Destroying a ship before it self-destructs
Ruling issued on November 19th 2024

Situation:
I deploy the Pirate ship Scrapper, which requires me to destroy another one of my own ships when it is deployed. I have a Stolen Cruiser in play, which says it is removed from play when I deploy another ship. Can I choose my Stolen Cruiser to be destroyed by the Scrapper before it self-destructs?

Ruling:
Yes, you can do that. Effects are resolved in order, one by one. First, the Scrapper is deployed, and you resolve its effect by destroying your Stolen Cruiser. Once it is done, any other effects are processed, which would have included the Stolen Cruiser destroying itself if you had not chosen to destroy it.