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Can I tap permenents when ever I like. Except of corse if it was already taped or had summoning sickness.
No. You can only tap a creature when attacking or using an abilty or as otherwise instructed by a spell i.e. Convoke.
2
gods becoming creatures my cousin is saying that a a god from Born of the Gods cannot be a creature unless you have both devotion of 7 to the colors. Is this true, also this is what he's heard from a lvl 3 judge and I am simply clarifying
No, it counts total symbols across both, so 4 green 3 white would satisfy it
1
Question about scarecrone? Am I able to use scarecrones ability where I put the return artifact ability on the stack and sac it to itself in response or am I being dumb?
You're able to do that, but you aren't able to use it to return itself. When you put the "return an artifact creature" ability on the stack, you need to choose its targets immediately. At that time, that Scarecrone isn't in your graveyard, so you can't choose it as a target. You are certainly able to target something else with a "return an artifact creature" ability and then respond to that ability with the "sac to draw a card" ability, but the cases where you want to do that are pretty rare.
1
Legal targets off of Hellcarver Demon trigger. Do I need to choose my target for spells I cast for free as I announce the order or as they resolve? It is my understanding that I would reveal the top 6 cards, announce what spells I want to cast for free in order, then they resolve in opposite order. If I reveal 4x swamp, reanimate, smallpox (very likely in my deck)... can I cast reanimate then smallpox knowing I don't have a target (the demon) for the reanimate until smallpox resolves? Feel free to elaborate and explain, I'm not well versed in MTG rules.
[[Hellcarver Demon]] [[smallpox]] [[reanimate]]
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Multiple Sphinx's Tutelage and multiple card draw Hello MTGRules, I'm just looking for a clarification that came up yesterday when I was playing with my brother. From what I understand if I have Sphinx's Tutelage and use Dark Deal to draw 6 cards there are then 6 triggers of Sphinx's Tutelage's ability forcing my opponent to mill 2 cards at a time and repeating if they share a color and are not land. (for simplicity's sake let's say 12 [62] they are always different colors) However, if I have 2x Sphinx's Tutelage on the board using the same Dark Deal scenario above could I force my opponent to mill 24 cards? (2 tutelage 2 cards draw of 6, again assuming the cards milled are always different colors) Hopefully my question makes sense. Thanks!
Yes, each triggers independently.
2
Basic casting mechanics 'Secure the wastes' I've recently started playing casually with my friend and we are stumped as to how creatures enter the battlefield without summoning sickness. I've played magic on my device, but still can't distinguish the different on how some cards allow your castable creates to be able to attack right away (not including haste/dash) and how others you have to wait.
Not sure what your question is. The creatures put into play by Secure the Wastes do have summoning sickness and cannot, for example, attack on the turn you cast the spell. Because it's an Instant I think you'll find people more often cast this on their opponent's turn (element of surprise, etc.). Perhaps what confuses you is that in this case, when it becomes the caster's turn, the creatures no longer have summoning sickness and can attack.
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Ownership has priority over control? Basically, if my buddy has an Athreos on the field and I have a Marchesa, and I steal a creature he owns and sacrifice it, does Marchesa's effect or Athreos' go on the stack first? And if so, what happens? Does Marchesa pull the card from his hand and put it on the battlefield under my control?
tl;dr: Your buddy gets the card, not you. When the creature dies, Marchesa creates a delayed triggered ability to return the creature to the battlefield, and Athreos creates a normal triggered ability to return the card to your buddy's hand. Athreos' ability goes on the stack immediately, while Marchesa's ability waits for the end step. Assuming you don't pay 3 life, the card will be moved from the graveyard to your buddy's hand. Then, when the next end step starts, Marchesa's ability goes on the stack. When it tries to resolve, it sees that the card is no longer in the graveyard, so it fails to resolve, as per this ruling: If the creature card leaves the graveyard before the delayed triggered ability resolves, that card won’t return to the battlefield, even if it’s back in the graveyard when the delayed triggered ability resolves. If you're looking for a more generic rule to govern this type of thing, look at these rules: Trigger events that involve objects changing zones are called "zone-change triggers." Many abilities with zone-change triggers attempt to do something to that object after it changes zones. During resolution, these abilities look for the object in the zone that it moved to. If the object is unable to be found in the zone it went to, the part of the ability attempting to do something to the object will fail to do anything. The ability could be unable to find the object because the object never entered the specified zone, because it left the zone before the ability resolved, or because it is in a zone that is hidden from a player, such as a library or an opponent's hand. (This rule applies even if the object leaves the zone and returns again before the ability resolves.) The most common zone-change triggers are enters-the-battlefield triggers and leaves-the-battlefield triggers.   A delayed triggered ability that refers to a particular object still affects it even if the object changes characteristics. However, if that object is no longer in the zone it's expected to be in at the time the delayed triggered ability resolves, the ability won't affect it. (Note that if that object left that zone and then returned, it's a new object and thus won't be affected. See rule ) Example: An ability that reads "Exile this creature at the beginning of the next end step" will exile the permanent even if it's no longer a creature during the next end step. However, it won't do anything if the permanent left the battlefield before then.
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Goryo's Vengeance and flicker effects Say you were to Cloudshift/Essence Flux a creature that has been reanimated with Goryo's Vengeance, would the creature still be exiled by the DTA?
No. The delayed trigger is looking for a game object that no longer exists.
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Chandra Flamecaller tokens OTG Chandra has +1: Put two 3/1 red Elemental creature tokens with haste onto the battlefield. Exile them at the beginning of the next end step. Seems simple enough. However the token that goes with the card say's nothing about haste or exile at end step. My question is, if I copy the tokens (Second Harvest), do they also have haste and have to be exiled? Other token producers use the language 'put a token in play, it has "blah blah blah" '. Examples being all the Eldrazi Scions.
The tokens have haste as an intrinsic ability. Essentially, it is part of the copiable values of the token (whether the printed token says it or not) and would be copied. However, the exile trigger is a delayed trigger created by the resolution of Chandra's activated loyalty ability. It is not an ability on the token and wouldn't be copied.
