Does being destroying a creature impact the stack?

Asked by speedchicken29 6 years ago

First time posting and I realize that my topic headline kind of sucks (okay it really sucks) but I wasn't sure how to phrase my question without giving the example.

So if i have a Bloodthrone Vampire and I attack with it, my opponent says they do not block, and I sacrifice let's say 3 soldiers in response to turn the bloodthrone into a 7/7, what happens if they Murder my bloodthrone?

According to the stack rules the murder would resolve first destroying my vampire, so would my soldiers live as there is no longer the vampire to sac them?

Follow up question (assuming the soldiers live, if not ignore this): how would i explain the ruling to someone who says that they murder the bloodthrone after i sac the creatures but before combat damage is dealt?

thanks in advance :p

TuckerMTG says... #1

The soldiers would die. Bloodthrone Vampire's ability would still be on the stack but Murder would resolve first. It won't pump the vampire but you still would have to sacrifice the soldiers.

July 2, 2017 8:25 p.m.

hyperlocke says... Accepted answer #2

Activated abilities like Bloodthrone Vampire's are worded "cost : effect". In order to put an activated ability on the stack, you have to pay its cost.

It's not "if this ability resolves, pay its cost", but "to put this ability on the stack, pay its cost".

In this case, the cost is "Sacrifice a creature". What that means is that before the +2/+2 effect goes onto the stack, you have to sacrifice a creature. What happens before the ability resolves doesn't matter in regard to the sacrificed creature, because it died while putting the ability on the stack.

July 2, 2017 8:38 p.m.