Hullbreaker Horror + Mana Crypt

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Overview

Hullbreaker Horror’s triggered ability (the “Whenever you cast a spell…” ability) can target and return an opponent’s Mana Crypt as a nonland permanent to its owner’s hand when that triggered ability resolves, but it cannot target Mana Crypt’s : Add activation (a mana ability) or otherwise interrupt the act of producing mana that was already paid for before the spell was cast; players may activate mana abilities before paying costs per [601.2f].

The StackRules & CitationsDetails & Edge Cases

Step 1

Opponent may tap Mana Crypt for as a mana ability before paying costs for a spell, because mana abilities may be activated before paying a spell’s costs [601.2f].

Step 2

Opponent casts a spell; the spell becomes a spell on the stack as described in [601.2a].

Step 3

Because you control Hullbreaker Horror on the battlefield, its triggered ability (“Whenever you cast a spell…”) triggers and is put on the stack (that trigger exists because Hullbreaker is a permanent with that ability) [112.7a].

Step 4

When that triggered ability is put on the stack you make the ‘choose up to one’ choice and designate targets as appropriate; if you choose to target a spell on the stack you target the opponent’s spell, or if you choose the other option you may target the nonland permanent Mana Crypt [608.2c].

Step 5

When Hullbreaker’s triggered ability resolves, it checks the legality of its targets per [608.2b]; if the chosen target is still legal it will be returned to its owner’s hand, otherwise that targeted part does nothing or the ability is countered if all targets are illegal [608.2b].

Step 6

After the chosen return effect is applied, the triggered ability is removed from the stack as its final resolution step per [608.2k].

Resolution

If you control Hullbreaker Horror on the battlefield and you cast a spell, Hullbreaker’s triggered ability goes on the stack and you may choose its option to “Return target nonland permanent to its owner’s hand” and target an opponent’s Mana Crypt; when that triggered ability resolves it will return Mana Crypt to its owner’s hand (provided the target is still legal) per the targeting and resolution rules in [608.2b] and resolution rules in [608.2c] and [608.2k]. You cannot target or return the Mana Crypt’s activation because that is a mana ability that can be activated before paying costs under [601.2f] and is not a spell on the stack to be targeted by the “return target spell you don’t control” option.