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Zada and Soul's Fire I have a question and your answer might make me a sad panda, I'm playing Zada Hedron Grinder as my commander and I want to use Soul's Fire tell me why this should or shouldn't work the way I'm hoping (copying it for each creature I have out with Zada and then having them deal damage to target player). I see why Shower of Sparks wouldn't work because the spell itself requires more than one target upon casting. But the ruling and wording of Soul's fire is a bit ambiguous as to what is happening. Please oh please I hope this works it's my only real win con! :'( I mean even the art itself shows the fiery "soul" leaping forth from the creature that was targeting not the spell actually doing damage. tl;dr I know you need two targets for anything to resolve how I want it to but isn't one to actually cast it and then the other is for the creature upon resolution am I right?
I answered this in the other thread, but for others who happen across it here. Essentially, it's a nonbo and you're a sad panda. Time to find another wincon. Soul's Fire can trigger Zada, but only if you choose Zada as both its targets. Copies would be made for each of your creatures and they'd all deal their power to themselves, not what you want I suspect. If you don't choose the same target, Zada doesn't trigger because it targets Zada and something else, not only Zada.
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Bludgeon Brawl Artifacts Hey, I was just wondering if you used something like Bludgeon brawl on an artifact that could become a creature on its own, would it retain the abilities that it has as a creature? An example being the vehicles in Kaladesh. If you were to equip one to a creature would the creature gain flying/haste/ect? Thanks for answering.
If an artifact becomes a creature Bludgeon Brawl no longer applies to it. Does that answer your question? If Fleetwheel Cruiser was equipped to a creature, it wouldn't give trample or haste, though it'd have it itself. If it became a creature it would become unequipped and have its printed abilities and not be affected by Bludgeon Brawl.
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Kruphix and mana with restrictions Hi, if Kruphix is on the battlefield, and there is a mana producer with restrictions (eldrazi temple, ancient zigurat, etc.). After a change of phases, does that mana become colorless and still have the same restrictions? Or is it generic (colorless) mana to be used for any spell/ability? Thanks
from the Gatherer rulings for Kruphix: 26/04/2014 If unused mana in your mana pool has any restrictions or riders associated with it (for example, if it was produced by Cavern of Souls), those restrictions or riders will remain associated with that mana when it becomes colorless.
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Deadeye and ETBs So, in the event that I have Deadeye Navigator and, let's say, Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit (with another random creature in hand); can I cast the creature, soulbond to deadeye, put the bolster trigger on the stack, then flicker the creature with the Navigator and resolve bolster BEFORE the creature returns to the battlefield? I'm just a bit confused about how everything can be layered here. Thanks!
Ok, assuming DEN isn't bound to anything, you cast the creature, it resolves, two triggers trigger - bolster and soulbond, you put them in order on the stack as you choose. Once the soulbond trigger resolves they'll both have the flicker ability. Once the bolster trigger resolves your lowest toughness creature will get one +1/+1 counter. You can have them happen in whichever order you like, but you can't have the bolster trigger resolve during the resolution of the flicker activated ability - only before or after - in both cases the flickered creature will be on the field. If you put bolster on and then soulbond, you can flicker in response to the bolster trigger, creating another bolster trigger and a soulbond trigger and repeat making multiple bolster triggers until you run out of mana and then let all the bolster triggers resolve.
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Brago and Parallax Tide Hi there. I was building a [[Brago, King Eternal]] deck, and I noticed that a lot of other people use [[Parallax Tide]] in their lists. Is there a combo here that I am unaware of? Can you respond to the second trigger with the first?
I don't see any useful combo between them except to reset the fading counters and maybe perhaps mess with the opponent's mana base if they use karoos or other lands that enter tapped. The first ability of the returned Tide can be used in response to the second ability of the prior Tide object on the field, but that likely won't accomplish anything useful. The trick of exiling something permanently works if you exile (or sac or bounce or tuck) Tide in response to instances of its activated ability, but there's no way to activate them and have them under Brago's trigger.
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Savage beating and reverberate Hi, I was playing edh with my [[jori en]] deck. An opponent attacks me with [[Aurelia, the warleader]], I block with [[Final Iteration]], so he casts [[Savage Beating]]. Can I use [[Reverberate]] to copy savage beating, even if it's not my turn? If so, what happens if I chose to do an additional combat phase?
Can I use Reverberate to copy Savage Beating, even if it's not my turn? Yes. If so, what happens if I chose to do an additional combat phase? This turn will have another combat phase (possibly two additional if your opponent also chooses that option) for your opponent to attack on, though he might not have many untapped creatures to attack with on the third combat phase if you both choose that option.
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Dictate of Erebos while saccing creature after declare blockers step. My opponent attacks me with two creatures. In response I declare a creature that is able to be sacrificed as a blocker for one of those creatures. After this (so before combat damage step) I sacrifice my creature. Does [[Dictate of Erebos]] trigger immediately, or after the unblocked creature has dealt his damage?
You would be activating the sac ability during the declare blockers step and it would resolve and trigger Dictate in the same step. He would have to sac a creature prior to damage dealing which happens in the combat damage step.
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Karador vs Scavenging Ooze When I use Karador, Ghost Chieftain to cast a creature from my gy can someone then exile that creature in response with something like Scavenging Ooze? I kinda figured "casting" instead of "targeting" might mean it can't be exiled in response. Thank!
Nope. The first part of casting a spell is announcing it and moving it to the stack. Additionally, to be casting the spell you'd either have priority or be casting it during a resolving spell or ability and in neither case does your opponent have priority to activate Ooze.
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Toxic Deluge and +1/+1 counters Does Toxic Deluge make +1/+1 counter go away even if the creature doesn't die? If I kill Hangarback Walker with a Toxig Deluge, does my opponent still get his Thopters?
Giving a crueture -X/-X is not the same as putting X -1/-1 counters on the creature. Toxic Deluge will not remove a creature's +1/+1 counters, and Hangarback Walker's ability will still trigger and use the amount of counters it had at the time that it died. Also, check out this ruling on Hangarback Walker: If enough -1/-1 counters are put on Hangarback Walker at the same time to make its toughness 0 or less, the number of +1/+1 counters on it before it got any -1/-1 counters will be used to determine how many Thopter tokens you get. For example, if there are three +1/+1 counters on Hangarback Walker and it gets four -1/-1 counters, you’ll get three Thopter tokens. That’s because Hangarback Walker’s triggered ability checks the creature’s existence just before it leaves the battlefield, and it still has all those counters on it at that point.
3
Sunburst Let's say that you play engineered explosives for 6 mana, one of that mana coming from a land with abundant growth. Assuming the first 5 lands all produce wubrg, could the land with abundant growth be tapped for "purple" mana, giving you a sixth counter on the explosives?
