Ever After returns a red Goblin creature card from the graveyard to the battlefield, where it becomes a red-black Goblin-Zombie. Does this trigger an ability “whenever a black creature enters the battlefield” or “whenever a Zombie enters the battlefield”?

My guess: No. Following the instructions on Ever After step by step means first to return that creature card to the battlefield as it is, and then to set up a continuous effect making the creature a black Zombie. So it was a red Goblin when it entered the battlefield, and nothing triggers.

Thank you.

Mario Hassler

Yes, it will trigger the ability. This is the old “Arbiter of the Ideal/constellation” issue that was fixed a few years ago.

611.2e If a resolving spell or ability both puts a nontoken permanent onto the battlefield and creates a continuous effect stating that the permanent “is ,” that continuous effect applies simultaneously with the permanent entering the battlefield. This characteristic is usually a color or a creature type. If the continuous effect says the permanent “becomes ” or “gains ,” that effect applies after the permanent is on the battlefield.
Example: Arbiter of the Ideal puts an artifact, creature, or land card onto the battlefield and says, in part, “That permanent is an enchantment in addition to its other types.” An ability that triggers whenever an enchantment enters the battlefield would trigger. The permanent doesn’t enter the battlefield and then become an enchantment.

Since the continuous effect is set up as the creatures are entering the battlefield, they'll enter as black zombies (in addition to their normal colors and types), so those abilities would trigger.

Nathan Long
Magic Rules NetRep