If Noxian Drummer is moved to the battlefield with Zenith Blade (stunning a unit with Hidden Blade hidden), can the opponent play Hidden Blade to kill Drummer before the move trigger spawns the token?

Ruling: Yes, the opponent can play Hidden Blade to kill Drummer before the token spawns, and if Drummer dies this way (from a hidden Hidden Blade), the token will not be spawned because the game cannot determine "here" anymore.

Sequence:

  • Zenith Blade fully resolves, moving Drummer to the battlefield
  • Drummer's move trigger goes on the chain
  • The controller of the trigger (Drummer's controller) gets priority first
  • Then the opponent gets priority and can play Hidden Blade as a reaction
  • If both players pass, the trigger resolves
  • If Drummer was killed by Hidden Blade as a reaction, the token does not spawn

Nuances:

  • If Hidden Blade is played as an action (not as a reaction from being hidden), the token still spawns even if Drummer dies
  • The key difference is whether Hidden Blade was played as a reaction from being hidden versus as a normal action