During my opponents turn, he plays huge creature (Bruna, Light of Alabaster I believe) and has swiftfoot boots. He attempts to equip the boots In response, I cast Mortify (Instant speed kill creature.) to kill Bruna before she's hexproof. He says she is already hexproof, and cannot be killed by the spell. However, I believe that abilities like that still must be on stack, and responded to like I tried.
Really could use a nice explanation on this for a pair of bickering players.
Warning issued for lack of card tags. Card tags added.
- Teia
Equipping an artifact goes on the stack and can be responded to, yes. Mortify would resolve and kill the creature in question before the equipping resolves and the creature gains hexproof.
Any judges willing to chime in for two cents? I have a feeling I'm going to receive that "Those are just online dudes, they won't know" argument. The link to this will be sent to him, hopefully resolving this.
This is a very basic question. A judge is not needed. You need to explain the stack to him as it is a very important part of the game even if you are just playing at home. If he were to show up to a tournament and claim this his opponent and the judge would likely be flustered so now is as good of a time as ever to learn about it.
405.1. When a spell is cast, the physical card is put on the stack (see rule 601.2a). When an ability is activated or triggers, it goes on top of the stack without any card associated with it (see rules 602.2a and 603.3).
And
702.6a Equip is an activated ability of Equipment cards. “Equip [cost]” means “[Cost]: Attach this permanent to target creature you control. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.”
And
405.5. When all players pass in succession, the top (last-added) spell or ability on the stack resolves. If the stack is empty when all players pass, the current step or phase ends and the next begins.
Voila. The ability of Swiftfoot Boots is an activated ability; thus it is placed on the stack and does not resolve unless/until all players pass in succession. Since you didn't pass -- instead you cast Mortify. Mortify is now the topmost object on the stack, will resolve first and will kill the creature.
Really could use a nice explanation on this for a pair of bickering players.
Warning issued for lack of card tags. Card tags added.
- Teia
GW ~ Angels ~ WG
Modern:
RBW ~ Shadowmancer ~ WBR
Legacy:
BUG ~ Shadow Delver ~ GUB
8.RG Green Devotion Ramp/Combo 9.UR Draw Triggers 10.WUR Group stalling 11.WUR Voltron Spellslinger 12.WB Sacrificial Shenanigans
13.BR Creatureless Panharmonicon 14.BR Pingers and Eldrazi 15.URG Untapped Cascading
16.Reyhan, last of the Abzan's WUBG +1/+1 Counter Craziness 17.WUBRG Dragons aka Why did I make this?
Building: The Gitrog Monster lands, Glissa the Traitor stax, Muldrotha, the Gravetide Planeswalker Combo, Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix + Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa Clues, and Tribal Scarecrow Planeswalkers
And
And
Voila. The ability of Swiftfoot Boots is an activated ability; thus it is placed on the stack and does not resolve unless/until all players pass in succession. Since you didn't pass -- instead you cast Mortify. Mortify is now the topmost object on the stack, will resolve first and will kill the creature.
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Lightning Bolts don't kill creatures. State-based actions kill creatures.