Unearth

Hardtrack · Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 347

Guess what? It's worded like Flashback. I rule!

502.84. Unearth

502.84a Unearth is an activated ability that functions while the card is in a graveyard. "Unearth [cost]" means "[Cost]: Return this card from your graveyard to play. It gains haste. Remove it from the game at end of turn. If it would leave play, remove it from the game instead of putting it anywhere else. Play this ability only any time you could play a sorcery."

* If a creature returned to play with unearth would leave play for any reason, it's removed from the game instead -- unless the spell or ability that's causing the creature to leave play is actually trying to remove it from the game! In that case, it succeeds at removing it from the game. If it later returns the creature card to play (as Oblivion Ring or Flickerwisp might, for example), the creature card will return to play as a new object with no relation to its previous existence. The unearth effect will no longer apply to it.

Crevette · Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 26

Yop yop yop, you're the best Hardtrack !!

Fun fun fun, these new abilities promise me some headache.

LoneWulf · Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Posts: 162

Ummm Hardtrack...I actually think I was closer. I did say that Unearth would be activated as opposed to Flashback being static. You can Stifle Unearth but not Flashback.

Also Unearth depends on the card actually coming into play in order for it to then be removed. You could theoretically return that card to a player's hand or shuffle it back into their deck with Unearth on the stack and Unearth doesn't do anything. Flashback doesn't care if the spell resolves just when it leaves the stack.
(Note that I never argued that Oblivion Ring wouldn't work. I kinda figured it would work the same way as Guile and Flashback.)

Hardtrack · Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 347

I never once talked about it being a static or activated ability. And the reminder text is quite clear it's a activated ability.

I (and I think everyone besides you) was talking about what happens when you Blink it or Oblivion Ring it once it is in play.

Honestly, I still don't understand what you are trying to tell me or how it relates to Unearth.

lucabil · Joined: 05 May 2008 Posts: 24

I'm not so interested in being right or not. But I'm interested in understanding rules. It's the first time I discover that the wording "instead of putting it anywhere else", becomes relevant on replacement effects. I'll never stop learning (me and my software).

LoneWulf · Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Posts: 162

ck3gds · Joined: 21 Jun 2005 Posts: 255

So in light of this, can I just check again the following:

if I try to bounce it back to my hand/library, it gets RFGed instead?
if I use Oblivion Ring to RFG it, and then bounce O-Ring, it comes back to play?

...with "it" being the creatured Unearth-ed.

Hardtrack · Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 347

Yes, if it goes anywhere but the RFG-zone, it gets RFGed instead. If it's already going to the RFG-zone, it works as normal.