I saw this in a facebook judge study group, and wasn't entirely happy with the answer, and I've asked a few folks and gotten some different responses. I'm hoping that this might be a better forum to get a consensus.

The scanerio (slightly modified) is this: Ada controls Ajani, Caller of the Pride, and an Empyrial Archangel. Ned controls a Curse of Bloodletting, attached to Ada. Ned casts Shock, targeting Ada.

My take is that while Ned is free to declare his intent to redirect then, he doesn't have to (and in fact, I don't believe there's a possible scenario where he can).

The rules in CR616 essentially say “choose a replacement effect, apply it, then see what's left and repeat” (616.1e is pretty clear about one effect taking place before the second effect is chosen) not “order them all up front and all potential choices are made then”, if Ned decides to have the Angel's effect redirect damage from him, there is no damage making it to Ned, so the “Planeswalker redirection” never happens, so Ned never gets the choice to redirect.

In normal circumstances there is no difference between “pick one, do it, pick again” and “order them all and then do them all”. So to keep it simple, people just shortcut one for the other. But in this case, CR306.7 says the effect is “if damage would be dealt to player, then the opponent may choose to redirect it to a planeswalker”. The opponent's choice is the result _after_ the effect is applied (which 616.1e states is before the choice is made or the second replacement effect), not something chosen as part of the effect being selected. No damage, no choice.

So the possible outcomes as I see them are:

1- Ada choose the curse first (double the damage), and then redirects 4 damage to the angel. Ada receives no damage, so the Planeswalker effect never gives Ned a choice to redirect.

2- Ada chooses the angel first, and it takes 2 damage. Ada receives no damage so the curse has nothing to do. And the planeswalker effect doesn't have anything either.

In either case, Ned never actually gets the choice to redirect damage to the planeswalker.

But I've talked to several judges and RA's and they generally say there's a third option that allows damage to go the planeswalker. I think that's misapplying a shortcut though.

I'd say I don't mean to second guess actual judges on this, but I guess I really am =) Am I missing a traditional interpretation?

There is a third option, but Ada needs to allow it.

When a replacement effect includes a choice, that choice is made as the replacement effect is applied. That's the reason the two modes of applying a series of replacement effects are not equivalent; the next replacement effect can depend on a choice made for a previous one.

In your two scenarios, Ned indeed cannot choose to redirect the damage to the planeswalker, as that redirection effect is never chosen.

In the third scenario, let's say Ada chooses to apply the redirection effect first. Two outcomes are possible:

3.1) Ned chooses to redirect the damage to the planeswalker. Now neither other replacement effect can apply, so the event happens and Ajani is dealt 2 damage.
3.2) Ned chooses no to redirect the damage. Now both other replacement effects can apply and Ada chooses one.
3.2.1) Ada chooses to double the damage. Empyrial Archangel's replacement effect still applies, so the Angel is dealt 4 damage. The redirection effect has already been chosen previously and can't be chosen a second time for this event.
3.2.2) Ada chooses to redirect to the Angel. The last replacement effect doesn't apply anymore and the Angel is dealt 2 damage.

Note that in scenario 1, after choosing to double the damage, Ada can choose to apply the planeswalker redirection effect, and Ned can choose to use it or not.

Daniel Kitachewsky
L3, Paris, France
Rules NetRep