Storm Count and Stifle Question

[Cavius The Great]

If my opponent plays a Stifle in response to my Tendrils of Agony, could I cast a second Tendrils and kill for lethal damage? I assume that the second one would resolve with spells on the stack or does Stifle nullify storm all together? Any help with this matter would be greatly appreciated.

[Matt]

When you play any Tendrils of Agony, immediately it puts its triggered Storm ability on the stack. You and your opponent may both respond. If neither does, that triggered ability will resolve and plop a bunch of copies on the stack, above the original Tendrils. Stifle counters a single instance of an ability.

So the play is this.

Son_of_Satan: Play Tendrils of Agony. Storm triggered ability triggers and goes on the stack above the original Tendrils. Pass priority.
Matt: Play Stifle, targeting the Storm ability. Pass.
Son_of_Satan: Pass. Stifle resolves, countering Storm ability, and the active player (Son_of_Satan) gets priority back. The original Tendrils is still on the stack, so I can't play my second Tendrils because it's a sorcery, and sorceries need an empty stack. Pass priority.
Matt: Pass. Tendrils resolves, I lose 2 and you gain 2. The stack is now empty. You get priority back since you're the active player.
Son_of_Satan: Spend 2BB to play a second Tendrils. Storm triggered ability goes on the stack. Pass.
Matt: Shit. Pass.

Storm triggered ability resolves, and several copies of Tendrils are put on the stack. Start resolving each copy until I lose my last life point.

[matt_v]

Stifle will only counter the one instance of storm. Countering one triggered ability does not mean that it can't happen if the trigger condition is met again (like playing another Tendrils).

-Matt

[Cavius The Great]

Let me rephrase the question, if I have 10 spells on the stack and I cast a Tendrils and my opponent responds with a stifle, do the spells stay on the stack or are they completely nullified by the Stifle? For example, could I cast a second Tendrils for the win?

[Godder]

Stifle only negates the triggered ability on the Tendrils. It doesn't do anything else to the storm count (it doesn't even counter Tendrils itself), so if/when you cast another copy of Tendrils that turn, it will get the full benefit of all the other spells that have been played that turn, including the first Tendrils and the Stifle.

[Cavius The Great]

awesome. thanks to all you guys you've been a big help.

Happy Holidays!!

[Matt]

Let me rephrase the question, if I have 10 spells on the stack and I cast a Tendrils and my opponent responds with a stifle, do the spells stay on the stack or are they completely nullified by the Stifle? For example, could I cast a second Tendrils for the win?

I don't think you understand the stack. When a spell or ability resolves, it leaves the stack and is not on the stack anymore. You can't play a sorcery like Tendrils until the entire stack is empty (unless you have Vedalken Orrery in play).

You probably mean to ask, "If I have played ten spells this turn and then I play Tendrils and the Storm ability gets Stifled, does the storm count stay the same?" And when you play the next Tendrils, it asks, "How many spells were played before this card this turn?" And the answer is ten, plus the first Tendrils, plus the Stifle, for a total of 12 Storm copies. Playing Stifle doesn't make the game "forget" about all the spells that have already been played.

[Ninja_Bob]

I found the best way to learn about the stack (and other random rules issues) is to play a little Mtg: online.  I thought I knew how it worked, but never was exactly 100% sure I was using it right.  After mtgo, all cleared up.