Face a Dilemma

Keywords · intermediate

Face a dilemma is the game's shorthand for picking modes: you face a dilemma as you choose one or more modes for a spell or ability.

How it works

• Any modal spell or ability — anything with "Choose one —" or "Choose one or more —" over a bulleted list — makes you face a dilemma when you pick its modes.
• Cards that care about it read "whenever you face a dilemma," turning every modal choice you make into a trigger.
• It covers modes chosen for abilities, not just spells, so a modal activated or triggered ability counts too.

Rules notes

• Modes are locked in early. You choose them as part of casting the spell or activating the ability, not on resolution, so you have already faced the dilemma before anyone can respond. Countering the spell afterward does not undo the trigger.
• For a modal triggered ability, the modes are chosen as the ability is put on the stack.
• Copies don't count. A copy of a modal spell copies the modes already chosen, and the copy's controller can't pick different ones, so copying a modal spell does not make you face a dilemma a second time.
• Choosing more modes on one spell is still governed by that spell's own wording — "choose one" is a single dilemma, and a spell letting you choose several resolves them in the printed order.

Rule reference

[700.2a] [700.2b] [700.2g]