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[[Nivmagus Elemental]] [[Cancel]] [[Pillar of Flame]]
So my opponent has Nivmagus on the field. He casts pillar of flame to deal 2 damage to me. I cast Cancel to negate the spell. Is he able to use Nivmagus's ability to exile the pillar and give the creature +2/+2?
There is an opportunity to use Nivmagus Elemental's ability because every player will gain priority after Cancel is cast and before it resolves.
116.1b A player may activate an activated ability any time he or she has priority.
116.3c If a player has priority when he or she casts a spell, activates an ability, or takes a special action, that player receives priority afterward.
116.3d If a player has priority and chooses not to take any actions, that player passes. If any mana is in that player's mana pool, he or she announces what mana is there. Then the next player in turn order receives priority.
116.4. If all players pass in succession (that is, if all players pass without taking any actions in between passing), the spell or ability on top of the stack resolves or, if the stack is empty, the phase or step ends.
Yes, he can do that.
[[[Nivmagus Elemental]]]'s ability is a perfectly normal activated ability, and like all such abilities, it can be used any time you could cast an instant or something with flash. If your opponent uses the Elemental's ability in response to [[[Cancel]]], his Pillar will be exiled as part of the cost of activating the ability. The ability will put two +1/+1 counters on the Elemental, then [[[Cancel]]] will try to resolve but find that its target is now illegal. [[[Cancel]]] will thus "fizzle" for having no legal targets and will do nothing.
Asked: 2013-02-08 21:56:59 -0500
Seen: 59 times
Last updated: Feb 09
