With Leovold in play. Can an opponent cast a careful study, fail to draw cards, but still be able to discard?
Also, with Leovold in play. Can an opponent brainstorm, fail to draw, but still place 2 cards back on the library?
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Yes, they have to perform as much of the text as possible with either cantrip (discard 2 or put 2 back). The more common occurrence would probably be a proactive prison approach where the Leovold player runs Geier Reach Sanitarium or Cephalid Coliseum so opponent either never gets to draw and keep a card on their turn (Geier on upkeep) or draw 0-1, discard 3 (Coliseum).
What about Leovold vs Notion Thief? I'm assuming the Notion Thief would not allow Leovold's controller to draw extra cards, and Levold would stop Notion Thief's controller from drawing the stolen Leovold trigger - effectively cancel each other out.
How about my Leovold vs my opponent's Sylvan Library? Opponent verbally indicates they are choosing to draw with Library. What happens? I've received two different rulings at two different events...
If they elected to use the may ability, they will draw zero extra cards, then have to pay 4 life or put back the card they drew for turn. The second part of the Library trigger is not contingent on cards actually being drawn, but rather on electing to chose yes to the "may" ability.
"The Ancients teach us that if we can but last, we shall prevail."
—Kaysa, Elder Druid of the Juniper Order
Last edited by cdr; 06-21-2017 at 12:00 AM.
“It's possible. But it involves... {checks archives} Nature's Revolt, Opalescence, two Unstable Shapeshifters (one of which started as a Doppelganger), a Tide, an animated land, a creature with Fading, a Silver Wyvern, some way to get a creature into play in response to stuff, some way to get a land into play in response to stuff (a different land from the animated land), and one heck of a Rube Goldberg timing diagram.”
-David DeLaney
I thought with Leovold out, your opponent can't opt to use the ability.
101.2. When a rule or effect allows or directs something to happen, and another effect states that it can’t happen, the “can’t” effect takes precedence.
Example: If one effect reads “You may play an additional land this turn” and another reads “You can’t play land cards this turn,” the effect that precludes you from playing lands wins.
You say they can't use the ability. Allowing them to use it would be failure to maintain game state?
You're right, this is the section that applies to Leovold: http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#R61416
I missed that Leovold is a "can't" effect rather than a replacement effect, and updated my post above.
“It's possible. But it involves... {checks archives} Nature's Revolt, Opalescence, two Unstable Shapeshifters (one of which started as a Doppelganger), a Tide, an animated land, a creature with Fading, a Silver Wyvern, some way to get a creature into play in response to stuff, some way to get a land into play in response to stuff (a different land from the animated land), and one heck of a Rube Goldberg timing diagram.”
-David DeLaney
"The Ancients teach us that if we can but last, we shall prevail."
—Kaysa, Elder Druid of the Juniper Order
Right, that is what confused me at first, but the rules are pretty clear about it:
117.12. Some spells, activated abilities, and triggered abilities read, “[Do something]. If [a player] [does, doesn’t, or can’t], [effect].” or “[A player] may [do something]. If [that player] [does, doesn’t, or can’t], [effect].” The action [do something] is a cost, paid when the spell or ability resolves. The “If [a player] [does, doesn’t, or can’t]” clause checks whether the player chose to pay an optional cost or started to pay a mandatory cost, regardless of what events actually occurred.
Example: You control Standstill, an enchantment that says “When a player casts a spell, sacrifice Standstill. If you do, each of that player’s opponents draws three cards.” A spell is cast, causing Standstill’s ability to trigger. Then an ability is activated that exiles Standstill. When Standstill’s ability resolves, you’re unable to pay the “sacrifice Standstill” cost. No player will draw cards.
Example: Your opponent has cast Gather Specimens, a spell that says “If a creature would enter the battlefield under an opponent’s control this turn, it enters the battlefield under your control instead.” You control a face-down Dermoplasm, a creature with morph that says “When Dermoplasm is turned face up, you may put a creature card with morph from your hand onto the battlefield face up. If you do, return Dermoplasm to its owner’s hand.” You turn Dermoplasm face up, and you choose to put a creature card with morph from your hand onto the battlefield. Due to Gather Specimens, it enters the battlefield under your opponent’s control instead of yours. However, since you chose to pay the cost, Dermoplasm is still returned to its owner’s hand.
"The Ancients teach us that if we can but last, we shall prevail."
—Kaysa, Elder Druid of the Juniper Order
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