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Let's say I play an activated ability of one of my creatures; for example, this one:

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My opponent responds to this with an instant that takes control of this creature:

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Question: Will the effect of the activated ability be countered? The stack now looks like this:

  1. Vedalken Anatomist puts -1/-1 on target creature
  2. Opponent gains control of Vedalken Anatomist

The change of control will happen first. Does this mean that the -1/-1 counter will not be received by the target creature? If yes, then what happens to the mana spent (and the lands tapped) to pay the cost of using the ability?

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I haven't played Magic in an awfully long time, but isn't this simple? The ability is already on the stack, so control changes, but the ability (including its cost and target) are already there, so they'd still happen? –  Jefromi May 29 '11 at 20:50

2 Answers 2

up vote 9 down vote accepted

The most relevant rules are:


Therefore, once you put the Activated Ability on the stack, it stays there unless it is countered or something specifically removes the ability from the stack.


This rule specifically confirms that after the Activated Ability is on the stack, its source is irrelevant. Any removal of the source or changing of controllers won't affect the Ability.

So in this particular case, Act of Aggression can't do anything to stop the Veldalken Anatomist unless it say, targets the opponent's Azorious Guildmage (also Veldaken! oh the poetic justice!) and, after it resolves, its controller has the mana to put that creature's ability counter on the stack. ;-)


Oh, one more thing:

701.5b The player who cast a countered spell or activated a countered ability doesn't get a "refund" of any costs that were paid.

Even if the ability is countered, no refunds.

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Perfect, if somewhat wordy. :) –  Ian Pugsley May 31 '11 at 18:23

Basically, nothing is countered, and everything happens sequentially as you describe it.

As far as the creature tapped, mana spent, and land tapped, they were paid as a cost. Regardless of how spells or abilities on the stack resolve, the costs paid remain paid.

So the stack resolves exactly as you describe it; the opponent will gain control of your tapped Vedalken Anatomist, then the Vedalken Anatomist's ability resolves and you put the -1/-1 counter on the target you selected when you activated the ability.

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I'm not so sure about that. Think about a counter spell. Opponent pays the mana and prepares to cast a spell and hop... counter spell. Or maybe rules have changed since the counter spell times... I would like to see articles in the rules book that describe this. –  user545 May 30 '11 at 3:08
@repe: Counterspell counters a spell that is in the stack. Act of Aggression doesn't counter anything since it does not say it counters anything. –  o0'. May 30 '11 at 12:36

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