Journey to Nowhere and Opalescence

ck3gds · Joined: 21 Jun 2005 Posts: 328

This question appeared on MTG Salvation's Cranial Insertion, but I wasn't fully satisfied with the answer. For your reference, here is the question and answer:

Hardtrack · Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 505

Why would playing it be illegal? You're just casting an enchantment. The game is simply a draw.

Laplie · League Staff Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 561

The game ends in a draw.

ck3gds · Joined: 21 Jun 2005 Posts: 328

In other words, unless the opponent has a way to stop this from happening (like Stifle, for instance) then the game will end in a draw?

This seems like something exploitable to me...

DoomBring3r · Joined: 30 Apr 2009 Posts: 436

Hardtrack · Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 505

And it only works if there is no other creature in play (which with Opalescence out means no other enchantment as well), that seems highly unlikely. Loops like this have existed for quite some time and never caused much problems.

NahHolmes · Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 662

Conkisstador · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 401

there have been many effects like this before... 3 oblivion rings is one example.
it's not an "exploit"... compare it to having a kikijiki and pestermite in play. there have been hundreds of combo decks... and a combo that draws is hardly unfair.

but as far as rules go- yes it is a mandatory trigger and if it only has one target then it will lock the game. in loops where there IS an OPTION (a 2nd creature in teh graveyard when there is worldgorger dragon) then the controlling player declares how many times they would like to iterate the infinite loop... then nonactive says if he'll ahve any responses. calculate the results of the chosen #s consequences... then controlling player must make a new choice... aka animate dead targets tarmogoyf in his graveyard.

DoomBring3r · Joined: 30 Apr 2009 Posts: 436

ck3gds · Joined: 21 Jun 2005 Posts: 328

That brings me to the question: is doing something like this to stall for time, force a draw or whatever, considered as an infraction on any count? Because the player made the play fully knowing the effect that his play has on the game...

Hardtrack · Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 505

Forcing a game into a loop that results in a draw is perfectly legal. Since it won't take more than a few seconds to explain, how can it be stalling?

kman · Joined: 03 Oct 2004 Posts: 11

Yeah, but can a player sit there perpetuating the infinite loop until the match timer runs out, or is there a rule that says the game is forced into a draw when one of these situations arises?

Hardtrack · Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 505

When you enter a loop with only mandatory elements, the game is automatically a draw. You can't go through the motions, it's just a draw, the game ends and the next one begins.