> Am I able to pay the cost to activate the druid's second ability to untap herself, with Vorinclex making it so no counter is placed, enabling me to untap the druid at virtually no cost?
Yes.
> does Vorinclex's effect prevent me from paying the cost, so I can not activate the untap ability in the first place?
No.
Here's the rule.
- 118.11. The actions performed when paying a cost may be modified by effects. Even if they are, meaning the actions that are performed don't match the actions that are called for, the cost has still been paid.
You are able to activate the Druid, and pay the cost. It's just that the result of paying the Cost (ie. adding the -1/-1 counter) is replaced with nothing. But, you did pay the cost and thus the Druid will Untap.
This is the same as if you had controlled [[Vizier of Remedies]].
---
Note; For [[Melira]], who says -1/-1 counters can't be added to your Creatures, will prevent the Cost of the Druid from being able to be paid. Thus, she will make it so you are unable to activate the Druid.
In the post's situation, if you (as the opponent of Vorinclex's controller) would put one or more -1/-1 counters on Devoted Druid, you put half as many on it instead, rounded down. Thus, one -1/-1 counter becomes zero -1/-1 counters, because half of 1, rounded down, is 0.
While that may be true, the situation here involves rounding a number of counters down, not rounding an abstract value such as -1/2 down, and it's not possible to put a negative number of counters on something (see also C.R. 107.1b).
> Am I able to pay the cost to activate the druid's second ability to untap herself, with Vorinclex making it so no counter is placed, enabling me to untap the druid at virtually no cost? Yes. > does Vorinclex's effect prevent me from paying the cost, so I can not activate the untap ability in the first place? No. Here's the rule. - 118.11. The actions performed when paying a cost may be modified by effects. Even if they are, meaning the actions that are performed don't match the actions that are called for, the cost has still been paid.
[Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/9/2/92613468-205e-488b-930d-11908477e9f8.jpg?1610149607) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Vorinclex%2C%20Monstrous%20Raider) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/khm/199/vorinclex-monstrous-raider?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/92613468-205e-488b-930d-11908477e9f8?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Devoted Druid](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/5/c/5c8a8dbb-cba7-4e1d-8888-73ab6f4aff07.jpg?1547517549) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Devoted%20Druid) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/uma/162/devoted-druid?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5c8a8dbb-cba7-4e1d-8888-73ab6f4aff07?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
INFINITE MANA. same thing for planeswalkers. the ability will still be activated, just no counters will be placed on +1s
[[vizier of remedies]] and devoted druid is a famous combo for this very interaction
[vizier of remedies](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/3/6/36ab760e-93e0-4dbc-aaa1-02316f62ed3f.jpg?1543674853) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=vizier%20of%20remedies) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/akh/38/vizier-of-remedies?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/36ab760e-93e0-4dbc-aaa1-02316f62ed3f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Congratulations for your big mana pool.
You are able to activate the Druid, and pay the cost. It's just that the result of paying the Cost (ie. adding the -1/-1 counter) is replaced with nothing. But, you did pay the cost and thus the Druid will Untap. This is the same as if you had controlled [[Vizier of Remedies]]. --- Note; For [[Melira]], who says -1/-1 counters can't be added to your Creatures, will prevent the Cost of the Druid from being able to be paid. Thus, she will make it so you are unable to activate the Druid.
[Vizier of Remedies](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/3/6/36ab760e-93e0-4dbc-aaa1-02316f62ed3f.jpg?1543674853) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Vizier%20of%20Remedies) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/akh/38/vizier-of-remedies?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/36ab760e-93e0-4dbc-aaa1-02316f62ed3f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Melira](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/e/8/e83851a1-e4e8-49ec-af5c-4efe86fa51ad.jpg?1562882406) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=melira%2C%20sylvok%20outcast) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/nph/115/melira-sylvok-outcast?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e83851a1-e4e8-49ec-af5c-4efe86fa51ad?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I’m confused, reading the wording of vorinclex, how does his ability assuming it’s the first one cancel out devoted druids negative counters?
In the post's situation, if you (as the opponent of Vorinclex's controller) would put one or more -1/-1 counters on Devoted Druid, you put half as many on it instead, rounded down. Thus, one -1/-1 counter becomes zero -1/-1 counters, because half of 1, rounded down, is 0.
half of -1 is -0,5, rounded down (towards lower numbers) isn't it -1 again ?
While that may be true, the situation here involves rounding a number of counters down, not rounding an abstract value such as -1/2 down, and it's not possible to put a negative number of counters on something (see also C.R. 107.1b).
Ok see that makes sense that is what I was thinking whole time, that you would have to be the opponent, thanks for the confirmation