<p><a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bNo%20Escape%5d">No Escape</a> can target the casting of a planeswalker such as <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSarkhan%20the%20Masterless%5d">Sarkhan the Masterless</a>, but it cannot counter Sarkhin's ability that creates a 4/4 dragon creature. This is because No Escape can only target <em>spells</em> to counter then, but activating Sarkin's ability is not a <em>spell</em>, it is an activated <em>ability</em>. </p>

<p>Spells and abilities are separate things, even when they could both result in a similar outcome like creating a dragon creature. In order to counter an ability, you would need a card that allows you to do so, such as <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bStifle%5d">Stifle</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-13T22:06:45.463Z
2020-06-13T22:06:45.463Z
GendoIkari
<p>Can <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bNo%20Escape%5d">No Escape</a> counter the planeswalker <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSarkhan%20the%20Masterless%5d">Sarkhan the Masterless</a>'s ability that  created a 4/4 red dragon creature?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-13T21:31:32.180Z
Welcome to the site! Please make your question clearer by clarifying which Sarkhan planeswalker you are referring to and by fixing the sentence structure.
Benjamin Cosman
<magic-the-gathering><mtg-planeswalkers>
Can No Escape counter planeswalker Sarkhan?
Aileen Schalk Beukes
# Can No Escape counter planeswalker Sarkhan?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-06-13)

Can [No Escape](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bNo%20Escape%5d) counter the planeswalker [Sarkhan the Masterless](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSarkhan%20the%20Masterless%5d)'s ability that created a 4/4 red dragon creature?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering, mtg-planeswalkers

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Welcome to the site! Please make your question clearer by clarifying which Sarkhan planeswalker you are referring to and by fixing the sentence structure.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-06-13. Score: 4

[No Escape](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bNo%20Escape%5d) can target the casting of a planeswalker such as [Sarkhan the Masterless](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSarkhan%20the%20Masterless%5d), but it cannot counter Sarkhin's ability that creates a 4/4 dragon creature. This is because No Escape can only target *spells* to counter then, but activating Sarkin's ability is not a *spell*, it is an activated *ability*.

Spells and abilities are separate things, even when they could both result in a similar outcome like creating a dragon creature. In order to counter an ability, you would need a card that allows you to do so, such as [Stifle](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bStifle%5d).


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