When I have to sacrifice a creature due to another cards affect, can I declare it as the one I will be sacrificed to that card, but then before that happens, sacrifice it to a different cards affect?
Does it still count, or would I have to pick another creature to sac to the first affect?
In the most common case, you cannot do what you propose.
Most such effects are similar to, "Target player sacrifices a creature."
In such a case, the choice of object to sacrifice is made while the spell or ability resolves. During this time, no player can take actions like sacrificing to pay for another spell or ability's cost.
In the much rarer case of an effect that reads similar to, "Choose target permanent. Its controller sacrifices it.", it's a different matter. That chosen object is locked in when the spell or ability is placed on the stack. Players are free to interact with the chosen object before the spell or ability resolves.
So, as a specific example, if I had Eldrazi Monument in play, would I be able to choose a creature to sacrifice to it, then use it to tap Ayara, First of Locthwain for her ability using that same creature before it resolved?
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One more example is if my opponent falls victim to the affect of Phyrexian Obliteretor, could they also choose which creature to sac, then sac it to one of their own cards abilities first?
So, as a specific example, if I had Eldrazi Monument in play, would I be able to choose a creature to sacrifice to it, then use it to tap Ayara, Frist of Lochthwain for her ability using that same creature before it resolved?
One more example is if my opponent falls victim to the affect of Phyrexian Obliteretor, could they also choose which creature to sac, then sac it to one of their own cards abilities first?
Still no.
608.2d If an effect of a spell or ability offers any choices other than choices already made as part of casting the spell, activating the ability, or otherwise putting the spell or ability on the stack, the player announces these while applying the effect. The player can’t choose an option that’s illegal or impossible, with the exception that having a library with no cards in it doesn’t make drawing a card an impossible action (see rule 121.3). If an effect divides or distributes something, such as damage or counters, as a player chooses among any number of untargeted players and/or objects, the player chooses the amount and division such that each chosen player or object receives at least one of whatever is being divided. (Note that if an effect divides or distributes something, such as damage or counters, as a player chooses among some number of target objects and/or players, the amount and division were determined as the spell or ability was put onto the stack rather than at this time; see rule 601.2d.)
608.2f If an effect gives a player the option to pay mana, they may activate mana abilities before taking that action. If an effect specifically instructs or allows a player to cast a spell during resolution, they do so by following the steps in rules 601.2a–i, except no player receives priority after it’s cast. That spell becomes the topmost object on the stack, and the currently resolving spell or ability continues to resolve, which may include casting other spells this way. No other spells can normally be cast and no other abilities can normally be activated during resolution.
The Eldrazi Monument example would go something like this:
Your upkeep begins. This triggers the ability of Eldrazi Monument.
You would get priority, but there is a triggered ability to put on the stack. You put "At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice a creature. If you can't, sacrifice Eldrazi Monument." on the stack. Maybe you make a comment about a creature you consider particularly expandable at this time.
You get priority and activate the "T, Sacrifice another black creature: Draw a card." ability of Ayara, First of Locthwain. You pay the cost by tapping Ayara and sacrificing a different black creature. Maybe you previously commented on that other black creature being expendable.
You get priority and pass
Opponent gets priority and passes.
The top object on the stack (the ability activated in step 3) resolves. You draw a card.
You get priority and pass
Opponent gets priority and passes.
The top object on the stack (the ability put there in step 2) resolves. You sacrifice a creature, i.e., you move a creature you control from the battlefield to the graveyard. Ayara could be that creature. The blank spot on the table that used to be covered by an expendable black creature is not a creature and can't be sacrificed. Anyway, the only excuse for not sacrificing a creature at this time is not having a creature at all, so I won't worry about what actual creature you sacrifice.
You get priority and ....
701.17. Sacrifice
701.17a To sacrifice a permanent, its controller moves it from the battlefield directly to its owner’s graveyard. A player can’t sacrifice something that isn’t a permanent, or something that’s a permanent they don’t control. Sacrificing a permanent doesn’t destroy it, so regeneration or other effects that replace destruction can’t affect this action.
Reminiscing about a creature that recently went to the graveyard (or pointing to the spot it occupied on the table) is not a sacrifice. Neither is promising to move a creature to the graveyard Real Soon Now. Something like Reweave has a target; you could respond to that by sacrificing the target or otherwise using it. Otherwise, it's not a choice made in advance of the action.
Note that software like Magic Online would not ask you about the sacrifice for Eldrazi Monument until step 9 in my sequence.
Reminiscing about a creature that recently went to the graveyard (or pointing to the spot it occupied on the table) is not a sacrifice. Neither is promising to move a creature to the graveyard Real Soon Now.
Just in case it's not clear for everyone, this part of Argus' comment uses IRONY. Consider yourself warned.
In Maryhainey's defense, it must be recognized that 'sacrifice' generates much confusion with new Magic players.
The reason being, as Davidb32 explained, that most sacrifice cards are not targetted, while most other aggressive spells are.
The prevalence of targetted spells trains newbies into the habit of responding to killer spells: hey, since your creature is about to die, why not make use of it, one last time, with Momentous Fall, for example?
This 'last gasp' strategy works well against targetted spells (and sweeps), but is useless against untargetted spells, such as most sacrifice cards, and new players often are not aware of this subtlety.
In these cases, you can "sac in response" because the choice was made when the spell was cast or the ability was activated. The target is locked in.
In every other case, the choice isn't made when the spell is cast or the ability is activated, but instead when the spell or ability is resolving. The choice and the sacrifice are made at practically the same time, with no opportunity to do anything in between.
When I have to sacrifice a creature due to another cards affect, can I declare it as the one I will be sacrificed to that card, but then before that happens, sacrifice it to a different cards affect?
Does it still count, or would I have to pick another creature to sac to the first affect?
