Baited Hook a Deathknell unit and on play a Harness Dragon on a Starspring trigger battlefield. What would be the correct sequence? Especially when announcing targets and whether to use Starspring?
To determine the correct sequence when using Baited Hook to kill a Deathknell unit and playing Harnessed Dragon to a Star Spring battlefield, we must apply the rules of the chain, LIFO (Last In, First Out) resolution, and the specific timing of triggered abilities.
1. The Sequence of Resolution
- Activation: You activate Baited Hook by paying its costs and targeting a friendly unit with Deathknell.
- Resolution Begins: Baited Hook resolves. The targeted unit is killed.
- Deathknell Trigger: Because the unit has Deathknell, its trigger is placed on the chain (Rule 808.1.d.2).
- Play Harnessed Dragon: You look at the top 5 cards and play Harnessed Dragon. It enters the battlefield.
- Triggering Abilities: Because Harnessed Dragon was played, two abilities trigger simultaneously:
- Harnessed Dragon's "When you play me" ability.
- Star Spring's ability (triggered by playing a non-token unit).
- Ordering Triggers: Since you control both, you choose the order to place them on the chain (Rule 383.3.d).
- Final Chain: The chain now contains the items from the steps above, resolved LIFO.
2. Key Timing Clarifications
- Announcing Targets: For both Harnessed Dragon’s ability and Star Spring’s ability, you choose targets when the ability is placed on the chain, not when it resolves (Rule 355.8).
- Making Choices: Star Spring’s "may" trigger: You decide whether to place this ability on the chain when the trigger condition is met (Rule 383.3.a). If you choose to place it on the chain, you must also select the target unit at that time.
3. Summary of Resolution (LIFO)
The chain resolves from the top down:
- Top-most trigger resolves (either Star Spring or Harnessed Dragon, based on your chosen order).
- Next trigger resolves.
- Deathknell trigger resolves.
Note: I could not fully verify this ruling against the retrieved rules.