"Whenever Reality Smasher becomes the target of a spell an opponent controls, counter that spell unless its controller discards a card."
My question is: When Reality Smasher becomes the target of a counterspell, such as Mana Leak, does Reality Smasher's last ability trigger? If the last ability of Reality Smasher doesn't trigger on the stack, which I suspect it doesn't, why not? I would think that the third ability would/should trigger while Reality Smasher is on the stack, due to the wording of, "Whenever Reality Smasher becomes the target..." Regardless of whether the card is on the battlefield or not, Reality Smasher is becoming the target of a spell.
112.6. Abilities of an instant or sorcery spell usually function only while that object is on the stack.
Abilities of all other objects usually function only while that object is on the battlefield. The
exceptions are as follows:
(None of these exceptions apply here.)
112.6a Characteristic-defining abilities function everywhere, even outside the game. (See rule
604.3.)
112.6b An ability that states which zones it functions in functions only from those zones.
112.6c An object’s ability that allows a player to pay an alternative cost rather than its mana cost
functions in any zone in which its mana cost can be paid (which, in general, means it functions
on the stack). An object’s ability that otherwise modifies what that particular object costs to cast
functions on the stack.
112.6d An object’s ability that restricts or modifies how that particular object can be played or cast
functions in any zone from which it could be played or cast.
112.6e An object’s ability that restricts or modifies what zones that particular object can be played
or cast from functions everywhere, even outside the game.
112.6f An object’s ability that states it can’t be countered or can’t be countered by spells and
abilities functions on the stack.
112.6g An object’s ability that modifies how that particular object enters the battlefield functions as
that object is entering the battlefield. See rule 614.12.
112.6h An object’s ability that states counters can’t be placed on that object functions as that object
is entering the battlefield in addition to functioning while that object is on the battlefield.
112.6i An object’s activated ability that has a cost that can’t be paid while the object is on the
battlefield functions from any zone in which its cost can be paid.
112.6j A trigger condition that can’t trigger from the battlefield functions in all zones it can trigger
from. Other trigger conditions of the same triggered ability may function in different zones.
112.6k An ability whose cost or effect specifies that it moves the object it’s on out of a particular
zone functions only in that zone, unless that ability’s trigger condition, or a previous part of that
ability’s cost or effect, specifies that the object is put into that zone. The same is true if the
effect of that ability creates a delayed triggered ability whose effect moves the object out of a
particular zone.
112.6m An ability that modifies the rules for deck construction functions before the game begins.
Such an ability modifies not just the Comprehensive Rules, but also the Magic: The Gathering
Tournament Rules and any other documents that set the deck construction rules for a specific
format. However, such an ability can’t affect the format legality of a card, including whether it’s
banned or restricted. The current Magic: The Gathering Tournament Rules can be found at
WPN.Wizards.com/en/resources/rules-documents.
112.6n Abilities of emblems, plane cards, vanguard cards, scheme cards, and conspiracy cards
function in the command zone. See rule 113, “Emblems”; rule 901, “Planechase”; rule 902,
“Vanguard”; rule 904, “Archenemy”; and rule 905, “Conspiracy Draft.”
My question is: When Reality Smasher becomes the target of a counterspell, such as Mana Leak, does Reality Smasher's last ability trigger? If the last ability of Reality Smasher doesn't trigger on the stack, which I suspect it doesn't, why not? I would think that the third ability would/should trigger while Reality Smasher is on the stack, due to the wording of, "Whenever Reality Smasher becomes the target..." Regardless of whether the card is on the battlefield or not, Reality Smasher is becoming the target of a spell.
It would read like Great Sable Stag to be 'uncounterable.'
Former Rules Advisor
"Everything's better with pirates." - Lodge
(The Gamers: Dorkness Rising)
"Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from science."
(Girl Genius - Fairy Tale Theater Break - Cinderella, end of volume 8)