Cloudshift and ETB

[An Angry Fatman]

So my opponent yesterday, cloudshifted a {savageborn hydra} with {restoration angel} and sayed that when it enters the battlefield he can repay X. I told him otherwise so he called over a ref, who he was friends with, and the ref stated that, "when the creature renters the you may activate the creatures activated ability." Which then he proceeded to do which then again I protested, saying that he only can do that at sorcery speed thus killing the hydra. But the ref sided with him and I ended up loosing the match because he blood rushed the hydra. I'm still calling bull on that whole situation but I just wanted to double check that I'm not missing a loophole.

Thoughts?

[Wally]

No loophole. You got jipped.

The only way I can think of it working is if it gained counters via some other effect ( {Master Biomancer} for example)

RESOLVED

[Paraluke]

Zzz. X = 0 where it is back from exile, counters are also gone, even if the ability is instant speed, state based would have killed it. Unless yes,  {Master Biomancer} in play.

[Mentonin]

The X cost in his mana cost is not an ability, it is a mana cost. X is considered 0 everywhere except on the stack, when it is considered whatever you paid for it. In this situation, he wasn't casting it, so X would be 0.

His activated ability, though, is instant speed, so he can activate it whenever the hydra is on the field and he has priority (if he can pay for it). The problem here is:whenever a player would get priority (giving him the option of activating it), right before that state based actions are checked. The game would see the creature as a 0 toughness, and kill it. State based actions do not use the stack and cannot be responded to, so his hydra would be dead before he had a chance to do anything.
Sorry for the long explanation, just wanted to clarify everything

[Wally]

Actually no. It can only be activated at sorcery speed. It stipulates this on the card.

: Put a +1/+1 counter on Savageborn Hydra. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.

[MisterJH]

I pull up rules online if i know im getting ripped off

[Gorzo]

Please report this judge if he is a an official DCI judge or rules advisor. Making bogus calls to help their friends win games is a serious offense. Report him to DCI, and/or inform your LGS owner/event runner. This person is not fit to make ruling calls, and should be banned of the privelage.

[Mentonin]

Actually no. It can only be activated at sorcery speed. It stipulates this on the card.

: Put a +1/+1 counter on Savageborn Hydra. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.

Indeed. Dumb me, not reading everything . it servers for all the similar creatures out there though