What does this mean exactly in card stifle:
Counter target activated or triggered ability. (Mana abilities can't be targeted.)
What does this mean exactly in card stifle:
Counter target activated or triggered ability. (Mana abilities can't be targeted.)
a triggered ability (e.g. a comes into play effect) and activated abilitys (e.g. tap: do xy) go on the stack. whilst on the stack stifle can be used to counter these abilitys.
here are some examples:
triggered abilitys:
1. offensive use of stifle - play a Phyrexian Dreadnought, the triggered ability that you have to sacrifice creatures goes on the stack. you conter that with stifle. now you dont have to sacrifice any creatures thus getting a 12/12 trample for 1U.
2. defensive use of stifle - and opponent plays Tendrils of Agony after playing 9 other spells. the storm ability triggers and would put 9 copys of tendrils on the stack thus draining you for 20. but hey you play stifle and counter the strom trigger and only get drained for 2.
activated abilitys:
1. offensive use of stifle - you opponent want to use his fetchland. pays 1 life and sacrifices it (that the activation cost) and put the ability to search for a land on the stack. you use stifle to counter that. yes in that case you have land destruction for 1 blue mana.
2. defensive use of stifle - you opponent plays a Goblin Charbelcher and want to activate it. he would surely kill you with it. he pays the mana and taps it (thats the activation cost) and put the belcher effect on the stack. you counter that with stifle, survive the turn and have the oppotunity to find a solution for the belcher befor your opponent can activat it again.
the number of uses are limitless. it can ruin the day for several top combo decks, render an eternal wittness, shriekmaw anything with a comes into play effect useless, it can act als land destruction vs. fetchlands can stop tap abilitys for a turn etc. etc.
what you can not do is e.g. counter the mana a Birds of Paradise produces.
hope this answers your question ?