The Ability Outlives Its Source
BeginnerThe Pyromancer dies in response — its damage still arrives.
Cards involved
You activate the Pyromancer
Your opponent is at 1 life. You tap your Prodigal Pyromancer ("
: It deals 1 damage to any target.") targeting your opponent. The activated ability goes on the stack.
Your opponent fights back
In response, your opponent casts Shock targeting the Pyromancer — hoping the ability disappears along with the creature.
Shock resolves
The Pyromancer takes 2 damage and dies. But still sitting on the stack: its ability.
What happens?
The moment of truth.
Does the ability still resolve?
Pick an answer to continue.
Abilities on the stack are independent objects (113.7a). Killing the source doesn't "counter" them — that would take an effect that specifically counters abilities.
113.7aOnce activated or triggered, an ability exists on the stack independently of its source. Destruction or removal of the source after that time won’t affect the ability. Note that some abilities cause a source to do something (for example, “This creature deals 1 damage to any target”) rather than the ability doing anything directly. In these cases, any activated or triggered ability that references information about the source for use while announcing an activated ability or putting a triggered ability on the stack checks that information when the ability is put onto the stack. Otherwise, it will check that information when it resolves. In both instances, if the source is no longer in the zone it’s expected to be in at that time, its last known information is used. The source can still perform the action even though it no longer exists.
The ability hits
1 damage to your opponent: 0 life — you win. The Shock bought them nothing.
113.7aOnce activated or triggered, an ability exists on the stack independently of its source. Destruction or removal of the source after that time won’t affect the ability. Note that some abilities cause a source to do something (for example, “This creature deals 1 damage to any target”) rather than the ability doing anything directly. In these cases, any activated or triggered ability that references information about the source for use while announcing an activated ability or putting a triggered ability on the stack checks that information when the ability is put onto the stack. Otherwise, it will check that information when it resolves. In both instances, if the source is no longer in the zone it’s expected to be in at that time, its last known information is used. The source can still perform the action even though it no longer exists.
Stack
Opponent's life:
Prodigal Pyromancer
: 1 damage to any target
Shock
Target: the Pyromancer
Activated ability: Prodigal Pyromancer
Pyromancer ability — target: your opponent
The stack is empty.
Battlefield
—
In short
Does an ability on the stack still resolve if its source is killed in response?
Show answer Hide answer
Abilities on the stack are independent objects (113.7a). Killing the source doesn't "counter" them — that would take an effect that specifically counters abilities.
608.1Each time all players pass in succession, the spell or ability on top of the stack resolves. (See rule 609, “Effects.”)
113.7aOnce activated or triggered, an ability exists on the stack independently of its source. Destruction or removal of the source after that time won’t affect the ability. Note that some abilities cause a source to do something (for example, “This creature deals 1 damage to any target”) rather than the ability doing anything directly. In these cases, any activated or triggered ability that references information about the source for use while announcing an activated ability or putting a triggered ability on the stack checks that information when the ability is put onto the stack. Otherwise, it will check that information when it resolves. In both instances, if the source is no longer in the zone it’s expected to be in at that time, its last known information is used. The source can still perform the action even though it no longer exists.