Can you react to a Deathknell trigger with a hidden Zhonya's Hourglass to prevent losing control of it when the unit dies?

verified
FAQ #7004·asked by 391676381052010496·January 4, 2026·Rules v1.4·Asked before Vendetta
Answer

Ruling: Yes, you can react to a Deathknell trigger with a hidden Zhonya's Hourglass. Because control does not change until after combat cleanup and all subsequent cleanups, you can resolve a chain from that Deathknell before you lose control of the battlefield.

Sequence:

  • Unit dies and Deathknell triggers
  • Priority passes to you while Deathknell is in the chain
  • You can play the hidden Zhonya's (which has Reaction when hidden) before control changes
  • Control change only happens after all cleanup resolves

Nuances:

  • This only works if something triggers to start a chain (like Deathknell). Without a trigger, no priority passes between combat damage and control change.
  • Hidden cards are not units until played - they're like cards in your hand
  • During a showdown, control cannot change until the showdown is over, so you maintain access to hidden cards
  • This ruling was under debate and expected to be clarified in version 1.2

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