What does it say? ... Errata Questions

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Any & All MTG Errata Questions Here

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Kaiser Khronos

I know the answer to this question but always have wondered why it works:

A player uses an activated ability of a creature. In response I destroy the creature but its effect still goes off. Why does the ability stay if the creature "wasn't around" to use its ability? I'm pretty sure it works both ways, stacked either way. I know it works but want to know why. confused

Are activated abilities "uncounterable" unless by Voidslime or Pithing Needle?

Well first, this belongs in the Official Rules Questions thread titled: Uhmm ...
(Because we're talking fundamentals here, not Errata wink )

But that's ok biggrin ~

Anyway, The reason the Activated ability still goes off is because Activated abilities use the stack;

Magic The Gathering Rules 090201-1

409.1a The player announces that he or she is playing the spell or activated ability. If a spell is being played, that card (or that copy of a card) physically moves from the zone it’s in to the stack. It has all the characteristics of the card (or the copy of a card) associated with it, and its controller is the player who played it. If an activated ability is being played, it’s created on the stack as an object that’s not a card. If an activated ability is being played from a hidden zone, the card that has that ability is revealed. On the stack, the ability has the text of the ability that created it, and no other characteristics. Its controller is the player who played the ability. The spell or ability remains on the stack until it’s countered or resolves.

So to counter actiavated abilities, you'd need one of the 8 spells that counter activated abilities; Azorius Guildmage, Bind, Brown Ouphe, Ouphe Vandals. Rimewind Cryomancer, Squelch, Voidmage Husher, & Voidslime, otherwise they are "uncounterable"