AI DraftFeb 26, 2026
Phyrexian Altar + Relentless Dead + Rooftop Storm
Overview
If you activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing Relentless Dead, Relentless Dead is sacrificed (moved from the battlefield to its owner’s graveyard) as the cost of the Altar activation . That creature dying causes Relentless Dead’s two “When this creature dies” triggered abilities to trigger simultaneously; you choose their order on the stack (they can be put on the stack in either order) [Ruling 2016-04-08]. Each triggered ability is an ability that resolves later; any optional payment is made when that ability resolves . Rooftop Storm affects casting Zombie creature spells (it lets you pay 
rather than their mana cost), so it does not change what happens when a triggered ability returns a Zombie card from the graveyard directly to the battlefield (that return is not casting a spell).
rather than their mana cost), so it does not change what happens when a triggered ability returns a Zombie card from the graveyard directly to the battlefield (that return is not casting a spell).Step 1
You activate Phyrexian Altar’s ability and pay its cost by sacrificing Relentless Dead; the sacrifice moves Relentless Dead from the battlefield to your graveyard as part of that cost .
Step 2
Relentless Dead ‘dies’ (it was sacrificed), so its two “When this creature dies” triggered abilities trigger simultaneously and are put on the stack in an order you choose [Ruling 2016-04-08].
Step 3
Choose the order to put the two triggers on the stack; remember the ability put on the stack first will resolve last [Ruling 2016-04-08].
Step 4
Resolve the topmost triggered ability. If it’s an ability that requires you to pay an optional cost, you decide whether to pay that cost as the ability resolves; that payment is made at resolution .
Step 5
If you resolve the ability that returns another target Zombie (and you pay 
when it resolves), that Zombie card moves from your graveyard to the battlefield — this is a return-to-battlefield effect, not casting a spell.
when it resolves), that Zombie card moves from your graveyard to the battlefield — this is a return-to-battlefield effect, not casting a spell.Step 6
If you resolve the ability that lets you pay 
to return Relentless Dead to your hand and pay as it resolves, Relentless Dead moves from the graveyard to your hand.
to return Relentless Dead to your hand and pay as it resolves, Relentless Dead moves from the graveyard to your hand.Step 7
After the triggers have resolved you may have one or both Zombies back on the battlefield and/or Relentless Dead in hand; at that point you may cast Relentless Dead from your hand using Rooftop Storm’s alternative cost (pay rather than its mana cost) if you wish, because Rooftop Storm affects casting Zombie creature spells.
rather than its mana cost) if you wish, because Rooftop Storm affects casting Zombie creature spells.Resolution
Sequence and outcomes: Activate Phyrexian Altar and sacrifice Relentless Dead as the activation cost — the sacrifice moves Relentless Dead to your graveyard immediately as part of paying that cost . Relentless Dead’s two “When this creature dies” triggers go on the stack simultaneously; you choose the order they’re put on the stack (the one put on first will resolve last) [Ruling 2016-04-08]. When each trigger resolves, you may pay its cost at that time (payment is made when the ability resolves) . The “return another target Zombie” trigger, if paid (pay when it resolves), returns that Zombie card from your graveyard to the battlefield — that is not casting a spell, so Rooftop Storm does not affect that action. The “pay to return Relentless Dead to your hand” trigger, if you pay when it resolves, returns Relentless Dead to your hand. Practical result: you can sacrifice Relentless Dead to Altar to make mana, then use the triggered abilities in the chosen stack order to (a) bring back another Zombie from the graveyard to the battlefield and/or (b) return Relentless Dead to your hand, and then, if desired, cast Relentless Dead from your hand using Rooftop Storm’s replacement while Rooftop Storm is in play.
when it resolves), returns that Zombie card from your graveyard to the battlefield — that is not casting a spell, so Rooftop Storm does not affect that action. The “pay to return Relentless Dead to your hand” trigger, if you pay when it resolves, returns Relentless Dead to your hand. Practical result: you can sacrifice Relentless Dead to Altar to make mana, then use the triggered abilities in the chosen stack order to (a) bring back another Zombie from the graveyard to the battlefield and/or (b) return Relentless Dead to your hand, and then, if desired, cast Relentless Dead from your hand using Rooftop Storm’s replacement while Rooftop Storm is in play.Feedback