The Battlefield

Seal of Cleansing

$0.13

Soul Snare

$0.07

VerifiedFeb 26, 2026

Seal of Cleansing + Soul Snare

Overview

Both Seal of Cleansing and Soul Snare have activated abilities whose activation requires sacrificing the enchantment as a cost; sacrificing the enchantment is paid as part of the cost and happens before the ability is put on the stack, so once you activate the ability no player can stop that sacrifice from occurring [Ruling [2021-06-18]]. After costs are paid and the ability is on the stack, state-based actions are checked when a player would get priority , and the ability will resolve later to destroy or exile its chosen target if that target is still legal.

Step 1

Announce activation of the enchantment’s activated ability and choose a legal target for that ability, if a target is required; paying activation costs includes paying any mana and performing any sacrifices that are part of the cost [Ruling [2021-06-18]].

Step 2

As you pay costs you physically sacrifice the enchantment (putting it into its owner’s graveyard) because the sacrifice is part of the activation cost; once you have paid costs that sacrifice cannot be responded to to prevent it [Ruling [2021-06-18]].

Step 3

After costs are paid, the activated ability is put on the stack. The game will check state-based actions when a player would get priority .

Step 4

When the ability resolves it attempts to perform its effect (destroy target artifact or enchantment for Seal of Cleansing; exile target attacking creature for Soul Snare). If the target is still a legal object at resolution, the effect happens; if the target is no longer legal the ability won't affect it.

Resolution

Sacrificing Soul Snare or Seal of Cleansing is part of that ability’s activation cost, so the sacrifice happens while paying costs and cannot be responded to to prevent that sacrifice [Ruling [2021-06-18]]. After you pay costs and the ability is on the stack, state-based actions are checked when priority would be received . You can’t be forced to sacrifice Seal of Cleansing to end a mandatory loop unless that sacrifice is an action called for by objects involved in the loop . If you cast Seal of Cleansing during your turn, you’ll have priority to activate its ability before opponents can respond to stop you [Ruling [2021-06-18]].

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