Double the Fun: Unveiling the Magic Card That Doubles Triggers
The card that most famously makes abilities trigger twice in Magic: The Gathering is Strionic Resonator. This potent artifact, introduced in the Dragon’s Maze set, offers players a unique opportunity to amplify the power of their permanents and spells by copying triggered abilities. But Strionic Resonator isn’t the only card that offers this kind of effect. Understanding the nuances of how triggered abilities work and the various cards that manipulate them can significantly improve your gameplay and deckbuilding strategies.
Deeper Dive: Strionic Resonator and Triggered Abilities
Strionic Resonator costs 2 generic mana to cast and 1 generic mana to activate its ability. Its ability reads: “Pay 1: Copy target triggered ability you control. You may choose new targets for the copy.”
This deceptively simple text unlocks a world of possibilities. Triggered abilities are identified by the words “when,” “whenever,” or “at” and represent events that cause specific actions to occur. Strionic Resonator effectively creates a second instance of that trigger, allowing you to double the effect. The possibilities are immense.
Examples of Strionic Resonator in Action
- Doubling Damage: Triggered abilities that deal damage, such as those found on creatures like Terror of the Peaks, become exceptionally potent. With Strionic Resonator, you can double the amount of damage dealt by each trigger.
- Generating Resources: Abilities that generate mana, create tokens, or draw cards can be duplicated to accelerate your game plan. Imagine doubling the mana generated by a creature like Priest of Titania or the tokens created by a card like Avenger of Zendikar.
- Controlling the Board: Triggered abilities that control the board, such as exile or destroy effects, can be devastating when doubled. For example, using Strionic Resonator with a creature like Ashen Rider can exile two permanents instead of just one.
- Life Gain and Drain: Combining it with cards like Bloodline Keeper makes it so you gain twice the life.
Important Considerations
- Timing is Key: Strionic Resonator must be activated after the triggered ability has been placed on the stack but before it resolves. This requires careful timing and anticipation.
- Targeting: The copy of the triggered ability allows you to choose new targets, providing strategic flexibility. This is particularly useful for abilities that target opponents or permanents they control.
- Control: You must control the triggered ability you wish to copy. This means the ability must originate from a permanent you control or be triggered by an action you take.
Beyond Strionic Resonator: Other Ways to Duplicate Triggers
While Strionic Resonator is the most well-known card for doubling triggered abilities, other cards offer similar, although often more specific, effects:
- Lithoform Engine: This artifact offers a more versatile but also more expensive effect. It can copy spells, activated abilities, and triggered abilities, but each copy requires a greater mana investment than Strionic Resonator.
- Panharmonicon: This artifact creature doubles all triggered abilities from artifacts and creatures entering the battlefield under your control. This is an incredibly powerful effect in decks built around “enter the battlefield” (ETB) triggers.
- Torbran, Thane of Red Fell: This legendary creature doesn’t exactly double triggers, but it effectively amplifies damage dealing triggered abilities by adding +2 damage to any red source you control. This can be equivalent to doubling in many situations.
- Breach the Multiverse: This legendary sorcery can sometimes double triggered abilities depending on the circumstance, copying creatures from other player’s graveyards.
Mastering Trigger Manipulation: A Competitive Edge
Understanding how to manipulate triggered abilities is crucial for competitive Magic: The Gathering. It allows you to maximize the value of your cards, control the board, and outmaneuver your opponents. Whether you’re using Strionic Resonator, Panharmonicon, or another card with similar effects, mastering trigger manipulation will elevate your game.
The Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) understands the strategic and cognitive benefits of games like Magic: The Gathering. Learning to analyze complex game states, anticipate your opponent’s moves, and execute intricate strategies are all valuable skills that translate into real-world success.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What exactly is a triggered ability?
A triggered ability is a type of ability in Magic: The Gathering that automatically goes onto the stack when a specific condition or event occurs. These abilities always start with the words “when,” “whenever,” or “at.”
2. How do I identify a triggered ability on a card?
Look for the keywords “when,” “whenever,” or “at” in the card’s text. The ability that follows these keywords is a triggered ability.
3. What happens when a triggered ability goes on the stack?
When a triggered ability triggers, it is placed on the stack, much like a spell. Players can then respond to it with instants or other abilities before it resolves.
4. Can I use Strionic Resonator to copy my opponent’s triggered ability?
No, Strionic Resonator specifically states that you can only copy triggered abilities you control.
5. What if I copy a triggered ability with targets, but the original target is no longer valid?
When you copy a triggered ability, you can choose new targets. If the original target is no longer valid, you must choose a new valid target for the copy. If no valid target exists, the copy simply fizzles and has no effect.
6. Does Strionic Resonator work with delayed triggered abilities?
Yes, Strionic Resonator can copy delayed triggered abilities. These are abilities that trigger at a later point in the game, often created by other spells or abilities.
7. If I control multiple Panharmonicons, will triggered abilities trigger multiple times?
Yes, if you control multiple Panharmonicons, the triggered abilities of artifacts and creatures entering the battlefield under your control will trigger an additional time for each Panharmonicon you control. Two Panharmonicons will trigger ETB abilities three times, three will trigger them four times, and so on.
8. Can I use Lithoform Engine to copy a triggered ability that has already resolved?
No, Lithoform Engine can only copy triggered abilities that are currently on the stack, before they resolve. Once an ability resolves, it is no longer available to be copied.
9. Does copying a triggered ability cost any mana besides the activation cost of the copying effect?
No, copying a triggered ability does not cost any additional mana beyond the cost of activating the effect that copies it (e.g., Strionic Resonator or Lithoform Engine). The copied ability simply goes on the stack as a duplicate of the original.
10. What’s the difference between Strionic Resonator and Panharmonicon?
Strionic Resonator allows you to copy any triggered ability you control, offering versatility. Panharmonicon specifically doubles triggered abilities from artifacts and creatures entering the battlefield under your control, making it powerful in specific deck archetypes.
11. How does Torbran, Thane of Red Fell interact with triggered abilities that deal damage?
Torbran, Thane of Red Fell adds +2 damage to any red source you control that deals damage. This includes triggered abilities that deal damage, effectively increasing the amount of damage they inflict. It does not copy the triggered ability, but it amplifies the effect.
12. What are some common deck archetypes that benefit from doubling triggered abilities?
Decks that rely on “enter the battlefield” (ETB) effects, such as blink decks, token decks, and value-oriented decks, greatly benefit from doubling triggered abilities. Additionally, decks that utilize powerful triggered abilities for control or combo purposes can also leverage these effects.
13. If a triggered ability creates tokens, does copying it create twice as many tokens?
Yes, if you copy a triggered ability that creates tokens, the copy will create the same number of tokens as the original, effectively doubling the number of tokens created in total.
14. Can I copy a triggered ability that targets multiple things and change the targets of the copy?
Yes, when you copy a triggered ability with targets, you can choose new targets for the copy. You do not have to choose the same targets as the original ability. This provides strategic flexibility.
15. Are there any cards that prevent triggered abilities from triggering at all?
Yes, cards like Hushbringer, Tocatli Honor Guard, and Grafdigger’s Cage can prevent certain triggered abilities from triggering, depending on their specific wording. These cards are often used as sideboard options to counter strategies that heavily rely on triggered abilities.