Can I regenerate a creature that is not dying?
Asked by vic 6 months ago
I control a Krenko, Mob Boss and my opponent has put an Ice Cage on it, which I want to remove. I control a Goblin Chirurgeon and another goblin. Can I sacrifice that goblin just to target Krenko and remove the Ice Cage? Krenko has taken no damage.
I wish they hadn't changed the way regeneration works. This one doesn't make sense to me. But good to know. Thanks.
Uncage the Krenko!
April 28, 2024 6:28 a.m.
seshiro_of_the_orochi says... #3
You're welcome. But what do you mean by "they changed it"? I'm very sure it's been like this forver.
April 28, 2024 9:22 a.m.
It hasn't. I started playing in 1994. It used to be that you used it on a creature that was on its way to the graveyard. If a creature took lethal damage or got hit with straight kill spell, THAT'S when you activated a Regeneration effect. Intuitively, it made sense to everyone. I can't remember when they changed it. I think was the last large rules shake-up, of which, I believe there are considered to be two. The first was when 6th edition came out. It seems like about 10 years ago for the second one, but I can't remember. I can't remember their reasoning either. I read it and thought it was dumb.
April 29, 2024 6:24 a.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #5
The change to regeneration was part of the 6th Edition rules update in 1999 (so yeah, 25 years ago). It was part of the streamlining of the timing system from using batches, series and damage prevention / regeneration windows to only using the stack instead. Using the stack for damage prevention and regeneration effects meant they had to be in-place before the damage / destruction event actually happened instead of being applied afterward. Making prevention / regeneration work this way also meant they could use rules already established for replacement effects instead of having to use their own separate rules, which streamlined the rules further.
seshiro_of_the_orochi says... Accepted answer #1
Short: Yes, you can do that.
Long: Regenerate has a counter-intuitive way of working. It creates a "regeneration shield" that does the following: If this creature would be destroyed or dealt lethal damage, you instead tap it and remove all damage from it. So for regenerate to work in the first place, you need to regenerate the latest in response to the effect destroying it or dealing the lethal damage.
This means you can and even need to regenerate a creature without any damage marked on it, and thus you can target Krenko to uncage him.
April 27, 2024 8:31 a.m. Edited.