 205.3m) has no abilities or game mechanics inherent to it.
EDIT: Edited after comment 5 was posted.
I have one other question about the “paying to end the effect part”. It is described as a special action. What exactly does that mean and how is it different from, for example, an activated ability? The timings where I can use the licid’s ability are different? Does it have any restrictions (or benefits) attached to it that are different from regular actions in the game?
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116.1. Special actions are actions a player may take when they have priority that don’t use the stack. These are not to be confused with turn-based actions and state-based actions, which the game generates automatically.
116.2. There are nine special actions:
116.2a Playing a land is a special action. (...)
116.2c Some effects allow a player to take an action at a later time, usually to end a continuous effect (...). Doing so is a special action. A player can take such an action any time they have priority,(...)
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