A quick question about how the stack works with the triggers in this situation. This is the way it went down: My opponent has Niv-Mizzet, Parun and Body of Knowledge in play. It's my turn, and I cast Go For The Throat on Niv-Mizzet, Parun. This triggers Niv-Mizzet, Parun's ability causing my opponent to draw a card, which in turn triggers Niv-Mizzet, Parun to do 1 damage to any target. He chooses to do that 1 damage to Body of Knowledge, which causes another card draw trigger, which causes another 1 damage from Niv-Mizzet to Body of Knowledge, creating an infinite draw loop that can stop whenever that player chooses to change the target of the damage.
Your opponent can begin the Niv-Mizzet and Body of Knowledge combo as you describe, in response to Go for the Throat. This doesn't change if Go for the Throat targets Body of Knowledge rather than Niv-Mizzet.
However, if you can cast another spell that can destroy either Niv-Mizzet or Body of Knowledge (such as another Go for the Throat), you can "interrupt" that combo at the right moment, since the combo involves putting abilities on the stack.In general, any combo by one player that involves putting spells or abilities on the stack can be "interrupted" at the right time by another player who can cast the right spells or activate the right abilities in response.
See also these threads and submissions on Reddit and MTGSalvation:
However, if you can cast another spell that can destroy either Niv-Mizzet or Body of Knowledge (such as another Go for the Throat), you can "interrupt" that combo at the right moment, since the combo involves putting abilities on the stack.
For this combo, this doesn't work, as any instant removal spell will restart the loop on top of that spell. You need a noninstant nonsorcery removal, like a flash creature (Jarl of the Forsaken), cycling trigger (Astral Drift), channel ability (Bamboo Grove Archer), etc.
So my question is did we play this properly, or does Go For The Throat destroy Niv-Mizzet, Parun before the cycle can repeat? If I were to destroy Body of Knowledge instead of Niv-Mizzet, Parun would that make a difference?
Thanks for the help!
However, if you can cast another spell that can destroy either Niv-Mizzet or Body of Knowledge (such as another Go for the Throat), you can "interrupt" that combo at the right moment, since the combo involves putting abilities on the stack.In general, any combo by one player that involves putting spells or abilities on the stack can be "interrupted" at the right time by another player who can cast the right spells or activate the right abilities in response.See also these threads and submissions on Reddit and MTGSalvation:
EDIT: Correction after comment 3 was posted.
For this combo, this doesn't work, as any instant removal spell will restart the loop on top of that spell. You need a noninstant nonsorcery removal, like a flash creature (Jarl of the Forsaken), cycling trigger (Astral Drift), channel ability (Bamboo Grove Archer), etc.
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)