Aether Vial

[atropos]

Say I have an Aether Vial in play and I vial in a creature. Can my opponent tap my Vial in response with an Icy Manipulator to tap it to prevent me from vialing in a creature?

[Norm]

Say I have an Aether Vial in play and I vial in a creature. Can my opponent tap my Vial in response with an Icy Manipulator to tap it to prevent me from vialing in a creature?

No, tapping is part of the cost. Once you pay that cost, the ability goes on the stack. He's welcome to tap it in response, but you'll still get a dude.

[atropos]

Thanks, Norm, I appreciate your help.

[Julian23]

Remember that when activating an activated ability, paying the costs doesn't use the stack. Those costs are everything that's written before the colon of an activated ability, including the tap-symbol.

[John Cox]

So on a related note, if I sacrifice a creature with cabal therapy for the sole purpose of the creature going to the graveyard, can my creature be plowed? Or would that be seen as paying a cost and not use the stack?

[Whippoorwill]

So on a related note, if I sacrifice a creature with cabal therapy for the sole purpose of the creature going to the graveyard, can my creature be plowed? Or would that be seen as paying a cost and not use the stack?

The sacrifice is part of the (alternate) cost, so the creature will already be gone before your opponent can respond.

[Julian23]

Yep. Same thing for cards that say "As an additional cost to...". Paying the additional cost also doesn't use the stack. Therefor, even if your opponent counterspells your Kaervek's Spite, you still have to discard your hand and sacrifice all your permanents.

[Einherjer]

Im just asking a second question in here as I came across it today....
If i say: tap Aether bring Serra Avenger in game - and the oponent answer with STIFLE - what happens to the Avenger? Hand or Graveyard?
Thanks

[trivial_matters]

Back to your hand. Aether Vial's ability is countered.

[Malchar]

Technically he should never have been able to see the Avenger. You should tap the vial to put the ability on the stack, and then wait to see if the opponent will stifle it. If not, then you can put the creature onto the battlefield.

[Koby]

Also remember that the AEther Vial ability reads "may", so no action is required by the controlling player when the ability resolves.

This is a good way to play mind-games with the opponent, and also play around Stifle effects.

[reale]

No, tapping is part of the cost. Once you pay that cost, the ability goes on the stack. He's welcome to tap it in response, but you'll still get a dude.

Doesn't it apply if Vial is removed in response with Krosan Grip, right?

[Davran]

Doesn't it apply if Vial is removed in response with Krosan Grip, right?

The ability doesn't disappear from the stack because you blew up the vial. Note that split second prevents new abilities and spells from entering the stack once you put it there. It doesn't do anything to abilities that were already activated.

If you want to stop a Vial with Krosan Grip remove it before your opponent activates it.

[Julian23]

Even if it gets destroyed by Krosan Grip, Vial will look back in time and remember how many counters it had on it when it was activated.

[reale]

Even if it gets destroyed by Krosan Grip, Vial will look back in time and remember how many counters it had on it when it was activated.

So Martyr of Sands will resolve independent of priority and responses, excluding split second? Let me explain:

- It's my turn (I have priority). I pay 1 to activate the ability. Even if my opponent respond with a Lighting Bolt I will show the cards and get life?

- It's my opponent turn. He has priority and Bolt my Martyr. In response, I pay one and sacrifices (...)

So... will it always resolve? (excluding split second in response)

[TheInfamousBearAssassin]

So Martyr of Sands will resolve independent of priority and responses, excluding split second? Let me explain:

- It's my turn (I have priority). I pay 1 to activate the ability. Even if my opponent respond with a Lighting Bolt I will show the cards and get life?

Sacrificing Martyr is part of the cost and happens before your opponent is given priority. There is no Martyr left to Bolt at this point.


- It's my opponent turn. He has priority and Bolt my Martyr. In response, I pay one and sacrifices (...)

So... will it always resolve? (excluding split second in response)

Excluding Stifle, yes.

[reale]

Thank you all, very clear replies.