How does Thrill of the Hunt ruling happen with Imperial Decree and Bellows Breath?
To determine how Thrill of the Hunt interacts with Imperial Decree and Bellows Breath, we must follow the chain and the rules governing targeting.
The Chain Sequence
- You play Bellows Breath: You target up to three units at a battlefield. This places Bellows Breath on the chain.
- Opponent plays Thrill of the Hunt (Reaction): In response, your opponent plays Thrill of the Hunt. This places Thrill of the Hunt on top of the chain.
- Chain Resolution (LIFO - Last In, First Out):
- Thrill of the Hunt resolves first. It banishes the targeted unit (moving it to the Banishment zone) and then immediately plays that unit to a battlefield.
- According to Rule 359.3.e.4 and FAQ #9870, a unit that moves to a non-board zone and returns becomes a "new object." Because it is a new object, the targeting relationship between the original Bellows Breath and that unit is severed.
Ruling on Bellows Breath and Imperial Decree
- Targeting Legality: When Bellows Breath attempts to resolve, its previously chosen target is now a "new object" that was not the target selected when the spell was played. Per Rule 359.3.e.5, this target is considered illegal and is unaffected by the spell.
- Damage: Because the target of Bellows Breath is no longer legal, the instruction to deal 1 damage to that unit cannot be executed.
- Imperial Decree Interaction: Imperial Decree is a triggered ability that creates a delayed effect: "When any unit takes damage this turn, kill it." Since the damage from Bellows Breath is never dealt (because the unit is no longer a legal target), the trigger condition for Imperial Decree is not met.
Summary: The unit played via Thrill of the Hunt survives, and Imperial Decree does not kill it because no damage was successfully dealt by Bellows Breath.
This is my interpretation based on the mechanics of targeting, zone changes, and "new object" rules established in Core Rule 359.3.e and FAQ #9870.