Chronicler of Heroes
Evolve (Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, if that creature has greater power or toughness than this creature, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.)
If you play the Chronicler of Heroes while you have an Evolve creature smaller than the Chronicler (so that Evolve will trigger), can you order the triggers so that you draw a card?
Or will the Chronicler only trigger at all if there's already a creature with a counter on it? It's my understanding that because of the position of the "if" in it's ability, the ability always triggers and then checks on resolution if you satisfy the condition?
Both abilities trigger on the Chronicler entering the battlefield, so you could order them so that the evolve trigger would happen first, and then the Chronicler would check for the +1/+1 counter for its ability.
Both abilities trigger on the Chronicler entering the battlefield, so you could order them so that the evolve trigger would happen first, and then the Chronicler would check for the +1/+1 counter for its ability.
Note that Evolve only triggers because there is something entering the battlefield with greater P and/or T. It would not if a creature entering the battiefield has both P and T lesser than the Evolver.
If you play the Chronicler of Heroes while you have an Evolve creature smaller than the Chronicler (so that Evolve will trigger), can you order the triggers so that you draw a card?
Yes.
Given LIFO (last in, first out) and that you control both triggered abilities, you would most beneficially order the abilities such that the Chronicler's ability is put on the stack first and on the bottom and the Evolver's ability is put on the stack second and on the top. This way, the Evolver resolves, checking once more whether the conditions are true, and puts a counter. Then, the Chronicler's ability resolves, checking whether the conditions are true.
Or will the Chronicler only trigger at all if there's already a creature with a counter on it?
No, as above.
It's my understanding that because of the position of the "if" in it's ability, the ability always triggers and then checks on resolution if you satisfy the condition?
The term 'position' isn't precise manner to describe it. However, it isn't entirely off either.
It is due to the 'if' clause that an Evolver checks twice, once upon its trigger and once more upon its resolution. This rule is in CR 403.4:
603.4. A triggered ability may read "When/Whenever/At [trigger event], if [condition], [effect]." When the trigger event occurs, the ability checks whether the stated condition is true. The ability triggers only if it is; otherwise it does nothing. If the ability triggers, it checks the stated condition again as it resolves. If the condition isn't true at that time, the ability is removed from the stack and does nothing. Note that this mirrors the check for legal targets. This rule is referred to as the "intervening 'if' clause" rule. (The word "if" has only its normal English meaning anywhere else in the text of a card; this rule only applies to an "if" that immediately follows a trigger condition.)
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Evolve (Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, if that creature has greater power or toughness than this creature, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.)
If you play the Chronicler of Heroes while you have an Evolve creature smaller than the Chronicler (so that Evolve will trigger), can you order the triggers so that you draw a card?
Or will the Chronicler only trigger at all if there's already a creature with a counter on it? It's my understanding that because of the position of the "if" in it's ability, the ability always triggers and then checks on resolution if you satisfy the condition?
Yes.
Given LIFO (last in, first out) and that you control both triggered abilities, you would most beneficially order the abilities such that the Chronicler's ability is put on the stack first and on the bottom and the Evolver's ability is put on the stack second and on the top. This way, the Evolver resolves, checking once more whether the conditions are true, and puts a counter. Then, the Chronicler's ability resolves, checking whether the conditions are true.
No, as above.
The term 'position' isn't precise manner to describe it. However, it isn't entirely off either.
It is due to the 'if' clause that an Evolver checks twice, once upon its trigger and once more upon its resolution. This rule is in CR 403.4: