<p>Your opponent would still gain control of Humble Defector.</p>

<p>I assume that by "after it is activated", you mean before the ability has resolved. After you activate Humble Defector's ability the second time, then there will be two instances of its ability on the stack, both targeting an opponent of yours.</p>

<p>When the second activation resolves, you draw two cards and you give control of the card to the previously chosen opponent.</p>

<p>Then, the first activation resolves. Even though your opponent has control of Humble Defector, you still control the ability that's resolving, so you draw two more cards you give control of the card to the previously chosen opponent (if it's a different opponent than the one that currently controls it).</p>

<p>Even if the effect were written along the lines of "Opponent of your choice gains control of Humble Defector", it would still end up under the control of an opponent since you control both abilities.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-24T20:40:09.653Z
That was my suspicion, but I wanted confirmation. Thanks!
Jason
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-24T21:20:06.517Z
Humble Defector's ability targets, so the opponent is chosen when the ability is placed on the stack.
Hao Ye
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-24T21:54:31.267Z
@Hao Ye, Fixed.
ikegami
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-24T20:38:13.500Z
2015-02-24T21:54:06.047Z
2015-02-24T21:54:06.047Z
GendoIkari
<p>Who retains control of <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Humble%20Defector">Humble Defector</a> if, after it is activated, <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Refocus">Refocus</a> is cast targeting it and its ability is used again?</p>
<p>I know that the player activating the Defector would draw four cards (five with Refocus), but would he/she also get to retain the Defector (a la Avarice Totem) is the question.</p>

<magic-the-gathering>
Humble Defector and Refocus
Jason
# Humble Defector and Refocus

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-02-24)

Who retains control of [Humble Defector](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Humble%20Defector) if, after it is activated, [Refocus](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Refocus) is cast targeting it and its ability is used again?

I know that the player activating the Defector would draw four cards (five with Refocus), but would he/she also get to retain the Defector (a la Avarice Totem) is the question.

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-02-24. Score: 5

Your opponent would still gain control of Humble Defector.

I assume that by "after it is activated", you mean before the ability has resolved. After you activate Humble Defector's ability the second time, then there will be two instances of its ability on the stack, both targeting an opponent of yours.

When the second activation resolves, you draw two cards and you give control of the card to the previously chosen opponent.

Then, the first activation resolves. Even though your opponent has control of Humble Defector, you still control the ability that's resolving, so you draw two more cards you give control of the card to the previously chosen opponent (if it's a different opponent than the one that currently controls it).

Even if the effect were written along the lines of "Opponent of your choice gains control of Humble Defector", it would still end up under the control of an opponent since you control both abilities.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: That was my suspicion, but I wanted confirmation. Thanks!  
> **username_2**: Humble Defector's ability targets, so the opponent is chosen when the ability is placed on the stack.  
> **username_3**: @username_2, Fixed.  

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