No. There are only five colours of mana.
2
Archangel Avacyn and deathtouch I'm building an edh deck with [Archangel Avacyn] at the helm. A little research tells me people like to toss [basilisk collar] because deathtouch on her flip effect to deal 3 damage to the field wipes the field. The problem is I was reading the MTG official ruling on deathtouch and it says: ”Any nonzero amount of combat damage assigned to a creature by a source with deathtouch is considered to be lethal damage..." Her triggered ability is not combat damage, therefore doesn't have deathtouch, right? So deathtouch is not as good as everyone thinks on her? Lifelink says any damage done so that's fine, deathtouch specifically says combat damage.
Deathtouch also applies to all damage. 702.2b A creature with toughness greater than 0 that's been dealt damage by a source with deathtouch since the last time state-based actions were checked is destroyed as a state-based action. See rule 704. You were probably looking at 702.2c, which does specifically call out combat damage, but that is because that rule is describing deathtouch's interaction with things like trample (which only matters in combat).
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Aethergeode minor rules So I have a question around the wording on the card Aethergeode minor, my question is if I have one in the grave yard and one on the battlefield can I use the ability on the first to exile the second from the graveyard? The card reads, " pay 2 charges, exile Aethergeode minor, then returne it to the battlefield under its owners control."
No. It means the Miner that activates the ability. - 201.4 Text that refers to the object it’s on by name means just that particular object and not any other objects with that name, regardless of any name changes caused by game effects.
2
Quick question about sacrificing a spell If I cast a spell that causes an opponent to discard an instant, can he play the instant as it is being discarded? I though only cards with madness had that ability, but I was playing the other day and I was told it was legal.
They can cast an instant in response to you casting your discard spell, but if your discard spell resolves then they can't cast it as its being discarded unless it has Madness.
1
Blessed Alliance and baral chief of compliance (fancy rylhyming) I've been playing a fun UW control deck in standard lately. I take advantage of baral to cheapen my spells as much as possible. I run 3 blessed Alliance in the deck as well and was wondering if barals ability made the escalate effect cheaper. The rulings for blesses Alliance state "Effects that reduce the cost of spells reduce the total cost, including any escalate costs added." I tried to pay 3 mana, one for each mode, at my local FNM and was told it was illegal. Am I not understanding the card ruling correctly or what?
You start with the base cost -- (1)(W) then you add in additional costs -- escalate twice -- (4) then you apply reductions -- (1) Total cost = (1)(W) + (4) - (1) = (4)(W)
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Norin the wary and the command zone I play norin as my commander, as far as I know I can replace the exile trigger with putting him in the command zone and he will still return to the battlefield at end of turn, however a player in my playgroup is set in stone that he must be put in exile to return at the end of the turn, any help is appreciated
You are correct; regardless of whether you put Norin in exile or the command zone with its triggered ability, you will still return it to the battlefield at the beginning of the end step. 400.7h. If an effect causes an object to move to a public zone, other parts of that effect can find that object. If the cost of a spell or ability causes an object to move to a public zone, that spell or ability's effects can find that object. Even though the command-zone replacement effect changes what the triggered ability does, it's still the triggered ability's effect putting Norin into the command zone. Thus, the other parts of the effect, in particular the delayed triggered ability that is created, can still locate it there (as long as it isn't moved out of the command zone later but before the DTA resolves).
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Flamewake Phoenix and Furyblade Vampire Say Flamewake Phoenix is in the yard and I have Furyblade Vampire out on the battlefield. It goes to the beginning of combat and I pump Furyblade Vampire to 4 power. Can I then pay R to bring back the Phoenix?
No. You need to have a 4 power creature as the step starts or it doesn't trigger at all.
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How does Bonehoard work??? How does one properly use the Bonehoard? The way we did it: pay manna to play card, equip, create 0/0 green germ token that gets 8/8 (the total number of creatures in both graveyards) on the battlefield. Other player blocks, loses his creature. End turn. Other player attacks. Can I use the Bonehoard again to block by equipping and creating a new green germ (last one has been removed from board completely), now assigning a green germ 9/9 because of the addition of another creature to the graveyard? Does the artifact tap or can it be used back-to-back-to-back? Or, can the artifact be, or is it supposed to be, attached to some other creature?
You seem to be confused about how living weapon works. With a normal equipment, you play the equipment and it just sits there doing nothing until you have a creature come along and pick it up (by using the equip ability to attach the equipment to that creature). With living weapon, when it first enters the battlefield, rather than sitting on the ground useless, it's held by a 0/0 germ token. If you equip the weapon to another creature the 0/0 will die due to 0 toughness. If this happens, or if the germ dies some other way, there's no way to get the 0/0 back (other than making the living weapon leave the battlefield and then return). You'll need to use the equip ability to attach the Bonehoard to one of your other creatures for it to do anything useful at that point.
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Copying tokens which aren't supposed to stick around Hi folks, I've got [[Parallel Lives]] out and cast [[Mirror Mockery]] on my opponent's [[Runeclaw Bear]]. She attacks me with it and I create a token copy of the bear. Do I have to exile both tokens (the original and the one Parallel Lives gives me via replacement effect)? What happens if I control a [[Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage]] and activate its populate ability and create a copy of one of the tokens mentioned above? Do I lose that token? Does it matter which I copy? Finally, what if I attack with a [[Broodbirth Viper]] and have [[Parallel Lives]] out; do I have to exile the viper copies? Can't seem to find pertinent rules on these, so any answers that can quote MTG Comp rule numbers are a bonus! Thanks!
So there's two distinct cases here--Mirror Mockery and Broodbirth Viper work the same with Parallel Lives in play. The difference is actually to do with how Parallel Lives and Vitu-Ghazi Huildmage work, and how they are different. Parallel Lives is a replacement effect. It takes an existing event ("make a token") and turns it into a new, modified event ("make two tokens"). Note how this doesn't change the fact that the rest of the effect still applies to whatever tokens you make--"make a token, and exile it at end of combat" becomes "make two tokens, and exile them at the end of combat". There isn't really a specific rule to point to here, other than 614.1 and 614.6 which describe how replacement effects work in general. The key thing to understand is that the Mirror Mockery (or Bloodbirth Viper) knows which tokens it created and can get rid of all of them at the appropriate time. Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage is different, though. It doesn't modify the original event to make it create more tokens. Instead, it created tokens with its own effect. Because this isn't a replacement effect, the Mirror Mockery won't see the populated token as one of the tokens it created, and won't bother it at the end of combat. TL;DR: If a replacement effect like Parallel Lives causes Mirror Mockery to make multiple tokens, they all go away at end of combat. If a separate effect, like Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage, makes a copy of one of those tokens, it won't go away.
