If I have an active Torpor Orb in play can I cast a Phylactery Lich without putting a phylactery counter on an artifact and subsequently not have to sacrifice it because I don't have any artifacts with any phylactery counters on them?
The phylactery counter ability of the Lich isn't triggered (it doesn't start with "when", "whenever", or "at"). It's a replacement effect that modifies how the Lich enters the battlefield. You still have to put a counter on something.
The triggered sacrifice ability of the Lich doesn't trigger on a creature entering the battlefield, it triggers when the condition is met. Torpor Orb doesn't turn that off.
The phylactery counter ability of the Lich isn't triggered (it doesn't start with "when", "whenever", or "at"). It's a replacement effect that modifies how the Lich enters the battlefield. You still have to put a counter on something.
Even though the Lich has "As Phylactery Lich enters the battlefield, put a phylactery counter on an artifact you control."
The way I read that, "As ____ enters battlefield, put _____", that's an enters the battlefield trigger...not a replacement affect, right? I may be wrong, but I thought as long as the phrasing of "when/as/entering" "comma"
" 'action' " was present, the Orb prevented it.
Rhadamanthus's description of what defines a triggered ability is correct. Phylactery lich's first ability isn't one. If it was, the lich would die every time it entered the battlefield, since it's second ability would trigger before the counter could be added.
Beating a dead horse, I know, but here's the citation:
603.6e Some permanents have text that reads "[This permanent] enters the battlefield with . . . ," "As [this permanent] enters the battlefield . . . ," "[This permanent] enters the battlefield as . . . ," or "[This permanent] enters the battlefield tapped." Such text is a static ability -- not a triggered ability -- whose effect occurs as part of the event that puts the permanent onto the battlefield.
614.1c Effects that read "[This permanent] enters the battlefield with . . . ," "As [this permanent] enters the battlefield . . . ," or "[This permanent] enters the battlefield as . . . " are replacement effects.
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The triggered sacrifice ability of the Lich doesn't trigger on a creature entering the battlefield, it triggers when the condition is met. Torpor Orb doesn't turn that off.
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Even though the Lich has "As Phylactery Lich enters the battlefield, put a phylactery counter on an artifact you control."
The way I read that, "As ____ enters battlefield, put _____", that's an enters the battlefield trigger...not a replacement affect, right? I may be wrong, but I thought as long as the phrasing of "when/as/entering" "comma"
" 'action' " was present, the Orb prevented it.
In that case, doesn't the Lich have to be sac'd?
Hrm, good point...that's why I ask Thanks
"As (something) enters the battlefield" or "(something) enters the battlefield as/with..." is always a replacement effect.
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