Abdel Adrian - Comboing Off vs. Board Wipes
Asked by jzt0 4 months ago
My situation: Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward has Assimilation Aegis in exile with his ability. Candlekeep Sage, White Plume Adventurer, and Prismatic Lens on board, with Werefox Bodyguard in hand. At the end of my turn, my friend casts an overloaded Cyclonic Rift. I respond by casting my Bodyguard, targeting Abdel. If we are now both fully tapped out, am I able to combo off to my heart’s desire, essentially winning through the Undercity losing 5 life (Trap Room), getting a large amount of mana through Lens, BEFORE his Cyclonic Rift resolves? Please let me know if I need to clarify! Thank you!!
Thank you - and just to be crystal clear, when Lens (or Basalt Monolith, or any mana rock for that matter) returns to the battlefield briefly, I can tap it for mana before it goes back to exile, floating mana? So I can get the ETBs from creatures, draw triggers from Candlekeep, and tons of mana from mana rocks? All on the stack before I decide to respond to Cyclonic Rift, and either counter it at that point, or let it resolve? Thanks again :)
November 26, 2024 10:49 a.m.
Rhadamanthus says... Accepted answer #3
Yes. Everything you're doing here is basically a response to Cyclonic Rift.
One major element of the game's timing rules is a system of "priority" where the player with priority can use it to either take an action or pass priority to the next player. If all players pass while there are spells/abilities on the stack, then the topmost object on the stack will start to resolve. If there's something else still on the stack after that, another round of priority will go around the table and that object will only start resolving if everyone passes. If everyone passes over an empty stack then the game moves on to the next step or phase.
In your example, after one of your various ETB/LTB events happen and you add triggers to the stack, everyone will get an opportunity to take more actions "in response" before any of the triggers can start resolving. That can include activating abilities, casting instant-speed removal spells, etc.
In older versions of the rules, before the stack system, once a batch or series started resolving then no one could add more responses until it was completely finished, but that isn't the case anymore. In the current rule system, everyone has a chance to make another response in-between each thing.
November 26, 2024 1:44 p.m.
I appreciate the thoughtfulness of your responses. Much appreciated, and have a Happy Thanksgiving (if you celebrate)! : - )
Rhadamanthus says... #1
Yes, that works. After a triggered ability triggers, it's added to the top of the stack. In your example you have a series of events that keeps adding new triggers to the stack above Cyclonic Rift, so the game will resolve them first and will never get down to the Rift as long as you're able to keep it rolling.
November 26, 2024 10:38 a.m.