Epic Stifle Controversies on MWS

[IsThisACatInAHat?]

Hi,
So I didn't realize this, but apparently Stifle is one of the most controversial cards in Legacy on MWS because so few people understand how it works. I couldn't find rulings for these disputes outside of the comprehensive rules (because they're too clear to have been addressed in errata, I think), so I was hoping I could get responses with answers and reasoning from the community so I can just link people to this thread whenever it comes up.

1. Can I Stifle the CITP trigger to place counters on Gemstone Mine so it is sacrificed as soon as it comes into play?

2. Can I Stifle a counterbalance trigger in response to one of my other spells (for example, I play Tarmogoyf and then Stifle CB)?

3. I have a 7/7 Knight of the Reliquary and attack. My opponent blocks with a 2/2 Kavu Predator and plays Invigorate for free, giving it +4/+4 and 3 +1/+1 counters. If I Stifle the Predator's trigger, how many +1/+1 counters does the Predator get?

[cdr]

Don't ever expect anyone on MWS to agree with you whether you're right or not. Especially if you're right. Linking them anywhere isn't going to help you.

Triggered Ability: (http://yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#triggered_ability) A kind of ability. Triggered abilities begin with the word "when," "whenever," or "at." They're written as "[Trigger condition], [effect]." See rule 112, "Abilities," and rule 603, "Handling Triggered Abilities."


1. Can I Stifle the CITP trigger to place counters on Gemstone Mine so it is sacrificed as soon as it comes into play?

"Gemstone Mine enters the battlefield with three mining counters on it."

Clearly not a triggered ability.


2. Can I Stifle a counterbalance trigger in response to one of my other spells (for example, I play Tarmogoyf and then Stifle CB)?

"Whenever an opponent casts a spell, ..."


3. I have a 7/7 Knight of the Reliquary and attack. My opponent blocks with a 2/2 Kavu Predator and plays Invigorate for free, giving it +4/+4 and 3 +1/+1 counters. If I Stifle the Predator's trigger, how many +1/+1 counters does the Predator get?

"Whenever an opponent gains life, put that many +1/+1 counters on Kavu Predator."

One trigger, no counters. It would have to be written "whenever an opponent gains a life..." to create multiple triggers.

[Nihil Credo]

1. Can I Stifle the CITP trigger to place counters on Gemstone Mine so it is sacrificed as soon as it comes into play?
No, it's not an activated (:) or triggered ('when', 'whenever', 'at') ability.


2. Can I Stifle a counterbalance trigger in response to one of my other spells (for example, I play Tarmogoyf and then Stifle CB)?

Yes, but note that Counterbalance will also trigger on and potentially counter your Stifle.


3. I have a 7/7 Knight of the Reliquary and attack. My opponent blocks with a 2/2 Kavu Predator and plays Invigorate for free, giving it +4/+4 and 3 +1/+1 counters. If I Stifle the Predator's trigger, how many +1/+1 counters does the Predator get?Zero. The Predator trigger is "whenever an opponent gains life", so it will only trigger once since there was a single life-gaining event (as opposed to, say, the multiple 1-life triggers you get from Soul Warden + mass token generation), and a single Stifle can counter the whole thing.

[IsThisACatInAHat?]

Ok, thanks guys. As you said cdr, linking tends to be futile most of the time, but the occasional player willing to listen is worth it to me, since they're always better games anyway than the guy who whines and then ragequits about some play or other.

[Vacrix]

Try explaining to a dude from Russia that you can't Stifle Goyf's */*+1..