Meddling Mage and Stifle

[boasnapes]

For reference:

Meddling Mage

Color= Multi  Type= Creature - Wizard  Cost= WU PS(R)  
Text (PS): 2/2. ; As ~this~ comes into play, name a nonland card. ; The named card can't be played.

My question is, can you stifle the naming of a card? I was asked to judge on this last night, and I said yes, because coming into play is the trigger. But the more I think about it, I am not so sure I was correct. The wording is weird, "AS this comes into play" instead of the usual "WHEN this comes into play".

So was I right to say you can stifle the naming of a card, or not? Thanks a lot guys.

boasnapes

[Dr. Sylvan]

No, you cannot Stifle it. It's not a triggered ability; you choose before it even enters play.

[rvs]

No, you cannot Stifle it. It's not a triggered ability; you choose before it even enters play.

Actually, that's not true. You choose upon resolution.

[PandaPokemon]

You name a card during the resolution of this spell, at the same time it is being put into play. Once you name the card, there is no chance for any player to respond to this choice before the "can't be played" effect takes hold.

The naming of the card is upon resolution, whether you name it before you put it on the table or after you put it on the table is up to you I guess though the theoretical best would to be to name the card while slamming your mage on the table. =P

Anyway from StarCityGames Virtual Judge

Q: Can Stifle counter Meddling Mage's ability? If yes, can I first know which card he wants to prevent from being played, then Stifle the ability? If not, what kind of ability is this? A static ability?


Can the same be done to Flametongue Kavu, waiting for a target and then Stifling it?


A: Stifle cannot affect Meddling Mage's ability, but it can counter Flametongue Kavu's. The difference is that the Mage's ability is worded "as ~this~ comes into play..." as opposed to "when ~this~ comes into play." The former is part of the resolution of the spell or ability that puts it into play; the latter is a triggered ability.

I would agree and say it isn't a triggered ability as well.

[Dr. Sylvan]

No, you cannot Stifle it. It's not a triggered ability; you choose before it even enters play.

Actually, that's not true. You choose upon resolution.

Isn't there a window between resolution and it coming into play? Hence the wording "As ~this~ comes into play".

[Jebus]

It isn't really a "window" so to speak, although some people think of it that way.

The choice is made as part of its resolution or as part of the resolution of what is putting it into play.  It isn't in play at this point, but it will be shortly.

It really comes down to semantics after that.

[boasnapes]

Thanks guys. Its confusing but I get it. At least I was right that I was wrong.  

boasnapes

[Matt]

It may help to imagine instants and sorceries having the text "As this spell resolves, put it in its owner's graveyard" and creatures to have similar 'hidden' text directing you to put it into play. That's what Sheldon is referring to when he says "part of the resolution of the spell or ability that puts it into play".

[dmessiah]

No, you cannot Stifle it. It's not a triggered ability; you choose before it even enters play.

Actually, that's not true. You choose upon resolution.

Isn't there a window between resolution and it coming into play? Hence the wording "As ~this~ comes into play".

     There's not a window there, really - it is jsut that some choices get made upon the sucessful resolution of the spell.  Like Misdirect.  When you play that, for example, you have to choose the spell that you would like to misdirect upon declaration; however, you don't have to choose the new target until the MisD has sucessfully resolved.  "As ~this~ comes into play" is something associated with the SPELL, not the perm once it has come into play, so it's taken care of during the resolution.