See title, for example [[Generous Patron]]. It’s a long running question I had with a friend, and we kind of came to the conclusion that the answer is no because the creature doesn’t yet exist when the ETB resolves.

But I gave it some thought again because it feels so weird that so many cards have this kind of effect and supposedly it doesn’t get triggered. Does anyone have a definitive answer to this? Would be great if you can refer to the official rulings.

  • BatadonOP
    2·
    4 months ago

    Thanks for the long comment! I think our confusion in some way came from the fact that countering a spell and countering it’s ETB isn’t the same thing. Now that I think about it, if you counter a creature spell it also negates the ETB because the creature doesn’t enter, right? Guess we did that wrong too.

    • Evu@mtgzone.comEnglish
      2·
      4 months ago

      Now that I think about it, if you counter a creature spell it also negates the ETB because the creature doesn’t enter, right?

      Yes, you’re right. If you [[Essence Scatter]] a creature, it will go straight from the stack to the graveyard without entering the battlefield, so any ETB triggers won’t trigger. Now let’s say you don’t have Essence Scatter but you do have [[Stifle]]. In this case you’ll have to let the creature resolve and enter the battlefield, but you can use the Stifle to counter its ETB trigger.