Can you react to a Temporary unit dying at the start of the beginning phase by playing another Temporary unit (like Sprite Call), and will the new unit survive?

Ruling: Yes, you can react to a Temporary unit's death trigger by playing another Temporary unit, and the newly played unit will survive because it enters after the beginning phase trigger check has already occurred.

Sequence:

  • At the start of beginning phase, the game checks for beginning phase triggers (including Temporary)
  • The first Temporary unit's death is placed on the chain as a trigger
  • You can react to this trigger by playing another Temporary unit (like Sprite Call)
  • Due to FILO (First In, Last Out), the new unit resolves before the original death trigger
  • The new Temporary unit enters the battlefield after the beginning phase trigger window has passed
  • The new unit survives because it missed the beginning phase trigger check

Nuances:

  • The beginning phase trigger window only happens once per phase; units that enter afterward don't trigger until the next beginning phase
  • This interaction is commonly used by Teemo players
  • You can also use this to gain hold points by playing Hide Call and flipping it in response to the Temporary trigger