Fork + Suspend
Asked by Cybersix 5 years ago
What happens when I Fork a card like Reality Strobe? Fork says it copies the card. Reality Strobe says exile this card with 3 time counters if it resolves...
...so do I get another suspended Reality Strobe, or a Fork suspended with three time counters, or what?
nobu_the_bard says... #2
A minor note - something I remembered later.
The original Fork text is "Any sorcery or instant spell just cast is doubled. Treat Fork as an exact copy of target spell except that Fork remains red. Copy and original may have different targets." which may have been interpreted as if copying Reality Strobe would get Fork exiled perhaps, but newer printings (possibly only visible on MTGO?) have the clearer text "Copy target instant or sorcery spell, except that the copy is red. You may choose new targets for the copy." Card databases such as Gatherer or Scryfall will show the official Oracle text, and rulings such as those I posted earlier, which are a particularly important thing to check when evaluating the functionality of older cards.
nobu_the_bard says... Accepted answer #1
Fork essentially creates an imaginary copy of the targeted spell on the stack. It does not become the spell the way that Clone becomes a creature, though this is how many people first try to explain it.
As the copy of the spell isn't a real card, it ceases to exist when it changes zones, like a token does.
These rulings exist which are relevant:
The Fork card goes to the graveyard when it resolves and leaves the copy on the stack. There is no card representing the copy on the stack. (2004-10-04)
If you copy a spell for which Buyback has been paid, you get nothing back since the copied spell does not have a card to give you. (2004-10-04)
March 13, 2019 2:57 p.m.