<p>Your elf can't do anything. It becomes a 0/0 just after it enters the battlefield, and pretty much immediately goes to the graveyard. There's no opportunity to activate the ability before it dies. This has to do with <em>state-based actions</em>, and the fact that they're checked <em>before</em> you get priority:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>704.3. Whenever a player would get priority (see rule 116, “Timing and Priority”), the game checks for any of the listed conditions for
state-based actions, then performs all applicable state-based actions
simultaneously as a single event.</p>
<p>704.5f If a creature has toughness 0 or less, it’s put into its owner’s graveyard. Regeneration can’t replace this event.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Triggered abilities, such as that of <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Elvish%20Visionary">Elvish Visionary</a>, will still trigger. You will place the ability onto the stack as soon as you get priority, which in this case is after the creature is already dead.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-15T14:29:34.690Z
Enter The Battlefield effects would still trigger, no?
Ethan The Brave
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-15T14:29:56.630Z
@EthanTheBrave Yes, it would.
GendoIkari
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-15T08:49:56.530Z
2015-12-15T17:35:40.963Z
2015-12-15T17:35:40.963Z
Nuclear Hoagie
<p>My friend has played <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Engineered%20Plague">Engineered Plague</a>, naming <em>Elf</em>. Is the <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Elvish%20Hexhunter">Elvish Hexhunter</a> of any use here? Imagine it has haste via <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Concordant%20Crossroads">Concordant Crossroads</a>.</p>

<magic-the-gathering>
Does a -1/-1 effect from a static ability cause a creature to die before it can do anything, upon entering the battlefield?
temporary_user_name
# Does a -1/-1 effect from a static ability cause a creature to die before it can do anything, upon entering the battlefield?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-12-15)

My friend has played [Engineered Plague](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Engineered%20Plague), naming *Elf*. Is the [Elvish Hexhunter](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Elvish%20Hexhunter) of any use here? Imagine it has haste via [Concordant Crossroads](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Concordant%20Crossroads).

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-12-15. Score: 12

Your elf can't do anything. It becomes a 0/0 just after it enters the battlefield, and pretty much immediately goes to the graveyard. There's no opportunity to activate the ability before it dies. This has to do with *state-based actions*, and the fact that they're checked *before* you get priority:

> 704.3. Whenever a player would get priority (see rule 116, “Timing and Priority”), the game checks for any of the listed conditions for
> state-based actions, then performs all applicable state-based actions
> simultaneously as a single event.
>
> 704.5f If a creature has toughness 0 or less, it’s put into its owner’s graveyard. Regeneration can’t replace this event.

Triggered abilities, such as that of [Elvish Visionary](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Elvish%20Visionary), will still trigger. You will place the ability onto the stack as soon as you get priority, which in this case is after the creature is already dead.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Enter The Battlefield effects would still trigger, no?  
> **username_3**: @username_2 Yes, it would.  

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