State based actions

[Bilygote]

If a planes walker pulls off its epic ability and has zero counters, does it go to the graveyard before its ability resolves or after?

[Deathstorm]

After the ability has to resolve first as part of the activation you remove the loyalty counters

[cltrn81]

After the ability has to resolve first as part of the activation you remove the loyalty counters

You have it backwards.  You remove the counters as a cost for the ability, a PW with 0 counters will goto the GY, then the ability resolves.

Read rulings on Tamiyo.....it states she goes to the GY before her emblem is created if you use all her counters to do her ultimate.

[scarsabrex]

^^this^^

[Bilygote]

So this would not be a situation like described in rule 704.4?

[scarsabrex]

So this would not be a situation like described in rule 704.4?

different what is described in 704.4 is a card that causes you to discard and draw all as part of it's effect. with tamiyo (or any planeswalker) you pay the loyalty as a cost the effect goes on te stack. state based actions are checked, cleaning up tamiyo of the battlefield then the ability resolves.

[BlackJester]

This rule doesn't apply in this situation since you are using an activated ability.

Announce the ability put it on the stack
Pay For the ability (remove counters)
Right before you pass priority, the state is checked. You have to pass priority before the ability resolves off the stack.
CR601/2

[Bilygote]

Thanks