[spOOkzZ]

Spitebellows When it leaves play it deals six damage to target creature.

Can i counter this with a spell card for eg

I attack with Drowner Initaiate [1/1]

he blocks with his spite bellows, they both die

he says my drowner of secrets die due to spite bellows six damage from leaving play

can i counter it with Put Away

Thanks in ahead

[GodofRoads]

What Spite Bellows is doing is an activated ability, not a spell, so it can't be countered with Put Away or another spell that might counter "spells." You could have used that to Counter the creature itself when he played it and that would have negated its ability, but you can't counter the ability itself with that card.


There are cards that can counter, cancel, and redirect abilities, I just can't think of any of them off the top of my head.

[spOOkzZ]

but if i counter the spitebellow when he trys to play it i will still take the 6 damage yes becauseit came into play, or when i counter does it never really come into play?

[imachampion]

There are cards that can counter, cancel, and redirect abilities, I just can't think of any of them off the top of my head.

Stifle and Trickbind to name a few.

but if i counter the spitebellow when he trys to play it i will still take the 6 damage yes becauseit came into play, or when i counter does it never really come into play?

If you counter the Spitebellows then it never "Came into Play" so it would not deal the 6 damage to a creature.

Opponent: I will play Spitebellows. The card goes on the stack. This card has been played but doesn't enter play yet.
You: I will play Random Counterspell. The card goes into the graveyard. The card was played, countered, and put into the graveyard.
Opponent: *Cry*

[spOOkzZ]

Thanks ^___^ iamchamp ftw

[Lythand]

What Spite Bellows is doing is an activated ability, .....

Incorrect, it is a triggered ability.

Voidslime is another card that counters activated or triggered abilities.

[Trick]

Activated abilities are "cost: effect" wherever there is a colon, there is an activated ability.

"When" is a good sign that you're looking at a triggered ability.

[GodofRoads]

my bad, my point was that it was an ability as opposed to a spell. wasn't really paying attention to its effect.

[Lythand]

my bad, my point was that it was an ability as opposed to a spell. wasn't really paying attention to its effect.

It's all good. I mentioned it since it can really be a major issue when playing in tournaments. And since spookzz seems like he is still learning the rules, I wanted to try and not confuse him.

[Hexatomb]

Activated Abilities have a colon (“:”) in the text (Cost:Effect), most of the time; other examples of an activated ability are Cycling, Equip, Ninjutsu, Morph and the upcoming Devour.
Triggered Abilities generally start with the word “when,” “whenever,” or “at”.
Static Abilities are activated when they are placed in play, they do not trigger until they are resolved from the stack.

[Lythand]

Activated Abilities have a colon (“:”) in the text (Cost:Effect), most of the time; other examples of an activated ability are Cycling, Equip, Ninjutsu, Morph and the upcoming Devour.
Triggered Abilities generally start with the word “when,” “whenever,” or “at”.
Static Abilities are activated when they are placed in play, they do not trigger until they are resolved from the stack.

I beleive Devour will be a triggered ability. You can only sacrifice the creatures for the devour ability as the creature comes into play.

[Hexatomb]

Ooops! Looks like the only abilities that are triggered in SoA are Unearth and Cycling.

Devour is a static ability. Here is the official word on it:

502.82. Devour

502.82a Devour is a static ability. "Devour N" means "As this object comes into play, you may sacrifice any number of creatures. This permanent comes into play with N +1/+1 counters on it for each creature sacrificed this way."

502.82b Some objects have abilities that refer to the number of creatures the permanent devoured. "It devoured" means "sacrificed as a result of its devour ability as it came into play."

* Devour appears only on creature cards.
* A creature with devour can devour other creatures no matter how it comes into play.
* You may choose to not sacrifice any creatures.
* If you play a creature with devour as a spell, you choose how many and which creatures to devour as part of the resolution of that spell. (It can't be countered at this point.) The same is true of a spell or ability that lets you put a creature with devour into play.
* You may sacrifice only creatures that are already in play. If a creature with devour and another creature are coming into play under your control at the same time, the creature with devour can't devour that other creature. The creature with devour also can't devour itself.
* If multiple creatures with devour are coming into play under your control at the same time, you may use each one's devour ability. A creature you already control can be devoured by only one of them, however. (In other words, you can't sacrifice the same creature to satisfy multiple devour abilities.) All creatures devoured this way are sacrificed at the same time.