If there is a condition on a gear: "if condition met, do x" does the gear put the trigger on a chain if the condition is not met? Can I react to it?
Whether a gear's ability goes on the chain depends on how the condition is phrased.
1. If the condition is part of a Triggered Ability (e.g., "When you play me, if you control 2 or more gear, attach me...")
According to RiftJudge FAQ #8211, abilities with conditions after the comma (like "if you control...") do go on the chain regardless of whether the condition is met.
- Does it go on the chain? Yes.
- Can you react to it? Yes, because it is on the chain.
- What happens if the condition isn't met? The ability resolves, but the effect does not happen.
2. If the condition is a "Reflexive Trigger" (e.g., "When X happens, do Y: [Effect]")
According to Rule 380, Reflexive Triggers are a specific type of triggered ability that only create chain items when their condition is met.
- Does it go on the chain? No, if the condition is not met, the trigger does not fire and nothing is added to the chain.
- Can you react to it? Since nothing is added to the chain, there is no window to react to the "non-event."
Summary Table
| Ability Type | Condition Phrasing | Goes on Chain? | Can you react? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Trigger | "When [Event], if [Condition], [Effect]" | Yes (always) | Yes |
| Reflexive Trigger | "When [Event], do this: [Effect]" | Only if condition met | Yes (if it triggers) |
Important Note: If the condition is phrased as "If you control X, when you play me..." (where the condition comes before the "when"), the condition is checked before the ability is even added to the chain, meaning it would not trigger at all if the condition is not met.