Simple cases:
f(x,0) = 0 (Since all the Polyraptors will die from state based effects)
f(x,1) = 1 (Since there will be at most 1 Polyraptor in play and it will die in order to make a copy)
f(0,x) = 1 (Since the Forerunner of the Empire dies from state based effects before the Polyraptor resolves)
f(1,x) = 1 (Since the Forerunner of the Empire will trigger exactly once before it dies)
Here's a more realistic example of f(3,5) (like on the actual cards) here is what the battlefield and stack looks like (Fn = Forerunner of the Empire with n damage, Pn = Polyraptor with n damage and a ' denotes the card's trigger):
How does the "Flagbearer" ability and "Tribal Instant - Shapeshifters" interact?
e.g. I control Coalition Honor Guard and my opponent controls a 4/4, we are both at 3 life. I cast Crib Swap targeting their creature and while maintaining priority, also cast Lightning Bolt targeting them.
603.4. A triggered ability may read “When/Whenever/At [trigger event], if [condition], [effect].” When the trigger event occurs, the ability checks whether the stated condition is true. The ability triggers only if it is; otherwise it does nothing. If the ability triggers, it checks the stated condition again as it resolves. If the condition isn’t true at that time, the ability is removed from the stack and does nothing. Note that this mirrors the check for legal targets. This rule is referred to as the “intervening ‘if’ clause” rule.
114.8b An object that looks for a “[spell or ability] that targets [something]” checks the current state of that spell or ability’s targets. If an object it targets is still in the zone it’s expected to be in or a player it targets is still in the game, that target’s current information is used, even if it’s not currently legal for that spell or ability. If an object it targets is no longer in the zone it’s expected to be in or a player it targets is no longer in the game, that target is ignored; its last known information is not used.
114.8c An object that looks for a “[spell or ability] that targets only [something]” checks the number of different objects or players that became the target of that spell or ability when it was put on the stack (as modified by effects that changed those targets), not the number of those objects or players that are currently legal targets. If that number is one (even if the spell or ability targets that object or player multiple times), the current state of that spell or ability’s target is checked as described in rule 114.8b.
I understand why the Redirect causes the ability to "fizzle" (Rule 114.8c), but why doesn't destroying Ink-Treader Nephilim or countering the original spell make the ability "fizzle"? In those two cases Ink-Treader Nephilim is not the "only" target since the spell would have no targets, correct?
Lets assume for all these questions that there are 4 players, A, B, C, and D
Player A controls a Ink-Treader Nephilim and a Bazaar Trader
All players controls a colorless 1/1 creature with no abilities, a colorless 2/2 creature with Hexproof and a colorless 3/3 creature with Shroud (this is to cover all bases)
It is Player A's pre-combat Main Phase unless otherwise noted
Next are some priority and stack questions, please answer these step by step as detailed ass possible:
Example 1) Player A casts Path to Exile targeting Bazaar Trader:
5) Same as 3) except they (accidentally) don't maintain priority. e.g. Player a casts Path to Exile, targets Ink-Treader Nephilim and asks "any responses?", then after no responses attempts to use Bazaar Trader's ability
Since a playset of a card is the most of that card you can have in a deck, i.e. 4 for most formats and 1 for singleton formats, I was wondering what a play set of Relentless Rats would be.
Since a deck can have any number of cards named Relentless Rats, a playset would be 1 of every one ever printed. I was wondering what this number would be.
Also according to the ruling:
"Yes, you're allowed to have a deck consisting of sixty Relentless Rats and nothing else"
If i had a deck consisting of one playset (every rat ever printed) what would this deck look like? That is it's height stacked, it's weight, the surface area needed to play all of the rats without overlapping, and other cute statistics you can think of.
Pretend that Forerunner of the Empire had n toughness and Polyraptor had m toughness.
If Forerunner of the Empire is on the battlefield and you cast Polyraptor what is the most amount of Polyraptors you would have in play after all triggers resolve?
Let's denote this function as f(n,m).