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Need help about being able to block I have been play mtg for I would say about a month or so and I have always been on the losing side because I have been getting confused about blocking. I wanna know can you a creature to block after you just casted it? For example, I summoned a 3/2 goblin and I passed the turn to my friend and he summons a 3/4 creature and already has a 4/4 creature, and he declares attacks . Can I use my 3/2 goblin to block that I just summoned?
Can I use my 3/2 goblin to block that I just summoned? Yes, you can use your 3/2 to block his 4/4. Summoning sickness only applies to creatures wanting to attack or activate abilities that have the tap or untap symbol as a cost. It doesn't apply to blocking.
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Upkeep effects on Seanced creatures Hello, as per the title, I have Séance on the board, and at the beginning of my upkeep I create a spirit token of Mirror-Sigil Captain. Does the upkeep ability on the Mirror-Sigil Captain then trigger, or would it be a waste?
No, the Mirror-Sigil Sergeant's ability doesn't trigger. Your upkeep has already begun by the time the Mirror-Sigil Sergeant token is created, so the trigger condition ("at the beginning of your upkeep") won't be fulfilled.
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Havengul lich So I have dead eye navigator and it is soul bound to peregrine drake(insert infinite mana joke here). So mana is....not much an issue, but the question is under those conditions, I also have a havengul lich out and I play sidisi undead vizier. I obviously exploit her, and then target her with lich, but can I just repeatedly exploit sidisi or can I only do it once?
As long as you can repeatedly pay the cost of (1) + (3)(B)(B), you can repeat it.
1
Rhystic Study and Delve interaction I have a question regarding the interaction of [[Rhystic Study]] and a card with Delve like [[Tasigur, the Golden Fang]]. So, I have a Rhystic Study on the field and my opponent casts Tasigur paying B and delving 5. My question is: can they delve an extra 1 to pay for Rhystic Study, or does the triggered effect of Rhystic Study require them to actually tap 1 mana to pay? This argument came up in a game earlier and I figured they were in the wrong because they would have already paid the cost for their spell thus triggering Rhystic Study for an additional 1 after their spell is on the stack. It was 3 on 1 though and there was not a judge nearby to resolve this.
No, they can't Delve for Rhystic Study; it's a totally different cost.
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Hedron Alignment Issues This one stumped my kitchen table for awhile. If Player A shows his hand in order to win with , can Player B use to counter the effect?
At the beginning of the upkeep, before revealing their hand, the controller of Hedron Alignment should be like "Hedron Alignment trigger on the stack. Responses?" Then their opponent could cast Disallow, and the Hedron Alignment would be countered, and not trigger again this turn. If the controller of Hedron Alignment rushes ahead to reveal their hand, their opponent is within their right to require to rewind the game so their opponent can cast Disallow. On the other hand, if the controller said "Hedron Alignment trigger on the stack. Responses?" and their opponent said "No responses" (because he didn't think the controller of Hedron Alignment had Hedron Alignment in their hand), and the controller of Hedron Alignment revealed their hand to show Hedron Alignment, it would be too late to cast Disallow.
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Controlling Sacrifice Targets Hypothetical Boardstate: I have Merieke Ri Berit, Lim-Dûl the Necromancer, and a sacrifice outlet in play. Opponent has creature x. If I gain control of creature x with Merieke Ri Berit, then sacrifice creature x to my sac outlet, can I activate Lim-Dûl's ability and bring it back under my control as a Zombie? Lim-Dûl's ability reads that he can trigger whenever a creature an opponent controls is put into a graveyard. Does my opponent gain control over creature x before it hits the graveyard or does it go straight from my control to the yard?
It goes straight from your control to the yard.
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Simultaneous etb effects and how they work? Rules question. I'm fairly certain on the answer, but what I'm lacking is an explanation of exactly how it is the answer, so that I can better understand it and explain it. It is about multiple creatures entering the battlefield simultaneously when they have effects that trigger when the other creatures enter the battlefield. The easiest example I can think of would be me having 4 [[Kalastria Healer]]s enter the battlefield at the same time. Say from [[Rally the ancestors]] or [[eerie interlude]] or something similar. All 4 healers trigger each other. I used to think I would pick the order and that would do 10 damage/gain (1+2+3+4) as they entered sequentially. I have been told that is wrong, and they all 'see' each other and the damage/gain would be 16 (each triggering 4 times). My question is why? How does that work? I think I am having difficulty with the idea of something happening 'simultaneously'. Thanks for trying to explain this (or telling me I'm wrong). Follow-up: To me this means that if I add a [[hagra diabolist]] to those healers, so that now all 5 of those creatures etb at the 'same time' then the hagra diabolist would cause my opponent to lose 25 life? 5 life (because I control five allies) 5 times (once for each etb). Is that right? Thanks.
My question is why? Because the spell tells you to put them all on the field at once. How does that work? Triggers are checked right after an event occurs. An event puts 4 Healers on the field and then triggers are checked and each Healer sees his own entry and the entry of the other three for a total of 16 triggers. Those triggers do resolve sequentially though. the hagra diabolist would cause my opponent to lose 25 life? Assuming no responses, yes, your opponent could kill all 5 allies and lose no life at all from the Diabolist triggers because the life lost is determined as each trigger resolves.
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"beginning of end step" question I appreciate the help I got on my last question, and now I have another one again. The question is how the 'at the beginning of your end step' trigger works. Basically, if something enters the battlefield during the end step, and it has a 'at the beginning of your end step' effect, will that happen? I am assuming it will not, but I've been surprised by the mtg rules before and wanted to check. A simple example inspiring the question is if I have a [[aid from cowl]] on the battlefield and then end my turn. At the beginning of my end step I reveal the top card of library and it is another [[aid from cowl]]. That is placed on the battlefield. Will this second trigger right now? thanks again
if something enters the battlefield during the end step, and it has a 'at the beginning of your end step' effect, will that happen? Nope. The beginning of a step or phase is a discrete moment in the game that happens as the game arrives in that step/phase. Triggers that fire on that event are checked right after that event occurs so they need to be in the appropriate zone at that point to fire. The triggers are put on the stack sometime after that point and resolve further after that point. Anything that arrives after the step/phase started are too late to see that event.
