Jotun Grunt + Stifle

[Hanni]

I've had alot of people lately tell me that Stifle doesn't work the way I think it does on Jotun Grunt. I'd just like some clarification.

When I Stifle Jotun Grunt:

Does it counter the entire upkeep, i.e do I skip adding counters and skip putting cards to bottom? Or does it only prevent me from doing 1 of those? Etc. A somewhat detailed explanation would be appreciated.

I've always countered the whole thing... skip adding a counter and skip paying the current upkeep cost.

[Locutus]

Cumulative Upkeep is one single triggered ability, so a stifle will counter all parts of it, i.e. adding a counter and paying the cost.

[cdr]

Rather than go dig through rules, I spent 2 seconds posting it on here. Alot of the players on here (guys like Akki) know most of these sort of rulings by heart and therefore spend 2 seconds posting a reply without digging for a ruling online.


While I do know some things off of the top of my head, I always try to look up the revelant rule when I reply so I can A) post the rule B) make sure I'm not completely and utterly wrong. Replies usually take me at least a few minutes, no matter how easy I might make it look :)

If there's one thing I would encourage everyone to do when answering a rules question, it's to go look up the relevant rule(s) and quote them when you reply.


502.13a. Cumulative upkeep is a triggered ability that imposes an increasing cost on a permanent. "Cumulative upkeep [cost]" means "At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on this permanent, then sacrifice this permanent unless you pay [cost] for each age counter on it." If [cost] has choices associated with it, each choice is made separately for each age counter, then either the entire set of costs is paid, or none of them is paid. Partial payments aren't allowed.

Example: A creature has "Cumulative upkeep {W} or {U}" and two age counters on it. When its ability next triggers and resolves, the creature's controller puts an age counter on it and then may pay {W}{W}{W}, {W}{W}{U}, {W}{U}{U}, or {U}{U}{U} to keep the creature in play.

In this case, it's because cumulative upkeep is a single triggered ability, as explained above.

[Nightmare]

W00t, this thread sucks! Cleaned up and lockjobbed.