With the new Amonkhet series, if an ETB trigger says to put -1/-1 counters on target creature you control (e.g. Baleful Ammit, Exemplar of Strength), can you in response sacrifice that creature (supposing you have a sacrifice outlet) and not put the -1/-1 counters from the triggered ability on anything? I can't seem to find any info on this anywhere in the rules.
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2I don't think the question should be closed as unclear. It doesn't matter what "EOB" means. Having the exact ability text would be nice, but the OP provided enough details for the question to be answerable.– RainboltCommented May 9, 2017 at 17:34
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1Editors, don't you think it changes the question to change "to have the counters fizzle" to "to not put the -1/-1 counters from the triggered ability"?– ikegamiCommented May 9, 2017 at 18:12
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@Ikegami Agreed. Changing a question to use proper terminology doesn't help someone who is confused about that terminology.– GendoIkariCommented May 10, 2017 at 1:06
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3 Answers
Yes, you can sacrifice the creature in response to targeting it with the enter the battlefield triggered ability and that will result in the ability being countered (fizzle) because it has no legal targets when it resolves and no -1/-1 counters will get placed on anything.
608.2b If the spell or ability specifies targets, it checks whether the targets are still legal. A target that’s no longer in the zone it was in when it was targeted is illegal. [...] The spell or ability is countered if all its targets, for every instance of the word “target,” are now illegal.
You should know that you must indicate that you wish to maintain priority as you identify the creature that you are targeting with the ability (e.g. "I will target my Oashra Cultivator with this ability and maintain priority. In response to the ability on the stack I will sacrifice my Oashra Cultivator"). This is more important when playing online or in formal play settings but it's a good habit to be in.
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Re "You should know that you must indicate that you wish to maintain priority", ...when using tournament shortcuts.– ikegamiCommented May 9, 2017 at 18:15
I believe you are asking about an ability such as Exemplar of Strength's ability. Because it targets, the creatures to affect are chosen when the ability is placed on the stack, and it will indeed fizzle if none of its targets exist when it resolves.
608.2b If the spell or ability specifies targets, it checks whether the targets are still legal. [...] The spell or ability is countered if all its targets, for every instance of the word “target,” are now illegal.
Note that it's neither EoS or the counters that target and fizzle, but the ability on the stack.
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... Though that has nothing to do with the -1/-1 counters, but with the way 'targeting' works. Saccing a creature once it has the -1/-1 counters (assuming that didn't kill it in the first place) will also take away the counters. Commented May 9, 2017 at 8:43
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Bad example of "fizzling" - Exemplar of Strength is a creature, so it will resolve regardless of what happens to the creature it targets with the -1/-1 counters. If the creature is removed before the spell resolves, no -1/-1 counters will be placed, but the spell as a whole doesn't fizzle. Commented May 9, 2017 at 12:33
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@NuclearWang, it is the triggered ability that fizzles, not the creature spell. Ikegami, you might want to clarify that. Commented May 9, 2017 at 14:16
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@steenbergh, Re "Though that has nothing to do with the -1/-1 counters, but with the way 'targeting' works.", Indeed. I didn't mention counters at all.– ikegamiCommented May 9, 2017 at 15:16
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The effect try to put -1/-1 effects on a target you chose when the effect is put on the stack. If the target is not present when the effect try to resolves, it fizzles and no counters is put on any creature. It's like any other effect that have a single target.
