The Battlefield

Ashnod's Altar

$12.18

Ivy Lane Denizen

$0.20

AI DraftFeb 26, 2026

Ashnod's Altar + Ivy Lane Denizen

Overview

Sacrificing a creature to Ashnod's Altar does not cause Ivy Lane Denizen to trigger because sacrificing moves the creature from the battlefield to the graveyard rather than causing a creature to enter the battlefield (). Ivy Lane Denizen’s ability triggers only when another green creature enters the battlefield while Ivy Lane Denizen is already on the battlefield; that triggered ability may target Ivy Lane Denizen itself if it’s a legal target when the ability is put on the stack (Ruling [2020-11-10]).

Step 1

You activate Ashnod’s Altar’s ability and sacrifice a creature. The creature is moved from the battlefield to the graveyard (this is a sacrifice event, not an "enter the battlefield" event), so Ivy Lane Denizen does not trigger from that action ().

Step 2

If, at some later point, another green creature you control enters the battlefield while Ivy Lane Denizen is already on the battlefield, Ivy Lane Denizen’s triggered ability triggers ("Whenever another green creature you control enters, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.") and is put on the stack following state-based actions and the rules for handling triggered abilities ().

Step 3

When that triggered ability resolves it puts a +1/+1 counter on the targeted creature. Per the official ruling, Ivy Lane Denizen may be chosen as the target of its own triggered ability if it is a legal target at the time the ability is put on the stack (Ruling [2020-11-10]).

Step 4

If Ivy Lane Denizen is not on the battlefield at the moment a green creature enters (for example, if you sacrificed Denizen to Ashnod’s Altar), it cannot see that event and so will not trigger.

Resolution

Sacrificing a creature to Ashnod's Altar will not trigger Ivy Lane Denizen (this is not an "enter the battlefield" event) (). If a different green creature enters the battlefield while Ivy Lane Denizen is on the battlefield, Denizen’s triggered ability triggers and may target any legal creature, including Ivy Lane Denizen itself (Ruling [2020-11-10]).

Feedback