Sower of Temptation + Lignify

TD · Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 105

I was asked this question tonight, and I know it is going to confuse a lot of people, so I'm posting the Q&A here.

Question: My opponent has played a Sower of Temptation and stolen one of my creatures. If I cast Lignify on Sower of Temptation, do I get my creature back?

Answer: No. This is because the effect that stole your creature is not a static ability but is rather a triggered ability. "When Sower of Temptation comes into play, gain control of target creature as long as Sower of Temptation remains in play." looks like a static ability, and feels rather like one, but if you read it it is actually a triggered ability; the whole thing is one triggered ability. Thus the Sower losing all abilities after it has triggered doesn't affect the triggered ability. Note also that a Vesuvan Shapeshifter can come into play as a Sower of Temptation, steal something, then turn into something else and you'll keep control of the stolen creature as long as the shapeshifter stays in play. Note also that losing all abilities does not prevent the triggered ability from terminating; if Sower of Temptation dies, even without its abilities, you'll still lose control of the stolen creature.

methodofwin1 · Joined: 27 Dec 2004 Posts: 15

does the vesuvan shapeshifter + Sower really work? Once the shapeshifter flips over during your upkeep wouldn't you lose control of the stolen creature? It seems like it might work but I don't know.

Hardtrack · Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 265

Yes, the Vesuvan Shapeshifter example really works. It doesn't matter what the object looks like. All the effect cares about is that the same object stays in play. The Shapeshifter is still the same object.