Cards And Zones
How Do "Later" and "Do This" Abilities Work?
Do the immediate instructions now; queue "do this" effects separately and save delayed effects for their stated time.
RiftPal explanation · Answer first
The short answer
Reflexive TriggerA separate triggered ability created by instructions such as "Do this:" or "Do one of the following:". It uses the Chain.View in Glossary creates a separate triggered ability on the ChainAn off-board zone that holds cards and abilities during the process of playing them. Cards and abilities on it are public information.View in Glossary . Finish the effect creating it, then handle that new ability. "Do this twice" creates two separate abilities, with their own choices and opportunities for responses.
An instruction set for later waits until its stated time or event. Once created, that Delayed AbilityAn ability created by an effect to apply at a specified later time or during a specified window. It can persist after its source leaves the board.View in Glossary can still work even if the card that created it leaves the board.
RiftPal explanation
How it works
Follow the exact wording when several options are listed: "do one" asks for one, while "do the following based on" can produce several abilities if several conditions match.
Linked AbilityOne of a connected set of abilities that refers to another ability in the set or to the cards or events it affected.View in Glossary remember only the cards or events their matching ability refers to. "Cards banished with this" does not mean every card in Banishment. A reference to the place an event happened remembers that place; a reference to where a unit is can instead check its location when the instruction resolves.
Card reference
Alpha Strike
A later instruction is not always conditional on an earlier action succeeding. Words such as "if you do" matter. An illegal target can also cause linked instructions to be skipped; preventing an action is different. Use the related rule on incomplete instructions for that case.
Signature Spell
Master Yi
Alpha Strike
[Action] (Play on your turn or in showdowns.) Choose a friendly unit. It deals damage equal to its Might split among enemy units at battlefields. Then for each unit this kills, do this: Gain 1 XP.
In practice
Example
An effect says "Do this twice: Draw 1." It creates two draw abilities. Each resolves separately, so players can respond between the two draws.