Saffi Eriksdotter

Guest · Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 5:37 pm Post subject: Saffi Eriksdotter

Someone once told me that it's possible to sacrifice shambling shell targeting itself (to avoid fetters etc.). While that doesn't really matter I 'm wondering if it's true and if the same thing applies to saffi eriksdotter. I doubt it would work because that would mean that wizards printed a card that can flicker for no mana, but i just want confirmation.

Guest · Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 5:43 pm Post subject:

"Sacrifice Saffi Eriksdotter: When target creature is put into your graveyard from play this turn, return that card to play."

that doesnt work b/c, the activation cost is to sacrifice him, then the ability goes onto the stack. as part of the resolution of the ability, you are targetting a creature in play... its pretty much a sacrifical adarkar valkyrie's ability that only target your own creatures, if that makes a little more sense to you

Guest · Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 7:19 pm Post subject:

can the creature that is targetted by eriksdotter be returned multiple times or does it "wear off" after it hits the yard once?

Buffalo_Wing · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 138

Guest · Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 7:27 pm Post subject:

saffi can target herself but when the ability resolves it fizzles.

Guest · Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 7:55 pm Post subject:

Buffalo_Wing, while you're correct, you also are implying that it's possible to use Saffi to bring itself back. The rest of the people are correct in their statements that it can't bring itself back, if not their comprehension of how activated abilities work.

The order of effects is:

1) Declare targets for the ability. At this point, you can declare any legal target in play. Saffi is a perfectly legal target for its own ability.

2) Pay costs. In this case, Saffi is sacrificed.

3) Ability goes on the stack.

4) Chance for responses, etc.

5) Once the stack is clear and both players pass priority, the ability starts to resolve. First, it checks targets again to make sure the target is still legal. It is at this point that the ability fizzles, because Saffi is no longer in play for its ability to legally target itself.

This makes nearly every creature ABLE to target itself, however, the ability will not fully resolve. So if your opponent targets your Plagued Rusalka with a Lightning Helix (or Saffi, as the example here is given) you can sacrifice it targeting itself to prevent your opponent from gaining three life.

However, the ability won't fully resolve, so if you sacrifice Lyzolda, the Blood Witch targeting itself, you will not draw the card (to make this awful example work, here's a terribly convoluted situation: your opponent uses Lightning Helix on your Lyzolda on their turn and you only have one card, a Demonfire, left in your deck, but if they gain the life they'll be out of Demonfire range. The correct play is to target Lyzolda with its own ability, so the ability fizzles, you don't draw the card and deck yourself, and your opponent doesn't gain the three life, then you draw Demonfire and win.)

Guest · Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:11 pm Post subject:

lmao @ example given with lyzolda and demonfire, but you are correct in what you say....

Guest · Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:16 pm Post subject:

quick question, saffi, a random creature that can sac itself for random effect, soul warden, does it give u infi life? or the returning effect only applys once.

MrPaTRicKMaN · Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Posts: 9

another saffi question. if another creature is killed by a spit second effect, say sudden death. saffi can't bring that creature back can it?

ElvishGuest · Guest

ElvishGod · Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 2924

^T'was me

brainjohn1 · Guest

you can respond with mana abilities. Like if someone sudden deaths your BoP u can tap it for mana.

swarm_n_slam · Joined: 16 Sep 2006 Posts: 27

All targets must be met even if the conditions aren't right.
This prevents u playing crap like Carom to draw a card.

It also means like Horobi rofl pwns affinity.
Eg. You sac ravager to target itself, it dies, modular goes on the stack, you TARGET it to have it MAY get modular counters, frogmite dies XD.

OMG DON'T BE SLACK TO LYZOLDA.
(Wouldn't you sac her to target your opponent in a real game XD)