Hey guys, I tried to search, but could not find what what I am looking for.
Once Mairsil hits the field, his 1st ability goes to the stack. My question is, do I need to name my target before passing priority for other players?
Situation:
I was in a game, summoned Mairsil and named the card. Another player used his Deathrite Shaman to exile from my graveyard the card I named and i lost Mairsil trigger since the target was not valid anymore.
Thinking about it now, I think we played it all wrong. Based in what I understand of the text, other players need to answer before knowing my target. Even if someone exiles the card I was aiming for as an answer for the ETB, when the ability resolves I can just pick something else from my graveyard/hand.
You're right. Mairsil's enters-the-battlefield ability doesn't actually have a target (it simply reads "you may exile an artifact or creature card from your hand or graveyard"). You just choose and exile the card when it resolves. As a result, your opponent could respond to the ability by using Deathrite Shaman to exile a card from your graveyard, but they won't know if that's the card you actually want to exile to Mairsil's ability or not until that ability resolves. When the ability does resolve, you can just choose a different card (or no card at all).
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Lapsed DCI Rules Advisor - Retired from playing but still hanging around
Because the ability does not say “target”, you choose as it resolves, not when it goes on the stack.
That said, make sure to clearly check with the table if it resolves before naming your choice. Otherwise, people may feel that you didn’t give them a chance to check their options and respond.
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Once Mairsil hits the field, his 1st ability goes to the stack. My question is, do I need to name my target before passing priority for other players?
Situation:
I was in a game, summoned Mairsil and named the card. Another player used his Deathrite Shaman to exile from my graveyard the card I named and i lost Mairsil trigger since the target was not valid anymore.
Thinking about it now, I think we played it all wrong. Based in what I understand of the text, other players need to answer before knowing my target. Even if someone exiles the card I was aiming for as an answer for the ETB, when the ability resolves I can just pick something else from my graveyard/hand.
Which is correct?
You're right. Mairsil's enters-the-battlefield ability doesn't actually have a target (it simply reads "you may exile an artifact or creature card from your hand or graveyard"). You just choose and exile the card when it resolves. As a result, your opponent could respond to the ability by using Deathrite Shaman to exile a card from your graveyard, but they won't know if that's the card you actually want to exile to Mairsil's ability or not until that ability resolves. When the ability does resolve, you can just choose a different card (or no card at all).
That said, make sure to clearly check with the table if it resolves before naming your choice. Otherwise, people may feel that you didn’t give them a chance to check their options and respond.