Triskelion after Pyroclams resolves

[LotusHead]

My Triskelion had 3 counters (so it was a 4/4) and my Gifts opponent resolves Pyroclasm, then masterfully drops a Barbarian Ring with threshold, sniping my Trike.

Triskellion (4/4, 3 counters, 2 damage): how many counters can I remove in response to Barbarian Ring?

I am sure I can remove the first (making it 3/3, 2 damage), and pretty sure I can remove the second (2/2, 2 damage, it dies).

However, can I remove the last in response to the 2nd one? getting my full 3 points of Ping in?

I am assuming no, due to a gut feeling and "state basted effects", but still wondering since it came up.

Thanks in advance.

[Limbo]

You are correct.

Whenever a player receives priority state-based effects (legends-rule, lethal damage on creatures, lethal damage on players or players having 0 or less life, etc etc) are checked. If any conditions are met to put something six-feet-under (be it creatures, legends, players or other stuff) this is done before you or your feebleminded opponents are granted the ability to cast instants / use abilities again. So the trike dies after putting the 2nd *ping* on the stack, before you can remove the third counter.

[orgcandman]

You are correct.

Whenever a player receives priority state-based effects (legends-rule, lethal damage on creatures, lethal damage on players or players having 0 or less life, etc etc) are checked. If any conditions are met to put something six-feet-under (be it creatures, legends, players or other stuff) this is done before you or your feebleminded opponents are granted the ability to cast instants / use abilities again. So the trike dies after putting the 2nd *ping* on the stack, before you can remove the third counter.

Actually, what you said is partially incorrect. Since state based effects are only checked when a player would receive priority, then he can simply not pass priority until he has removed all 3 counters. Then he can pass priority, SBE check, trike goes to the yard, ring will be countered on resolution by game rules, and in the meantime there are 3 instances of "Deal 1 damage to <insert target>" on the stack.

That's only if my feeble understanding of sbe and priority are correct.

[epeeguy]

That's only if my feeble understanding of sbe and priority are correct.

Unfortunately, your understanding is not correct.  Limbo's answer was the correct one.

The reason your understanding is not correct is because a player receives priority after spells and abilities are played and after spells or abilities resolve.  So, each time you play a spell or ability, you regain priority in order to keep playing spells or abilities or you can choose to pass priority to the other player (CR 409.1i).  That means, after you play a spell or ability and would get priority, the game will check for state-based effects.  So, in this situation, you play the ability of the Triskelion once and it becomes a 3/3 with 2 damage on it (SBEs are checked, but do nothing).  Then you play the ability of the Triskelion again and it becomes a 2/2 with 2 damage on it (SBEs are checked, and this time the Triskelion goes to the graveyard).  You never get the opportunity to play the ability a third time.

So you don't simply gain priority and then play as many spells as you want and then pass priority, you actually are regaining priority after each time you play a spell or ability and have the option to either play more spells and abilities or pass priority.  The game checks for SBEs every time you play a spell or ability.

[nataz]

on a slightly related note I have a quick question on animate dead and trike.

Animate the trike, and now it comes into play with 3 +1/+1 counters, making it a 4/4, then apply the -1/0 from the animate to make it a 3/4. You should be able to still ping 3 times, and be left with a 0/1 at the end, as the removal of counters has nothing to do with the actually power/toughness, correct?

[Limbo]

Indeedio. (Translation : You are correct.)