(1)
You don't generally space out a step where you "declare" what will be sacrificed to an effect, nor indeed, what will receive an action of any kind. Or rather, you do not have leeway to fit an independent action into that space. To "do" to an X, you pick an X that can have that thing done to it, and then do that thing. As you second-guess in this post, substituting a different fate for a creature just means that the effect which needs you to "sacrifice a creature" will command you to find another "a creature" to sacrifice. You can't (re)act in the middle.
(2)
Take heed that responding to your opponent's actions is always in the form of responding to one of his or her spells or abilities. You act while that spell is on the Stack before it has started to resolve. You have no freedoms to initiate an action during a spell or ability's resolution. You do not respond to effects or instructions; you do not get to act, only react through the choices that the spell or ability presents.
So, as a specific example, if I had Eldrazi Monument in play, would I be able to choose a creature to sacrifice to it, then use it to tap Ayara, Frist of Lochthwain for her ability using that same creature before it resolved?
No, you can't lock in that creature for sacrifice. If you do respond to Eldrazi Monument and sacrifice a creature, it just means that that particular creature won't exist when you are told by Eldrazi Monument to "sacrifice a creature".
(3)
As chaikov says, the difference comes up with targets. Because a target is a selection for a spell made at the time of casting, you can react to the spell and do something to the selected creature (or whatever), if it's before the spell begins to resolve, as in (2). The spell's instructions process that target as though it were a proper name, identifying exactly one thing and one thing in advance. Assuming the spell isn't negated because of illegal targets, your consumption of the target for a different fate still leaves a targeted instruction stuck with that definite, 'named' reference.
One more example is if my opponent falls victim to the affect of Phyrexian Obliteretor, could they also choose which creature to sac, then sac it to one of their own cards abilities first?
Because Phyrexian Obliterator just tells the player to sacrifice a number, and does not target, those choices are thrust upon you at the time the ability resolves. Whatever you have lying around at that time, you have to make up that number in sacrifices, and you cannot interrupt the sacrifices to get any second use out of them. Verify that this follows from the principles numbered above.
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Does it still count, or would I have to pick another creature to sac to the first affect?
Most such effects are similar to, "Target player sacrifices a creature."
In such a case, the choice of object to sacrifice is made while the spell or ability resolves. During this time, no player can take actions like sacrificing to pay for another spell or ability's cost.
In the much rarer case of an effect that reads similar to, "Choose target permanent. Its controller sacrifices it.", it's a different matter. That chosen object is locked in when the spell or ability is placed on the stack. Players are free to interact with the chosen object before the spell or ability resolves.
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[c]Phyrexian Obliterator[/c] -> Phyrexian Obliterator
[c]Ayara, First of Locthwain[/c] -> Ayara, First of Locthwain
Still no.
The Eldrazi Monument example would go something like this:
Reminiscing about a creature that recently went to the graveyard (or pointing to the spot it occupied on the table) is not a sacrifice. Neither is promising to move a creature to the graveyard Real Soon Now. Something like Reweave has a target; you could respond to that by sacrificing the target or otherwise using it. Otherwise, it's not a choice made in advance of the action.
Note that software like Magic Online would not ask you about the sacrifice for Eldrazi Monument until step 9 in my sequence.
In Maryhainey's defense, it must be recognized that 'sacrifice' generates much confusion with new Magic players.
The reason being, as Davidb32 explained, that most sacrifice cards are not targetted, while most other aggressive spells are.
The prevalence of targetted spells trains newbies into the habit of responding to killer spells: hey, since your creature is about to die, why not make use of it, one last time, with Momentous Fall, for example?
This 'last gasp' strategy works well against targetted spells (and sweeps), but is useless against untargetted spells, such as most sacrifice cards, and new players often are not aware of this subtlety.
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In these cases, you can "sac in response" because the choice was made when the spell was cast or the ability was activated. The target is locked in.
In every other case, the choice isn't made when the spell is cast or the ability is activated, but instead when the spell or ability is resolving. The choice and the sacrifice are made at practically the same time, with no opportunity to do anything in between.
(1)
You don't generally space out a step where you "declare" what will be sacrificed to an effect, nor indeed, what will receive an action of any kind. Or rather, you do not have leeway to fit an independent action into that space. To "do" to an X, you pick an X that can have that thing done to it, and then do that thing. As you second-guess in this post, substituting a different fate for a creature just means that the effect which needs you to "sacrifice a creature" will command you to find another "a creature" to sacrifice. You can't (re)act in the middle.
(2)
Take heed that responding to your opponent's actions is always in the form of responding to one of his or her spells or abilities. You act while that spell is on the Stack before it has started to resolve. You have no freedoms to initiate an action during a spell or ability's resolution. You do not respond to effects or instructions; you do not get to act, only react through the choices that the spell or ability presents.
Let's look at your example.
No, you can't lock in that creature for sacrifice. If you do respond to Eldrazi Monument and sacrifice a creature, it just means that that particular creature won't exist when you are told by Eldrazi Monument to "sacrifice a creature".
(3)
As chaikov says, the difference comes up with targets. Because a target is a selection for a spell made at the time of casting, you can react to the spell and do something to the selected creature (or whatever), if it's before the spell begins to resolve, as in (2). The spell's instructions process that target as though it were a proper name, identifying exactly one thing and one thing in advance. Assuming the spell isn't negated because of illegal targets, your consumption of the target for a different fate still leaves a targeted instruction stuck with that definite, 'named' reference.
Because Phyrexian Obliterator just tells the player to sacrifice a number, and does not target, those choices are thrust upon you at the time the ability resolves. Whatever you have lying around at that time, you have to make up that number in sacrifices, and you cannot interrupt the sacrifices to get any second use out of them. Verify that this follows from the principles numbered above.
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