Oblivion StoneHow it works & interactions with other cards

Protecting Your Assets

The first ability allows you to pay four mana and tap Oblivion Stone to place a fate counter on any target permanent, including lands or even the Stone itself. This acts as a marker for the second ability, which spares anything carrying such a counter. Note that putting a counter targets the permanent, so hexproof or shroud can prevent this protection.

The Board Reset

When you activate the second ability for five mana, you sacrifice Oblivion Stone as part of the cost. Upon resolution, it destroys every nonland permanent that lacks a fate counter. Crucially, lands are always safe because the ability specifically says 'nonland.' After the destruction, the spell finishes by removing all fate counters from any remaining permanents on the battlefield.

Timing and Costs

A common mistake is forgetting that you must tap the Stone for both abilities. This means without a way to untap it, you generally cannot place a counter and explode the Stone in the same turn cycle unless you have significant mana and a way to reset its status. Also, remember that even though the Stone is sacrificed, the ability is already on the stack and will resolve even if the Stone is removed in response.

Interaction examples

Saving Your Mana Rock

Arcane Signet

You have Arcane Signet and Oblivion Stone on the battlefield. During your opponent's end step, you activate the Stone's first ability targeting Arcane Signet to give it a fate counter. On your turn, you activate the second ability of Oblivion Stone. Because Arcane Signet has a fate counter, it survives the destruction, while all other nonland permanents without counters are destroyed. Finally, the fate counter is removed from the Signet.

The Hexproof Hurdle

Swiftfoot Boots

If your opponent has a creature equipped with Swiftfoot Boots, you cannot use Oblivion Stone's first ability to put a fate counter on that creature because it has hexproof. However, the second ability of Oblivion Stone does not target. When you sacrifice the Stone, the creature and the Swiftfoot Boots will both be destroyed because neither has a fate counter and neither is a land.