Hell's Caretaker

[RaptorStorm]

Can hell's caretaker bring back the same creature that was sacrificed to trigger the ability? {Hell's Caretaker}

[Bookmeister]

I would say yes but then activating its ability would be counterproductive as it would have summoning sickness.

[Keyeto]

It cannot. Abilities that target must have a valid target to be activated in the first place.

And as for the ruling, rule 602.2 talks about activating an ability, and its subsection (602.2b) states that the rules for activating abilities follow those for casting spells. In order (determined by subsection), I have picked out the relevant rulings:

601.2c The player announces his or her choice of an appropriate player, object, or zone for each target the spell requires.
THEN
601.2g The player pays the total cost in any order.

RESOLVED

[Bookmeister]

It cannot. Abilities that target must have a valid target to be activated in the first place.

Good, this then prevents a pointless action.

[Bman0121]

It cannot. Abilities that target must have a valid target to be activated in the first place.

Good, this then prevents a pointless action.

I wouldnt feel butt hurt about hell caretaking a grave titan back in

[Imdowd80]

It cannot. Abilities that target must have a valid target to be activated in the first place.

Good, this then prevents a pointless action.

{thragtusk} or any other creature with a ETB or leave battlefield effect.
But it doesn't work so it don't matter.

[RaptorStorm]

Here's why I ask;

Equip  {Hell's Caretaker} with  {Thornbite Staff}

Now each time you tap  {Hell's Caretaker}, then sacrifice a creature, the  {Thornbite Staff} will untap  {Hell's Caretaker}.

Tap  {Hell's Caretaker}, sacrifice  {Grave Titan}, target  {Grave Titan} to return to the battlefield as the  {Thornbite Staff} untaps  {Hell's Caretaker}; repeat for infinite 2 2/2 black zombie tokens.

Or cycle something like  {Death's Presence}.

Really any number of combos, if the stack of  {Hell's Caretaker} allows for the creature to be sacrificed, that creature hits the grave yard before the next part of the ability triggers - allowing you to target said sacrificed creature and simply repeating that process.

[Keyeto]

That would be a cool combo, but it won't work, I'm afraid. In order to even activate {Hell's Caretaker} ability, you have to already have a valid target (in this case, a creature in your graveyard to bring back). Without that, the ability can't be activated. It is for this same reason that {Golgari Guildmage} can't use it's 1st ability on itself. In this specific case, the {Grave Titan} isn't in the graveyard when you activate {Hell's Caretaker}s ability, and for that reason, is not a valid target (since it wasn't in the graveyard when the ability was activated).

[Double-O-Scotch]

Not to mention you can only use the caretakers ability on your upkeep. Just saying.

[RaptorStorm]

Right Dounle-O-Scotch, some critters have flash though, I was just being generic to better understand/learn the stack order of the ability.

Thanks guys!