Hi there,

here is a little rules puzzle.

Aaron activates Jace Beleren first ability.
Natahan responds activating Words of Waste.
What happens?

Let's take a look at CR:

“101.4. If multiple players would make choices and/or take actions at the same time, the active player (the player whose turn it is) makes any choices required, then the next player in turn order (usually the player seated to the active player's left) makes any choices required, followed by the remaining nonactive players in turn order. Then the actions happen simultaneously. This rule is often referred to as the ”Active Player, Nonactive Player (APNAP) order“ rule.”

This seems to suggest what follows:
Jace ability is equal to “Aaron draws. At the same time, Nathan draws”.
When Words of Waste kicks in, this becomes “Aaron draws. At the same time, Aaron discards”.
Since discarding requires a choice, Aaron chooses the card to discard before drawing.
Bottom line: Aaron *can not* discard the drawn card. If Aaron had no cards in his hand, he draws, and that's all.

On the other hand,
“120.2a. If an effect instructs more than one player to draw cards, the active player performs all of his or her draws first, then each other player in turn order does the same.”

This tells a different story:
Jace ability is equal to “Aaron draws. Then, Nathan draws”.
When Words of Waste kicks in, this becomes “Aaron draws. Then, Aaron discards”.
So, Aaron draws before choosing and discarding.
Bottom line: Aaron *can* discard the drawn card. If Aaron had no cards in his hand, he draws and discards.

Which is the right interpretation?
Is rule 120.2 an exception to more general rule 101.4?

——————————————————————————————————————-

Name Words of Waste
Cost: 2B
Type: Enchantment
Pow/Tgh:
Rules Text: {1}: The next time you would draw a card this turn, each opponent
discards a card instead.

Name Jace Beleren
Cost: 1UU
Type: Planeswalker — Jace
Loyalty: (3)
Rules Text: +2: Each player draws a card.
-1: Target player draws a card.
-10: Target player puts the top twenty cards of his or her library into his or
her graveyard.

120.2a is the rule that applies here. If multiple players would draw cards at the same time, the active player performs all of their draws first, then the nonactive player performs all of their draws.

In the example given, if Nathan activates his Words on Aaron's turn, since both players would be drawing at the same time, 120.2a kicks in. Aaron performs all of his draws first, then Nathan performs all of his draws. Aaron will draw a card first, then the effect from the Words will replace Nathan's draw and Aaron will have to discard (and he'll be able to discard the card he just drew).