Retraction Helix + Sol Ring + Valley Floodcaller

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Overview

If Valley Floodcaller has been under your control since the start of your most recent turn (i.e., it isn’t affected by summoning sickness), casting Retraction Helix (a noncreature instant) will let Floodcaller’s triggered ability untap it and then you can activate the Helix-granted “: Return target nonland permanent to its owner’s hand.” ability to bounce Sol Ring. If Floodcaller is summoning-sick (for example, you flashed it in this turn), the untap from Floodcaller’s trigger doesn’t remove the restriction that prevents activating a creature’s ability this turn [302.6], so you cannot activate the newly gained ability to bounce Sol Ring this turn (see Ruling [2024-07-26]).

The StackRules & CitationsDetails & Edge Cases

Step 1

You may tap Sol Ring for to help cast Retraction Helix because Sol Ring is an artifact and its : Add ability can be activated (artifacts aren’t affected by summoning-sickness rules for creatures).

Step 2

When you cast the noncreature instant Retraction Helix, Valley Floodcaller’s triggered ability triggers (“Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, Birds, Frogs, Otters, and Rats you control get +1/+1 until end of turn. Untap them.”) and will untap Floodcaller when that trigger resolves (assuming it’s still on the battlefield).

Step 3

When Retraction Helix resolves it gives the target creature the activated ability “: Return target nonland permanent to its owner’s hand” until end of turn; adding that ability is a continuous effect that gives an ability to the creature [613.5].

Step 4

Whether you can activate that newly granted ability this turn depends on whether the creature is subject to summoning-sickness: you can activate it only if the creature has been under your control continuously since your most recent turn began [302.6].

Step 5

If the creature (e.g., Valley Floodcaller) was flashed in this turn and is summoning-sick, the untap from Floodcaller’s trigger doesn’t remove the activation restriction from summoning-sickness and you cannot pay the cost to activate the ability this turn (Ruling [2024-07-26]).

Step 6

If the creature is not summoning-sick (it’s been under your control since your turn began), you may tap it (pay the activation cost) to return Sol Ring to its owner’s hand as the activated ability resolves.

Resolution

Retraction Helix grants an activated ability to a creature until end of turn (continuous effect adding an ability) [613.5]. Whether you can activate that ability this turn is governed by the summoning-sickness rule: a creature’s activated ability with a tap symbol can’t be activated unless that creature has been under your control continuously since your most recent turn began [302.6]. Valley Floodcaller’s triggered untap from casting the noncreature spell does not remove that restriction if the creature is summoning-sick (Ruling [2024-07-26]).