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Question on Overwhelming splendor Would it override eldrazi ability like emerkule and kozilek
When those creatures are in play, they would be 1/1s with no abilities. Their cast triggers would still happen, of course. Overwhelming Splendor doesn't affect anything that isn't on the battlefield.
2
Soul-Scar Mage, Winding Constrictor and Magma Spray. Question about [[Soul-Scar Mage]], [[Winding Constrictor]] and [[Magma Spray]]. If I control a Soul-Scar Mage and target an opposing Winding Constrictor with a Magma Spray, what will happen (assuming the opponent has no response)? Will the Snake die? Will it get exiled? Is Magma Spray even able to exile anything, als long as Soul-Scar Mage is in play for me?
what will happen? Magma Spray will resolve. It'll create a replacement effect on the Constrictor that'll watch to see if it would die this turn and if it would, it'll exile it instead. The one-shot effect of Magma Spray wants to deal 2 damage to Constrictor, but the replacement effect of Soul-Scar Mage wants to modify the result to putting two -1/-1 counters on it instead of dealing damage so we apply that effect and the event changes to putting two -1/-1 counters on Constrictor, but now Constrictor's replacement effect wants to change it from two counters to three counters and we apply it so the event is now put three -1/-1 counters on Constrictor. There are no more replacement effects so we process the event and put three -1/-1 counters on Constrictor which makes it a -1/0. Magma Spray finishes resolving and goes to the yard and right before the active player gets priority, State Based Actions kick in and see a creature (Constrictor) at 0 toughness and want to send it to the graveyard for 0 toughness, however, the replacement effect created by Magma Spray is still waiting and sees that it would apply to this move so we apply it and the event changes to exile Constrictor for 0 toughness. There are no more replacement effects waiting so we process the event and boom Constrictor ends up in exile. Will the Snake die? No, it'll get exiled instead. Is Magma Spray even able to exile anything, as long as Soul-Scar Mage is in play for me? Yes, however, there are some spells that work a little differently with SSM. Magma Spray works because it just cares if the creature would die. If the damage from Magma Spray was prevented and then you cast Murder at it later in the turn, Murder would exile it because the replacement effect is still there even if the damage was prevented. SSM works because even though there's no damage, the creature would still die so Spray's replacement effect kicks in. However, let's look at [[Annihilating Fire]] which is superficially similar, but interacts differently with SSM and damage prevention. The replacement effect of Fire cares that damage was actually dealt and if the damage is replaced with counters by SSM instead then no damage is dealt so the replacement won't be created. Additionally, if the damage from Fire was prevented, there's no damage dealt so the replacement effect isn't created.
3
Tapping at instant speed before upkeep triggers??? I have an in exile that will enter at the beginning of my upkeep, a on the battlefield, a on the battlefield with summoning sickness, and I'm holding a . At the beginning of my upkeep, can I tap Tree of Perdition before the beginning of the upkeep triggers are triggered? If so, it's a win for me. Thanks for the help!
can I tap Tree of Perdition before the beginning of the upkeep triggers are triggered? Well Obzedat and Emissaty trigger right as the upkeep begins, they get put on the stack almost immediately afterwards and resolve a little later during the upkeep so no, technically you can't activate Tree prior to ObZ or Emissary triggering or going on the stack, BUT you can activate Tree prior to the triggers resolving which I think is what you want to do. If so, it's a win for me. Well then it looks like it's a win.
2
How to pay colorless mana? I am kinda confused about colorless mana. If a card has a mana cost of (5), does that mean you can use any color mana? What if the card says (2)<><>? I recently got back into magic and jsut saw this new <> symbol
(1) is a generic mana cost and can be paid with any type of mana. (◊) is a colourless mana cost and can only be paid with colourless mana. If you look up cards that produce colourless mana printed prior to Eldritch Moon, they have all been issued errata using the new symbol (◊). Look at Sol Ring's . If a card has a mana cost of (5), does that mean you can use any color mana? Any type, yes, meaning any colour of mana or colourless. What if the card says (2)(◊)(◊)? That cost would require two colourless mana and 2 mana of any type.
3
Interaction between Radiate and Part The Waterveil Hi guys, i am having a hard time understanding what exactly casting [[Radiate]] on a awaken [[Part The Waterveil]] would get me - would i get an army of 6/6 tokens and one extra turns? Or both ? My opponents get nothing, because PTW does not say target player - right? Sorry, i am still new to magic and learning, but this is causing some confusion for me :) thank you very much for an answer.
You end up with 6 +1/+1 counters on each of your lands and an extra turn for each land you control. When you cast Part the Waterveil with awaken, its rules text effectively becomes "Take an extra turn after this one. Exile Part the Waterveil. Put 6 +1/+1 counters on target land you control. That land becomes a 0/0 Elemental creature with haste. It’s still a land." Then you cast Radiate, which means you get a copy of the entire spell for each legal target (which means each land you control). So you get a copy of that set of text targeting each land that you have.
3
Quick question, if a card says you may when this card enters or leaves the battlefield, do you choose one time to use the effect or can the effect go off when it enters and leaves?
The ability will trigger both when the permanent enters the battlefield, and when it leaves the battlefield.
1
Question about "taking an extra turn after this one" Okay, let's say that "Player 1" is taking their turn in a game of commander, and casts Minds Aglow. All players draw some cards. I draw and cast a Temporal Mastery for miracle (during my opponent's turn) I'm Player 4, so ordinarily, I would take my turn after Players 2 and 3, but because of Temporal Mastery's text, would I take the turn at the end of Player 1's turn, and effectively skip Player 2 and 3's turns? Or does it happen at the end of my next turn?
If you cast Temporal Mastery during player 1's turn (and you're player 4), then after this turn you will get a turn, followed by player 2, then player 3, then you again (with your normal turn in the turn order) before finally getting back to player 1. Players 2 and 3 don't conceptually get "skipped"; rather, you just get a free turn inserted between the turns of players 1 and 2 and then play continues around the table as though that extra turn had never been. "Take an extra turn after this one" means just that. Do note also that in this particular scenario, Temporal Mastery would have to be the first card you drew with Minds Aglow, since miracle only works for the first card that you draw in a turn.
