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Magic (The Gathering) => Rules => Topic started by: griffin131 on February 25, 2014, 08:07:54 AM

Title: Merike and Gods.
Post by: griffin131 on February 25, 2014, 08:07:54 AM
 {Merieke Ri Berit} taps and steals an active  {Karametra, God of Harvests}. 
Merieke's player does not have enough devotion to activate Kara as a creature.

Does Kara stay with Merike's player?

We ruled that because Merike's ability doesn't continually target, Kara stayed stolen and Merike could untap without losing Kara.
Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: MuggyWuggy on February 25, 2014, 04:02:44 PM
Quote from: griffin131 on February 25, 2014, 08:07:54 AM
{Merieke Ri Berit} taps and steals an active  {Karametra, God of Harvests}. 
Merieke's player does not have enough devotion to activate Kara as a creature.

Does Kara stay with Merike's player?

We ruled that because Merike's ability doesn't continually target, Kara stayed stolen and Merike could untap without losing Kara.

This is an interesting question:

Now according to merikes rulings 1 & 3: if she leaves battlefield or you lose control of her: it sends back the stolen creature to its original owner before the destroy ability triggers

According to her 2nd ruling:if you untap her, it triggers only the destroy ability, and since karametra is indestructible, she would not be destroyed. You do not lose control of the creature.

So you would get to keep her.
Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: Presentjackson on February 26, 2014, 10:35:25 AM
Would you still be able to steal the creature if it isnt yet a creature?
Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: Double-O-Scotch on February 26, 2014, 10:58:59 AM
You can't gain control of target creature if the target is not a creature. Illegal target.
Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: rarehuntertay on February 26, 2014, 11:04:08 AM
I think we are getting away from the original question.
Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: Pleeb on February 26, 2014, 01:22:02 PM
I think he's referring to the god no longer being a creature when she comes to your side because you don't have the devotion. I think I know what will happen, but I'm not sure, so keeping my mouth shut :)
Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: Tonygrabowski4 on February 26, 2014, 01:24:32 PM
The god's devotion ability refers to the controller of the god.  Since you now control her, if your devotion isn't high enough, she would turn off.
Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: Pleeb on February 26, 2014, 01:45:26 PM
I get that part, what I'm not sure of is when the creature part is turned off, does merike lose control of the god and it go back before you can untap her and trigger the destroy effect?  I think yes, but again, I'm not sure.
Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: MuggyWuggy on February 26, 2014, 02:33:56 PM
No in her rulings it states:

If merike is untapped, destroy the creature, but nothing says about losing control of it.

If she leaves the battlefield/you lose control of her: they get their stolen creature back

Leaving the battlefield and untapping are very different
Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: MuggyWuggy on February 26, 2014, 02:37:33 PM
It may have to be a new ruling with her, but if you control it and just don't have the devotion, you just don't have the devotion

Nothing says in her rulings or her rules:
If a creature is no longer a creature return it to its owner

It does say however: if you lose control of merike, you return it back to its owner.

Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: Pleeb on February 26, 2014, 06:11:46 PM
Ok. Tap merike, gain control of a god
God comes over to your side of the table
God checks for devotion and you don't have enough
God loses status as a creature.

All this happens before anyone receives priority, so it can't be responded to

The god is now an illegal target for merike. What happens?  Do you retain control of the god even though it is no longer a creature?  Do you lose control of the god?  If you lose control, does it trigger any of merik's destroy triggers?  Etc etc.
Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: MuggyWuggy on February 26, 2014, 06:33:23 PM
Need some advance level judge confirmation on this
Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: MuggyWuggy on February 26, 2014, 08:41:25 PM
This will probably be a new ruling as devotion into creature is a fairly new mechanic
Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: griffin131 on February 27, 2014, 07:29:03 AM
Quote from: Double-O-Scotch on February 26, 2014, 10:58:59 AM
You can't gain control of target creature if the target is not a creature. Illegal target.
God was a creature when stolen - hence using the word "active" in the OP.
Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: Giggle the Draco Genius on February 27, 2014, 01:55:29 PM
I think we need to simplify this. Do you lose control of a god right away if you cast {traitorous instinct} on it?
Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: Wingnut on February 28, 2014, 01:39:21 PM
I can see this question being thrown out for man lands also. Any solid answers anyone?
Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: particle on February 28, 2014, 01:40:12 PM
we have no mods left to answer
Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: particle on February 28, 2014, 01:41:43 PM
right and hes obviously pissed off and isnt too keen on whats happening.
Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: DylanW18 on February 28, 2014, 03:21:38 PM
I don't have the official ruling but I did some research


Merike's ability only cares if it's a creature when it's activated, and when I resolves. After that, no matter what happens to the permanent, the ability still gives back the permanent
Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: MuggyWuggy on February 28, 2014, 05:09:11 PM
I'm going to inquire with a few judges this weekend at game day

Her rulings/text imply loss of control only if merike leaves the battlefield or you lose control of her.
Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: MuggyWuggy on February 28, 2014, 05:10:40 PM
Her rulings state: if she is untapped the "destroy" ability triggers

But no loss of control of the creature

Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: MuggyWuggy on February 28, 2014, 05:15:38 PM
And according to gatherer discussion: if the creature you take is indestructible and you untap her, you keep creature indefinitely
Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: Keyeto on February 28, 2014, 05:16:37 PM
I'm going to find the rule for you, but it might take a little bit, as I'm still catching up with the events of the last couple days/doing damage control.

Basically, as far as Merieke's ability goes, treat the god as if it were still a creature. When her ability says "creature" it isn't referring specifically to the card type, but the object that has been stolen (as it was a creature at the time of the steal). The fact that it stopped being a creature won't stop the effect. The same can be said for Gideon type effects, manlands, etc.
Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: MuggyWuggy on February 28, 2014, 05:18:52 PM
Merike is a beast for commander :)
Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: Wingnut on February 28, 2014, 07:07:34 PM
Quote from: Muggywuggy on February 28, 2014, 05:18:52 PM
Merike is a beast for commander :)

I have to agree, I just put together a deck thinking it would be fun, I didn't think it would regularly beat my best deck which usually puts the smack down.
Title: Re: Merike and Gods.
Post by: MuggyWuggy on February 28, 2014, 08:03:23 PM
My esper merike deck is my answer for people who want to play lockdown