Replicate in Magic: The Gathering?

Question

I was looking around and I found Djinn Illuminatus ( http://ww2.wizards.com/gatherer/CardDetails.aspx?&id=97197 ).  My concern is that if I make a copy of Counterspell or Cancel, do they just disappear because I have no targets for them?

Here is an example:
So someone plays a creature.  The stack is open and then I play Counterspell.  If I make a copy of my Counterspell, what happens to it?  He hasn't played another card yet so the copies goes away?

Daivos · Accepted Answer

Yes, you can replicate a counterspell with Djinn Illuminatus in play.

When you opponent casts a creature, the stack isn't 'open'.  As the creature comes into play, it goes onto the stack itself.  If no other responses are made to its casting, it will resolve, and thus will come into play.  

However, while the creature is on the stack, you may then cast a counterspell to counter the creature coming into play.  If no other responses are made, the counterspell will resolve first, and the creature coming into play is countered.

If Djinn Illuminatus is in play, you may replicate your counterspell for its casting cost, which effectively adds another counterspell to the stack.

The second copy can target either the creature coming into play or the original counterspell, but it must be another legal target.  

If you were to counter your own counterspell, the second counterspell would resolve first, countering the original counterspell, which would allow the creature to come into play when it resolves.

The proper play would be to replicate the counterspell, and have all the copies target the creature coming into play.  Just because one counterspell is targeting the creature doesn't mean it's not a legal target for the second, because nothing has resolved yet.

Once one resolves successfully, the creature will be countered.  Even if your opponent casts a counterspell on one of the copies, if the other counterspell resolves, the creature will be countered.

UdovdM · Answer

With replicate you can choose a new target for your Counterspell of Cancel. So you can pay another UU and target your own spell to counter. :)
Not very use-full with a counter but very good with cards that destroy a creature or do damage (to player or creature).

http://www.wizards.com/magic/comprules/MagicCompRules081001.pdf paragraph 502.52 (page 77):
Replicate is a keyword that represents two abilities. The first is a static ability that
functions while the spell is on the stack. The second is a triggered ability that functions while
the spell is on the stack. “Replicate [cost]” means “As an additional cost to play this spell, you
may pay [cost] any number of times” and “When you play this spell, if a replicate cost was paid
for it, copy it for each time its replicate cost was paid. If the spell has any targets, you may
choose new targets for any number of the copies.” Paying a spell’s replicate cost follows the
rules for paying additional costs in rules 409.1b and 409.1f–h.

Replicate in Magic: The Gathering?

2 Answers