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Melira + Cauldron of Souls If a creature which has been given persist leaves the battlefield because it was sacrificed, and it returns to the battlefield because of the persist trigger but, doesn't get a -1/-1 counter because of Melira, does it still have Persist? Or does Persist go away? I know this is a basic question but, I'm still fairly new to the game.
Hi! No problem. Always glad to answer rule questions. Upon changing zone, a card is considered a different object so your Grizzly Bears comming back with a -1/-1 won't have persist.
3
Floating Mana When does floating Mana go away?
500.4. When a step or phase ends, any unused mana left in a player's mana pool empties. This turn-based action doesn't use the stack.
3
Quick Question, probably a dumb one, BUT what the heck. Okay so with the new ixalan set coming out soon, I was looking at some of the new legendary creatures coming out and Kopala, Warden of Waves caught my attention. So my question is as such, in my EDH play group there is someone that plays Visara the dreadful as his commander and she has an activated ability that lets him tap her to destroy target creature, doesn't have to pay a mana cost, just tap and target, but if I was playing a Kopala or something similar that makes it so activated abilities that target my creatures (or Merfolk in this case) cost 2 to play, would that make Visara's ability now cost 2 or would it still be a free action?
would that make Visara's ability now cost 2 Yes. The cost would now be (2), (T).
1
Angelic Arbiter a ongoing effect or the turn you played it only effect?
It is ongoing. If were an enter the battlefield trigger ability it would be worded such as "When Angelec Arbiter enters the battlefield.."
2
Taigam, Ojutai Master Can anyone explain to me the rebound result of a card with a kicker cost or X cost? If I can rite of replication kicked, and Taigam gives it rebound, do I get the kicked version next turn or just the regular?
Can anyone explain to me the rebound result of a card with a kicker cost or X cost? Yes. - 702.87a Rebound appears on some instants and sorceries. It represents a static ability that functions while the spell is on the stack and may create a delayed triggered ability. “Rebound” means “If this spell was cast from your hand, instead of putting it into your graveyard as it resolves, exile it and, at the beginning of your next upkeep, you may cast this card from exile without paying its mana cost.” For almost all spells with X in the mana cost, X will have to be 0 because you are casting it without paying its mana cost. - 107.3b If a player is casting a spell that has an {X} in its mana cost, the value of X isn’t defined by the text of that spell, and an effect lets that player cast that spell while paying neither its mana cost nor an alternative cost that includes X, then the only legal choice for X is 0. This doesn’t apply to effects that only reduce a cost, even if they reduce it to zero. See rule 601, “Casting Spells.” If I cast rite of replication kicked, and Taigam gives it rebound, do I get the kicked version next turn or just the regular? Your choice. It will be the regular version for no mana by default, but you are given the option to kick it, however, you will have to pay the additional cost to do so. - 117.9 Some spells have alternative costs. An alternative cost is a cost listed in a spell’s text, or applied to it from another effect, that its controller may pay rather than paying the spell’s mana cost. Alternative costs are usually phrased, “You may [action] rather than pay [this object’s] mana cost,” or “You may cast [this object] without paying its mana cost.” - 117.9d If an alternative cost is being paid to cast a spell, any additional costs, cost increases, and cost reductions that affect that spell are applied to that alternative cost. - 702.32a Kicker is a static ability that functions while the spell with kicker is on the stack. “Kicker [cost]” means “You may pay an additional [cost] as you cast this spell.” Paying a spell’s kicker cost(s) follows the rules for paying additional costs in rules 601.2b and 601.2f–h.
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Questions on aftermath Couple of questions, might seem dumb but here we go. The reminder text on aftermath says 'cast this spell only from your graveyard. Then exile it'. Does this mean I can, for example, cast spring, then cast mind off of a torrential gear hulk. I feel like should be able to, but that leads into my next question: if I played diluvian primordial targeting a spring // mind in the OPPONENTS graveyard, can I still cast mind? I ask because of the use of your in the reminder text as opposed to 'a graveyard'. If the answer to the first question is no obviously the second one is irrelevant, thanks for your time.
- 702.126a Aftermath is an ability found on some split cards (see rule 708, “Split Cards”). It represents three static abilities. “Aftermath” means “You may cast this half of this split card from your graveyard,” “This half of this split card can’t be cast from any zone other than a graveyard,” and “If this spell was cast from a graveyard, exile it instead of putting it anywhere else any time it would leave the stack.” Does this mean I can cast spring, then cast mind off of a torrential gear hulk? Yes, you can do that. You could also cast Spring again via Gearhulk. if I played diluvian primordial targeting a spring // mind in the OPPONENTS graveyard, can I still cast mind? Yes.
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Vault Skirge, Ensoul Artifact, Copy Artifact So a Vault Skirge is enchanted with Ensoul Artifact. Copy Artifact is cast, copying Vault Skirge. Is the Copy Artifact copy a 1/1 or a 5/5?
A 1/1. Copy effects take the base card and effectively xerox it. Since the base card is a 1/1 the copy will be as well.
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Mairsil and licids Let's say I have a Mairsil with a stinging licid and a leeching licid with cage counters in exile. If I use both licid's abilities, could Mairsil be an enchantment enchanting 2 creatures? What happens if one of its's enchant targets dies?
could Mairsil be an enchantment enchanting 2 creatures? No. - 303.4d An Aura can’t enchant itself. If this occurs somehow, the Aura is put into its owner’s graveyard. An Aura that’s also a creature can’t enchant anything. If this occurs somehow, the Aura becomes unattached, then is put into its owner’s graveyard. (These are state-based actions. See rule 704.) An Aura can’t enchant more than one object or player. If a spell or ability would cause an Aura to become attached to more than one object or player, the Aura’s controller chooses which object or player it becomes attached to. Activating the second ability would move it from the first creature to the second. Mairsil wouldn't do much of anything attached as an attached aura though. edit: What happens if one of its's enchant targets dies? If the target of the ability dies, the ability is countered and won't resolve. If you're asking what will happen if the creature Mairsil is enchanting dies, if you don't pay to end all of the licid effects before the creature dies, he'll be put in the graveyard as an unattached aura. - 704.5n If an Aura is attached to an illegal object or player, or is not attached to an object or player, that Aura is put into its owner’s graveyard.
