Strionic Resonator

[Moocow4u2]

Can someone explain how Strionic Resonator works a little clearer?

Does this card tap and get that target ability for good? Is it for one turn? Is there a specific time this effect must be activated? And if I copy effects like: when liliana's shade enter's the battlefield, search for a swamp. Would that work (creature specific ones like Liliana's shade or Abatoir ghoul)? Would i be able to pick out 2 swamps since it entered the battlefield and my resonator said when that card enters the battlefield that effect happens. Or would it only work for the creature being summoned?

"I may choose new targets for the copy" does that include effects like stuffy doll's? "Whenever stuffy doll is dealt damage, it deals that much damage to the chosen player" could I target a second player? Or am I stuck with the "chosen player" Could I give that player 2x the damage (1 from stuffy, 1 from the resonator)?

[Moocow4u2]

Also, how do I create card tags?

[Agrus Kos, Enforcer of Truth]

Use these type of brackets on each side of the card name {, to see, quote this post. {Strionic Resonator}

The way it works is when a triggered ability goes onto the stack like {Blightcaster}'s you may tap it and pay 2 mana to copy the ability. Ex. You cast an enchantment which triggers {Blightcaster}'s ability. The ability goes on the stack, before it resolves you activate {Strionic Resonator} to copy the ability and now there are two {Blightcaster}'s ability on the stack.

[Moocow4u2]

Thanks, so if I were to play {liliana's shade}, I can tap that as I summon it and pull out two swamps instead of one? Or does it copy the ability of that card having to enter the battlefield too? And since my {strionic resonator} didn't enter this turn it wouldn't work. I'm confused on how some of these effects could be used with it.

[Agrus Kos, Enforcer of Truth]

I have a question related to this though. If I use {Strionic Resonator} to copy {Elite Arcanist}'s ETB ability what happens when you use his activated ability?

[Agrus Kos, Enforcer of Truth]

Thanks, so if I were to play {liliana's shade}, I can tap that as I summon it and pull out two swamps instead of one? Or does it copy the ability of that card having to enter the battlefield too? And since my {strionic resonator} didn't enter this turn it wouldn't work. I'm confused on how some of these effects could be used with it.

Yes it does copy the ability. Think of the "When (this card) enters the battlefield" part as the trigger and "search for a swamp" as the ability it triggers.

[Moocow4u2]

The cards I want to use it with most would be {crypt ghast},  {staff of the death magus}, {stuffy doll}, and {liliana's shade} and I'm sure with those, ill get enough of an idea to see how it'll work with other cards

[Moocow4u2]

So with {stuffy doll} I can activate this and the trigger is "when he takes damage" the effect is "chosen player takes damage instead" but because I can choose a new target I could send out two sets of damage instead of one so two to one person or one to two people?

[Agrus Kos, Enforcer of Truth]

So with {stuffy doll} I can activate this and the trigger is "when he takes damage" the effect is "chosen player takes damage instead" but because I can choose a new target I could send out two sets of damage instead of one so two to one person or one to two people?

I believe so. But keep in mind that {Stuffy Doll} is cycling soon so if you are playing standard I would build the deck with {Boros Reckoner} instead so you don't have to rework it in a month.

[Moocow4u2]

Also my one big concern here because this effect is what makes my deck work for me haha.

{crypt ghast}! The trigger being "whenever I tap a swamp for mana" and the effect is "add black to my mana"  my {strionic resonator} would only be good for the 1 swamp then wouldn't it? Or would it effect all the swamps tapped?

[Moocow4u2]

{elite arcanist} I would think you could exile 2 cards then and from what I've read about dual spell cards, I'd assume you could copy both and play one or the other whenever you choose to cast a spell with him

[Kagain123]

I have a question related to this though. If I use {Strionic Resonator} to copy {Elite Arcanist}'s ETB ability what happens when you use his activated ability?

From FAQ:

For example, if Elite Arcanist's enters-the-battlefield ability is copied, two cards are exiled. The value of X in the activation cost of Elite Arcanist's other ability is the sum of the two cards' converted mana costs. As the ability resolves, you create copies of both cards and can cast none, one, or both of the copies in any order.

[Agrus Kos, Enforcer of Truth]

I have a question related to this though. If I use {Strionic Resonator} to copy {Elite Arcanist}'s ETB ability what happens when you use his activated ability?

From FAQ:

For example, if Elite Arcanist's enters-the-battlefield ability is copied, two cards are exiled. The value of X in the activation cost of Elite Arcanist's other ability is the sum of the two cards' converted mana costs. As the ability resolves, you create copies of both cards and can cast none, one, or both of the copies in any order.

Cast {Elite Arcanist} with three {Strionic Resonator}s on the field, exile 4 {Shocks} from your hand. DESTROY EVERYTHING!!!! (I know it's unrealistic but let me dream)

[MementoMori]

You're not copying the trigger, you're copying the ability. So in the case of {Liliana's Shade}, after it entered, but before you look for your swamp, you activate the Resonator targeting the ability to look for a swamp. Then you'll get to look for two swamps, one from the copy resolving and one from the original.

In the case of {Stuffy Doll}, copying the trigger that deals damage would not let you choose a new target, because that ability doesn't say "target"; it says "chosen." So it would just hit the chosen player twice.

Oh, and using it with Crypt Ghast would leave you with one less mana, because each tapped swamp is a separate trigger. So you would spend two mana to gain one.

[Kaleo42]

{Crypt ghast} is a special type of ability that is associated with mana abilities. You can not copy it as it behaves more like a replacement effect instead of a trigger.

Yes copying damage with the doll is possible.

I remember reading that you could pick which one to cast with the {elite arcanist}. Same rules apply to {isocron scepter}. Edit: ok the above answer is true. You pay the sum of the costs to create copies of all exiled spells then choose if you want to cast those copies or not. You may cast both, one, or none but you have to pay for both either way.