Does the Legendary Rule Stop ETB?

The legendary rule does not stop ETB (Enter the Battlefield) triggers from occurring, as the rule is a state-based action that is performed after the triggered ability has been put on the stack and resolved. This means that if a player controls two or more legendary permanents with the same name, the legend rule will be applied before the ETB triggered abilities are put on the stack and resolve, but it will not prevent them from triggering in the first place.

Understanding the Legendary Rule

To delve deeper into how the legendary rule interacts with ETB triggers and other aspects of the game, let’s explore some key questions and answers.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Legendary ETB Rule? The legendary ETB rule refers to how legendary permanents with ETB triggers interact with the legend rule, specifically that the choice of which legendary permanent to keep is made before ETB triggered abilities are put on the stack and resolve.

2. What Does the Legend Rule Not Apply To? Cards that say the legend rule doesn’t apply allow a player to have more than one legendary permanent with the same name in play at once, which is a rare and powerful effect.

3. Does the Legend Rule Count as Dying? Yes, the legend rule counts as dying for most purposes, including triggering death triggers, unless a card like Rest in Peace prevents the permanent from reaching the graveyard.

4. How Do You Ignore the Legendary Rule? Only a handful of cards, including Mirror Gallery, Mirror Box, and Sakashima of a Thousand Faces, can circumvent the legend rule entirely, while others may exempt specific types of cards, like Cadric, Soul Kindler for tokens.

5. What Cards Negate the Legendary Rule? Mirror Gallery, Mirror Box, Sakashima of a Thousand Faces, Cadric, Soul Kindler, and Sliver Gravemother are examples of cards that negate or circumvent the legend rule in some way.

6. Does the Legend Rule Apply Before ETB? As a state-based action, the legend rule is applied before ETB triggered abilities are put on the stack and resolve.

7. What Magic Card Removes the Legendary Rule? Mirror Gallery is an artifact that removes the legend rule while it’s on the battlefield.

8. How Does the Legendary Rule Work? The legend rule prevents a player from controlling more than one legendary permanent with the same name at the same time, requiring the player to choose one to keep and putting the rest into their owner’s graveyard.

9. Does the Legend Rule Apply to Planeswalkers? Yes, the legend rule applies to planeswalkers, as all planeswalkers have the legendary supertype and are subject to this rule.

10. What Artifact Removes the Legend Rule? Mirror Gallery is an artifact that removes the legend rule.

11. Is the Legendary Rule a Sacrifice? While the legend rule doesn’t count as sacrificing a creature, it does count as the creature dying, which can trigger death triggers.

12. Can You Respond to the Legend Rule? No, the legend rule is a state-based action, meaning there’s no way to respond to it, even with spells that have split second.

13. Does Copying Count as ETB? Yes, clone effects that copy a creature with an ETB trigger will trigger the ETB ability when the clone enters the battlefield.

14. Do You Get ETB Triggers for Phasing? No, phasing does not trigger ETB or leave the battlefield effects because the permanent does not change zones.

15. Can You Counter ETB Triggers? Unless you have cards that allow you to counter a spell, a creature’s ETB ability will trigger after it enters the battlefield, and destroying the creature after it has entered the battlefield will not prevent the trigger from resolving.