Simple cases:
f(x,0) = 0 (Since all the Polyraptors will die from state based effects)
f(x,1) = 1 (Since there will be at most 1 Polyraptor in play and it will die in order to make a copy)
f(0,x) = 1 (Since the Forerunner of the Empire dies from state based effects before the Polyraptor resolves)
f(1,x) = 1 (Since the Forerunner of the Empire will trigger exactly once before it dies)
Here's a more realistic example of f(3,5) (like on the actual cards) here is what the battlefield and stack looks like (Fn = Forerunner of the Empire with n damage, Pn = Polyraptor with n damage and a ' denotes the card's trigger):
Thus we can get a maximum of 8 Polyraptors
Therefore f(3,5) = 8
I believe that f(n,m) = 2^n when n < m since no Polyraptors die and they can double on each Forerunner of the Empire trigger
So what is f(n,m) in general?
That makes a lot of sense
edggy
e.g. I control Coalition Honor Guard and my opponent controls a 4/4, we are both at 3 life. I cast Crib Swap targeting their creature and while maintaining priority, also cast Lightning Bolt targeting them.
Are they able to cast Counterspell to counter the Lightning Bolt? Or since Crib Swap is a Flagbearer they must choose it as the target for the Counterspell?
If my opponent has a Lightning Bolt and a Counterspell in their hand with enough mana to cast them both, is there any way they can not lose?
Does this strategy essentially make all my spells on the stack above Crib Swap untargetable?
Thanks,
edggy
The confusion comes from this post I found:
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/magic-fundamentals/magic-rulings/magic-rulings-archives/303037-ink-treader-neplilim-and-mistmeadow-witch
I understand why the Redirect causes the ability to "fizzle" (Rule 114.8c), but why doesn't destroying Ink-Treader Nephilim or countering the original spell make the ability "fizzle"? In those two cases Ink-Treader Nephilim is not the "only" target since the spell would have no targets, correct?
Thanks for your great explanation,
edggy
Lets assume for all these questions that there are 4 players, A, B, C, and D
Player A controls a Ink-Treader Nephilim and a Bazaar Trader
All players controls a colorless 1/1 creature with no abilities, a colorless 2/2 creature with Hexproof and a colorless 3/3 creature with Shroud (this is to cover all bases)
It is Player A's pre-combat Main Phase unless otherwise noted
What happens when:
1) Player A cast Blessed Breath and splices Psychic Puppetry both targeting Ink-Treader Nephilim.
2) Player A cast Psychic Puppetry and splices Blessed Breath both targeting Ink-Treader Nephilim.
Next are some priority and stack questions, please answer these step by step as detailed ass possible:
Example 1) Player A casts Path to Exile targeting Bazaar Trader:
(Please correct this if it is wrong)
3) Player A casts Path to Exile targeting Ink-Treader Nephilim, maintains priority and uses Bazaar Trader's ability to donate Ink-Treader Nephilim to Player B in response to Path to Exile being cast
4) Same as 3) except it is in response to Ink-Treader Nephilim's ability
5) Same as 3) except they (accidentally) don't maintain priority. e.g. Player a casts Path to Exile, targets Ink-Treader Nephilim and asks "any responses?", then after no responses attempts to use Bazaar Trader's ability
6) Player B casts Slaughter Pact targeting Ink-Treader Nephilim and then Player A uses Bazaar Trader's ability to donate Ink-Treader Nephilim to Player B in response to Slaughter Pact being cast. Who pays the Slaughter Pact(s)?
7) Same as 6) except it is in response to Ink-Treader Nephilim's ability
8) 4) through 7) except it is Player B's pre-combat Main Phase
Other Questions:
How does Counterspell interact with spells that initially target Ink-Treader Nephilim?
How does Redirect interact with spells that initially target Ink-Treader Nephilim? What if it had multiple targets and they where all initially targeting Ink-Treader Nephilim?
What happens if Player B uses an ability to destroy Ink-Treader Nephilim with it's ability on the stack?
Thanks,
edggy
Since a deck can have any number of cards named Relentless Rats, a playset would be 1 of every one ever printed. I was wondering what this number would be.
Also according to the ruling:
"Yes, you're allowed to have a deck consisting of sixty Relentless Rats and nothing else"
If i had a deck consisting of one playset (every rat ever printed) what would this deck look like? That is it's height stacked, it's weight, the surface area needed to play all of the rats without overlapping, and other cute statistics you can think of.
Also same thing with Shadowborn Apostle
Thanks,
edggy