AI DraftFeb 26, 2026
Acererak the Archlich + Rooftop Storm
Overview
Rooftop Storm lets you cast Acererak the Archlich by paying 
instead of its mana cost (Rooftop Storm text). Acererak’s “when Acererak enters” triggered ability still triggers and will return Acererak to its owner’s hand (and make you venture into the dungeon) if the Tomb of Annihilation completion condition is not met. You cannot attack with a creature the turn it came under your control, so Acererak will not be able to attack that same turn after being cast due to the summoning-sickness rule . If Acererak does attack on a later turn, the attack trigger creates tokens (it does not cast them), and Rooftop Storm does not affect those tokens; in multiplayer each opponent chooses whether to sacrifice in turn order and then sacrifices and token creation happen simultaneously (Ruling [2021-07-23]). Any mandatory additional costs must still be paid when you cast a spell (Ruling [2011-09-22]).
instead of its mana cost (Rooftop Storm text). Acererak’s “when Acererak enters” triggered ability still triggers and will return Acererak to its owner’s hand (and make you venture into the dungeon) if the Tomb of Annihilation completion condition is not met. You cannot attack with a creature the turn it came under your control, so Acererak will not be able to attack that same turn after being cast due to the summoning-sickness rule . If Acererak does attack on a later turn, the attack trigger creates tokens (it does not cast them), and Rooftop Storm does not affect those tokens; in multiplayer each opponent chooses whether to sacrifice in turn order and then sacrifices and token creation happen simultaneously (Ruling [2021-07-23]). Any mandatory additional costs must still be paid when you cast a spell (Ruling [2011-09-22]).Step 1
With Rooftop Storm on the battlefield, you may choose to pay rather than Acererak’s printed mana cost when casting Acererak (Rooftop Storm text).
rather than Acererak’s printed mana cost when casting Acererak (Rooftop Storm text).Step 2
You cast Acererak as a spell and it resolves, entering the battlefield; its triggered ability triggers “When Acererak enters...” and goes on the stack.
Step 3
When that triggered ability resolves, if you haven’t completed Tomb of Annihilation it returns Acererak to its owner’s hand and you venture into the dungeon (Acererak text).
Step 4
Because Acererak returned to your hand as the triggered ability resolved, it is no longer on the battlefield and therefore cannot be declared as an attacker that combat. A creature can’t attack the turn it came under your control .
Step 5
If on a later turn Acererak is on the battlefield and attacks, its attack trigger will create 2/2 Zombie tokens for each opponent unless that opponent sacrifices a creature; Rooftop Storm does not affect those tokens because they are created by an effect, not cast (Acererak text).
Step 6
In multiplayer, opponents decide whether to sacrifice and which creature to sacrifice in turn order, then all sacrifices and token creation occur simultaneously (Ruling [2021-07-23]).
Resolution
You may cast Acererak the Archlich for while Rooftop Storm is on the battlefield, because Rooftop Storm lets you pay rather than the mana cost for Zombie creature spells you cast (Rooftop Storm text). Acererak’s enter-the-battlefield triggered ability still triggers when it enters and will return it to its owner’s hand if the Tomb-of-Annihilation condition isn’t met; that return happens when the trigger resolves and is unaffected by Rooftop Storm. You can’t attack with Acererak the turn it entered because a creature can’t attack unless it has been under its controller’s control continuously since that player’s most recent turn began . If Acererak attacks on a later turn, the attack trigger creates 2/2 Zombie tokens (tokens are created by an effect, not cast, so Rooftop Storm doesn’t apply). In multiplayer, opponents decide in turn order whether to sacrifice and which creature to sacrifice, then all sacrifices and token creation occur simultaneously (Ruling [2021-07-23]). Also remember to pay any mandatory additional costs when casting spells (Ruling [2011-09-22]).
while Rooftop Storm is on the battlefield, because Rooftop Storm lets you pay rather than the mana cost for Zombie creature spells you cast (Rooftop Storm text). Acererak’s enter-the-battlefield triggered ability still triggers when it enters and will return it to its owner’s hand if the Tomb-of-Annihilation condition isn’t met; that return happens when the trigger resolves and is unaffected by Rooftop Storm. You can’t attack with Acererak the turn it entered because a creature can’t attack unless it has been under its controller’s control continuously since that player’s most recent turn began . If Acererak attacks on a later turn, the attack trigger creates 2/2 Zombie tokens (tokens are created by an effect, not cast, so Rooftop Storm doesn’t apply). In multiplayer, opponents decide in turn order whether to sacrifice and which creature to sacrifice, then all sacrifices and token creation occur simultaneously (Ruling [2021-07-23]). Also remember to pay any mandatory additional costs when casting spells (Ruling [2011-09-22]).Feedback