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Regular REL » Post: Missed trigger from 2+ turns ago

Missed trigger from 2+ turns ago

Dec. 10, 2013 08:40:49 AM

Jeff Jeakins
Judge (Uncertified)

Canada - Eastern Provinces

Missed trigger from 2+ turns ago

Hi all,

I understand there is nothing in Regular REL related to “1 turn cycle” and instead the JAR explains adding missed triggers to the stack as long as they are not “disruptive to the game”.

Adonis remembers he missed a gain life trigger from Soul Warden 2+ turns ago (consider even 4 or 5 turns ago) and both players agree.

It doesn't seem to be disruptive so is it correct to place that on the stack?

Also, does it make a difference if Soul Warden is still on the battlefield or not?

Thanks

Edited Jeff Jeakins (Dec. 10, 2013 08:47:51 AM)

Dec. 10, 2013 08:53:29 AM

Brian Schenck
Judge (Uncertified)

USA - Midatlantic

Missed trigger from 2+ turns ago

Originally posted by Jeff Jeakins:

I understand there is nothing in Regular REL related to “1 turn cycle” and instead the JAR explains adding missed triggers to the stack as long as they are not “disruptive to the game”.

Here's the quote from the JAR about missed triggers…

These abilities are considered missed if the player did not acknowledge them in any way at the point that it required choices or had a visible in-game effect. If the ability includes the word “may,” assume the player chose not to perform it. Otherwise, add it to the stack now unless it happened so long ago that you think it would be very disruptive to the game - don’t add the ability to the stack if significant decisions having been made based on the effect not happening! Unlike other game rule errors (which must be pointed out), players are never required to point out their opponent’s missed triggered abilities, although they may do so.

…so, you as the judge are going to need to make a decision about whether the trigger is too far gone. If the trigger has gotten very “stale”, then it might be the better course of action to simply skip the trigger and remind the players to be more careful.

Originally posted by Jeff Jeakins:

Adonis remembers he missed a gain life trigger from Soul Warden 2+ turns ago (consider even 4 or 5 turns ago) and both players agree.

It doesn't seem to be disruptive so is it correct to place that on the stack?

Also, does it make a difference if Soul Warden is still on the battlefield or not?

If the trigger was missed in Adonis's turn, and caught in his opponent's turn, then you might have to make a decision about whether to add the trigger to the stack. Especially if there's relatively few decisions points. If the opponent just untapped and was getting ready to draw a card, then that might be reasonable to allow the trigger.

But, if the trigger was missed in Adonis's turn and is caught in Adonis's next turn, I think skipping it is wiser. There's a lot of decision points that could have occurred, such as Adonis's opponent's choice for attackers in her turn, or even just what might have been played. At some point, there's even the question of whether the trigger was even really missed or not, and why a player's life total is the value it currently is. It could be that Adonis thinks he missed a trigger, but actually forgot that one of his opponent's creatures (now destroyed) had a +1/+1 counter on it.