Pulse of the Fields and Fork

[whiteshepherdman]

If I play pulse of the fields and say hypothetically i'm already way ahead on life, could my opponent fork it and return fork to his hands because fork becomes an exact copy of the spell? I'm suspecting no... because it works as twincast would work on tendrils or any card with a storm mechanic

[jthanatos]

706.9. To copy a spell or activated ability means to put a copy of it onto the stack; a copy of a spell isn't cast and a copy of an activated ability isn't activated. A copy of a spell or ability copies both the characteristics of the spell or ability and all decisions made for it, including modes, targets, the value of X, and additional or alternative costs. (See rule 601, "Casting Spells.") Choices that are normally made on resolution are not copied. If an effect of the copy refers to objects used to pay its costs, it uses the objects used to pay the costs of the original spell or ability. A copy of a spell is owned by the player under whose control it was put on the stack. A copy of a spell or ability is controlled by the player under whose control it was put on the stack. A copy of a spell is itself a spell, even though it has no spell card associated with it. A copy of an ability is itself an ability.

706.9a If a copy of a spell is in a zone other than the stack, it ceases to exist. If a copy of a card is in any zone other than the stack or the battlefield, it ceases to exist. These are state-based actions. See rule 704.



Copy target instant or sorcery spell, except that the copy is red. You may choose new targets for the copy.

Since fork no longer actually becomes the copy, but instead puts a copy on the stack, there is no actual card to return to your hand. The copy of pulse then follows the rules as best it can, it gains you life, returns to your hand, then ceases to exist.

[whiteshepherdman]

thanks for the great explanation, will remember that