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Pyromancer’s Goggles + Mizzix Mastery So I’m wondering about this as I’ve been adding cards to a Mizzix of the Izmagnus pre-con. I have a Pyromancer’s Goggles that I use to cast Mizzix Mastery targeting Turnabout in my graveyard. So I get two Mizzix Mastery’s on the stack. Part of me says that I have to choose new targets for the copy as when the first copy of Mizzix Mastery resolves targeting Turnabout so I wont be able get a second copy of Turnabout because it is no longer a legal target for the Mizzix Mastery that was left still on the stack. Is this how this would work? Sorry if this isn’t formatted properly for the sub as it’s my first time posting and I am on mobile.
Is this how this would work? Yes, if you don't change its target, the copy of MM created by the Goggle's trigger would resolve first and exile Turnabout and create a copy of it. When the original tries to resolve, its target no longer exists so it gets countered on resolution.
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Rules question (x-post)
The answer to your question is it depends. The Zendikon enchantment doesn't change whether the land that it is attached to is Basic or not so if it is attached to a Volcanic Island, the land creature is still non-basic and if it's attached to a Wastes, the land creature is still Basic.
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Question regarding +1/+1 counter triggers from my artifacts My situation is somewhat lenghty, I hope you can follow accordingly (Assume I have enough mana/energy): My board consists of 1x[[Whirler Virtuoso]], 2x[[Decoction Module]], 1x[[Fabrication Module]] and a [[Westvale Abbey]]. Opponent plays [[Fumigate]], I proceed to generate 4 Thopters with Virtuoso and every creature ETB gives me 2 energy back, which then gives me 2 +1/+1 counters due to interaction between modules, I have a total of 8 counters to place. My question is, can I sac my creatures, flip Westvale Abbey and then place the counters on [[Ormendahl, Profane Prince]]?
My question is, can I sac my creatures, flip Westvale Abbey and then place the counters on Ormendahl, Profane Prince? No. You have to choose a target for the Fabrication Module triggers when you put them on the stack which happens right after you resolve the Decoction Module triggers and before you get priority to activate Westvale Abbey (or Virtuoso again).
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Brago Rules Questions: Oath of Gideon and Deepglow Skate Howdy. I'm currently working on a [[Brago, King Eternal]] Superfriends deck, and I wanted to know how some of the trickier interactions work. Say that I have Oath of Gideon and a planeswalker out; if I flicker them both will the Oath not see the planeswalker enter, and not give it additional loyalty (since they are both entering at the same time)? The way I understand it, it won't give extra loyalty because they enter simultaneously. Similarly, if I flicker both Deepglow Skate and a planeswalker, can the Skate target that planneswalker with its ability (since they are both on the battlefield at the time the ability resolves)? Thanks in advance for explanations!
Say that I have Oath of Gideon and a planeswalker out; if I flicker them both will the Oath not see the planeswalker enter, and not give it additional loyalty (since they are both entering at the same time)? The way I understand it, it won't give extra loyalty because they enter simultaneously. That's right. Oath isn't in play before the planeswalker is entering the battlefield, and so its ability can't modify the way the planeswalker enters the battlefield. Hypothetically, if Oath had a trigger that said something like "Whenever a planeswalker enters the battlefield under your control, put a loyalty counter on it.", then the planeswalker would get a counter in this situation. Similarly, if I flicker both Deepglow Skate and a planeswalker, can the Skate target that planneswalker with its ability (since they are both on the battlefield at the time the ability resolves)? Yes.
2
Bristling Hydra stack question So my opponent controls a bristling hydra, and currently has 2 energy. On their upkeep, I attempt to enchant it with aether meltdown. In response, they cast harnessed lightning, targeting it, but dealing no damage. Their goal is to net the 3 energy, going to 5, then give it hexproof, fizzling my aether meltdown. Is this correct, or, as I argued, once the lightning resolves, the next thing on the stack is the meltdown, not giving them a chance to grant hexproof?
You are not correct. After something on the stack resolves, the active player receives priority again. Once both of you pass priority without taking an action the top most thing on the stack resolves.
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Animation Module and Pithing Needle When using Pithing Needle on Animation Module will it stop you from paying the Mana for the triggered effect also?
No. Needle only stops activated abilities, not triggered ones.
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Argentum Armor and moving it during combat? A player has puresteel paladin and leonin shikari on the field along with 3 cat tokens, one equipped with Argentum Armor. This player declares combat, Argentum Armor's ability activates. Could the player move the Armor around multiple times to trigger the destroy target permanent effect?
You declare all attackers at once simultaneously. As such, there is no way to get multiple instances of the "when equipped creature attacks" triggers.
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Sanctum seeker vs settle the wreckage If I am attacking with sanctum seeker and 4 other vampires can my opponent respond to the life gain drain trigger with a settle the wreckage and prevent it?
can my opponent respond to the life gain drain trigger with a settle the wreckage Yes. and prevent it? No. - 112.7a Once activated or triggered, an ability exists on the stack independently of its source. Destruction or removal of the source after that time won’t affect the ability. [..]
1
Bloodwater Entity - put target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard on top of your library I was playing a friendly duel with my co-worker when he played Bloodwater Entity with text: When Bloodwater Entity enters the battlefield, you may put target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard on top of your library. After he played the creature he looked through his graveyard he took a card and put it on top of his library without giving me a chance to see the card. I asked him to show it and he said he didn't have to because it didn't say "reveal" in the text. I was wondering if I have the right to know what card he picked. Graveyard is public info, and Bloodwater Entity does say target card. Is it possible to choose a target without naming the target or opponents knowing the target? If I had an instant that exiled target card from graveyard could I add that to the stack before it goes back into his library?
I was wondering if I have the right to know what card he picked. You do. Is it possible to choose a target without naming the target or opponents knowing the target? You are entitled to the target info, say in case you have a Stifle or Disallow in hand. If I had an instant that exiled target card from graveyard could I add that to the stack before it goes back into his library? Yes.
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Brave the sand +priest of high penance If for some reason I priest of high penance has the ability to block multiple creatures is it only felt damage once by all creatures it blocks or does each blocked creature do damage separately and trigger the priests ability multiple times? Thanks.
