An opponent kills my Irencrag Pyromancer with Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted's minus ability ("Destroy target creature. It's controller draws 2 cards.") on their turn. Would I get a trigger on Irencrag Pyromancer for drawing my second card this turn before it is destroyed, or is it destroyed first, and only then I would draw my two cards?
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1 Answer
You perform instructions in an ability in the order in which they are written. So, in this scenario, the creature is destroyed then you draw the cards. Creatures that are destroyed die immediately, so the Pyromancer is already dead by the time you draw the cards and its triggered ability will not trigger.
Rules section 608 describes how to resolve spells and abilities, and rule 608.2c says
The controller of the spell or ability follows its instructions in the order written. However, replacement effects may modify these actions. In some cases, later text on the card may modify the meaning of earlier text (for example, “Destroy target creature. It can’t be regenerated” or “Counter target spell. If that spell is countered this way, put it on top of its owner’s library instead of into its owner’s graveyard.”) Don’t just apply effects step by step without thinking in these cases—read the whole text and apply the rules of English to the text.
answered Jul 16, 2020 at 23:02
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16It might be worth mentioning that "destroy" removes the creature from the battlefield immediately rather than waiting for state-based effects to be checked. After all, if Ob Nixilis instead read "deal 4 damage to a creature, its controller draws 2 cards", the pyromancer would trigger. Commented Jul 17, 2020 at 4:40