Put shortly: I have a board of only [[Soulherder]] and [[Phantasmal Dragon]].
At the end of my turn, do I have to sacrifice the dragon?
Bonus question: How would it have to be phrased to work the opposite way?
Posted Jun 19, 2019, 11:11 PM UTC · edited
Bonus question: How would it have to be phrased to work the opposite way?
At the beginning of your end step, exile up to one other target creature you control, then return that card to the battlefield under its owner’s control.
At the end step, Soulherder's trigger enters the stack targeting another creature you control, in this case the Phantasmal Dragon. The Dragon triggers, upon resolution you sacrifice it. Then you resolve the Soulherder trigger, which fizzles because it no longer has any targets.
Triggers that say "you may" still happen, but you only make your decision upon resolution of the trigger.
Soulherder - (G) (SF) (txt)
Phantasmal Dragon - (G) (SF) (txt)
^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
In the long form, do I target something, then choose whether to flicker it? Or do I choose whether to target something, and then flicker it?
The first one. An effect that worked like the second one would drop the "may" and would say "up to one other" instead of "another".
The latter. May means optional
May is optional only upon resolution. You still have to put the trigger on the stack, and at the time you do, you must choose targets for the trigger. This will trigger any "illusion" creatures that are sacrificed when targetted.
I don't think so, then again I'm relatively new and only know so much
No. If it says may, you may decline the ability, as far as I'm aware
You may sacrifice the dragon, but you probably shouldn't.
Yes. "May" abilities still have their target selected when the ability goes on the stack - it's not until you go to resolve the ability that you choose. In this case, the dragon is not there anymore because you had to sacrifice it.
114.1: Some spells and abilities require their controller to choose one or more targets for them. The targets are object(s) and/or player(s) the spell or ability will affect. These targets are declared as part of the process of putting the spell or ability on the stack. The targets can't be changed except by another spell or ability that explicitly says it can do so.
603.5: Some triggered abilities' effects are optional (they contain "may," as in "At the beginning of your upkeep, you may draw a card"). These abilities go on the stack when they trigger, regardless of whether their controller intends to exercise the ability's option or not. The choice is made when the ability resolves. Likewise, triggered abilities that have an effect "unless" something is true or a player chooses to do something will go on the stack normally; the "unless" part of the ability is dealt with when the ability resolves.
I've seen responses suggesting either outcome, but this one is longer and quotes the official rules, so im guessing it is correct
Thanks!