In Magic: the Gathering, is it possible to counter an ability by undermining its cost?

Question

For example, let's say I start using my Master Transmuter's activated ability, which requires tapping among other things. Can my opponent intervene before I pay the cost, e.g by tapping a land of mine or Master Transmuter herself? Or can he only tap my Master Transmuter after all is said and done and the ability is on the stack?

Answer 1

Tapping lands for mana is not even considered an action (essentially, it's faster than an instant), and the payment of all costs to activate an ability are considered to happen at the same time. Your opponent could potentially play an instant to tap your land before you use the ability, potentially leaving you without enough mana to use that ability. but so long as you can use the ability and you have priority, they can't stop you from using the ability. If they wait until you use it, all the lands/creatures required to pay the cost are already tapped. If they use something to tap it, you can simply use your ability before their ability resolves.



They can however wait for you to use the ability, then interrupt with an instant that kills that creature before the ability resolves.

Answer 2

All of the previous answers on this are correct. If you are capable of using the transmuter (it has been in play since the beginning of your most recent turn and it isn't "summoning sick" anymore), and you have the mana to pay for the cost, your opponent can't stop you from using the ability. When you announce an ability, you announce it, pay all mana and tapping costs, and the ability goes on the stack. Your opponent can't interrupt the process of playing the ability. The first chance your opponent has to use any spells or abilities would be when the ability is already on the stack.



The reverse is also true. If you haven't tried to use the ability, you pass priority to go on to the next phase and your opponent tries to tap one of your lands, tap the transmuter, or kill the transmuter, you can use the ability in response, and thus still get the effect.



However, several people have said that the best strategy is to wait for the Transmuter to use its ability so that it's tapped, and then use a spell or ability to kill it. This is a fine strategy. I just wanted to add that by this time, the ability is already on the stack, and even if the transmuter is killed at that point, that activation of the ability will still resolve normally and you'll get to put an artifact from your hand into play.

Answer 3

If a player wants to use something like Icy Manipulator or a creature with the same ability like Goldmeadow Harrier to tap your Transmuter before you use the ability, they cannot do so if you've already put Transmuter's ability on the stack (see rulings for Icy Manipulator on Gatherer). The same rule applies to tapping attacking creatures. Once a player declares attackers by tapping his or her creatures, it is too late to tap his creatures, hence why Cryptic Command must be played before the Declare Attackers step in order to tap all an opponent's creatures prior to combat. Your opponent can, however, force you to use the ability after your untap step, before your draw step, by targeting your Transmuter and tapping him. If you have no artifacts in hand to use the ability, the Transmuter then becomes tapped and unusable for the rest of the turn.



Tapping lands works slightly differently. An opponent can tap your lands with Icy Manipulator after your untap phase, during your upkeep, before your first main phase, therefore preventing you from using those lands to play spells during the rest of your turn. However, since Transmuter's ability can be used at instant speed, you can respond by tapping the land and using his ability before your opponent's ability resolves, assuming you have another artifact in hand.



The best way to stop Transmuter is to wait for an opponent to activate his ability and then to use an instant removal spell on the stack. Tapping abilities are much less effective.

Answer 4

In addition to the answers already given, remember that returning an artifact you control to your hand is part of the cost of the abilities activation. So you can pay blue tap MT, and pick it up. Then the ability is on the stack and waits to be countered or resolved, at which time you would time you would put an artifact from hand to play.

Answer 5

If he is using an instant or an activated ability, he can do it before you decide to do that as long as it is done during these moments:

-During the Upkeep

-After that player is done playing things in their main phase

-After Attackers have been declared

-After Blockers have been Declared

-Before combat damage is assigned

-After combat damage is dealt

-After that player is done playing things in their second main phase

-End of Turn Phase

-When someone plays something on the stack



He can't stop you as you tap the cards. He can only react after the ability is on the stack. (See last moment in the list)

Answer 6

The more simple answer is that once your land is taped you get a mana which you have to use or burn even if they untap your land or destroy it you still have that single mana to use. Same with Master transmuter, once it taped the ability happens even if they untap or destroy it.



exp. you tap an island and then in response they destroy or untap that island. Resut: you still have one island mana to use because it produced that mana then was destroyed/ untaped. There is no card that can destroy already produced mana that I know of.