It'll trigger once unless the blocked creatures hit at different times. eg. say it is indestructible and one blocked creature has first strike and another doesn't. is it only dealt damage once by all creatures it blocks Yes, this. Compare: - Whenever High Priest of Penance is dealt damage... - Enrage - Whenever Bellowing Aegisaur is dealt damage... 29/09/2017 If multiple sources deal damage to a creature with an enrage ability at the same time, most likely because multiple creatures blocked that creature, the enrage ability triggers only once. 207.2 The text box may also contain italicized text that has no game function. 207.2c An ability word appears in italics at the beginning of some abilities. Ability words are similar to keywords in that they tie together cards that have similar functionality, but they have no special rules meaning and no individual entries in the Comprehensive Rules. The ability words are battalion, bloodrush, channel, chroma, cohort, constellation, converge, council’s dilemma, delirium, domain, eminence, enrage, fateful hour, ferocious, formidable, grandeur, hellbent, heroic, imprint, inspired, join forces, kinship, landfall, lieutenant, metalcraft, morbid, parley, radiance, raid, rally, revolt, spell mastery, strive, sweep, tempting offer, threshold, and will of the council.
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Feldon of the Third Path/Worldgorger Dragon Interaction Question Say if I make a copy of [[Worldgorger Dragon]] with [[Feldon of the Third Path]], exiling Feldon along with all my other permanents, will the Dragon still get sacrificed at the end step even though Feldon's not on the board? Thank you.
will the Dragon still get sacrificed at the end step even though Feldon's not on the board? Yes. The sacrifice delayed trigger was created during the resolution of the same activated ability that made the token copy.
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Hostage taker question Hi. My opponent casts hostage taker, targeting my soul scar mage. They have mana and wish to immediately cast it. I have a lightning strike in hand. When is the correct time to cast it on their hostage taker to kill it and get my mage back? Or is there not an opportunity to do so? Thank you
When the Hostage Taker ability is on the stack, you may just boly it right away. Your Soul Scar will be exiled as long as the Hostage Taker is in play. Since it already left, your mage will never leave your side, which is probably what you want to do. However, after the Hostage Taker ability resolves, your opponent will have priority first, if he decide cast your Soul Scar mage, your opponent will have it. But, if he pass priority at any point, like change phases or steps, you could bolt it to get your mage back. Hope that answer your question.
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Does Ghost Council of Orzhova returns to the battlefield if it was used/sacraficed to activate its own ability? I don't see why not, but cards that exile cards and then use them are supposed to have some rules how this exile zones are "exclusive" for the respective cards' effects.
It unfortunately does not work like that. To put the Council activated ability on the stack, you must first pay its cost. Sacrificing itself is legal and will put the ability on the stack and the Council into the graveyard. However, when the ability resolves, it will try to remove the Council from the game but will not find it itself since the Council has changed zone and therefore, is considered a new object. So it will stay in the graveyard.
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Question regarding It That Betrays and the Stack Hi everyone. Let's assume there are three players. Player A has a Burnished Hart and Players B and C both have a It That Betrays on the battlefield. If it is Player A's turn and he activates the effect of Burnished Hart to sacrifice it, which player then gets control of Burnished Hart? How does the stack operate around this interaction? Thanks for reading!
which player then gets control of Burnished Hart? Triggers are put on the stack starting from the active player and proceeding in turn order. Whichever of B or C that puts their trigger on last will get the Burnished Hart. Assuming turn order is A -> B -> C then if Hart is sacced on A or B's turn, C will get it and if it is on C's turn, then B will get it. How does the stack operate around this interaction? Same as always, objects resolve one at a time from the top with priority passes after each resolution.
2
Goblin Tunneler x Rabblemaster Goblin Tunneler taps and target creature with power 2 or less gets unblockable until eot. Let's say I target Goblin Rabblemaster. He's a 2/2, so he is a valid target. We go to combat and every goblin I control must attack and Rabblemaster gets +1/+0 for every other attacking goblin. Is he still unblockable? He was a valid target when the effect resolved. Can he be made in invalid target when he gets too big?
As long as the creature is a legal target for the Tunneler’s ability when it resolves, it will continue to be unblockable for the turn, even if its power is later increased above 2. Targeting restrictions on activated abilities are checked only (1) when the ability is activated; and (2) when the ability begins to resolve.
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Unhallowed pact If I play unhallowed pact on an opponent's creature does the creature go to my control when it dies or back to the owners control?
If Unhallowed Pact is attached to your opponent's creature when it dies, it goes down like this. 1) The creature dies and moves to its owner's graveyard and Unhallowed Pact triggers, you control UP as it triggers so you control the trigger. 2) UP gets moved to your graveyard for being unattached. 3) You put your trigger on the stack. 4) The active player gets priority, presumably passes, the non-active player gets priority and presumably passes. 5) Your trigger resolves and returns the creature card to the field under your control.
2
Curse of Opulence If I enchant a player with Curse of Opulence and then attack them, how many gold tokens will I receive? The second part about "Each opponent attacking that player does the same" is causing some confusion in my league. My friend thinks that the controller counts as an opponent, and I don't think you count yourself as an opponent. He said opponents is different for commander format, but I can't find any ruling on that.
If I enchant a player with Curse of Opulence and then attack them, how many gold tokens will I receive? One. You control the aura when it triggers so you control the trigger. When the trigger resolves you and each of your opponents with creatures attacking that player get a gold token. Typically, this will mean you'll get one on turns you attack the enchanted player and both you and your opponent whose turn it is will get one for attacking the enchanted player on that opponent's turn.
2
Wild Ricochet+Reflect Damage Assuming there is a damage source that either does not target a specific permanent or player, can i redirect the player being Reflected towards with Wild Ricochet? Assuming the same but for combat damage? This likely depends on whether a damage effect applying to a player targets that player,which i was unable to find in comprehensive. Ideally, i'd reflect damage my own source then redirect it to someone else, if possible.
can I redirect the player being Reflected towards with Wild Ricochet? No, Wild Ricochet only lets you change the targets of an instant or sorcery and Reflect Damage has no targets. Assuming the same but for combat damage? No. a damage effect applying to a player targets that player It does not, if it happens to be from a spell or ability that spell or ability might target it though. The only thing in the game that can target are spells and abilities on the stack. - 114.9a Just because an object or player is being affected by a spell or ability doesn’t make that object or player a target of that spell or ability. Unless that object or player is identified by the word “target” in the text of that spell or ability, or the rule for that keyword ability, it’s not a target.
1
What is a mana ability This question has been problematic for my play groups and I would like to have a definite answer for we always find different answers but can never find the official rules
See 605. Mana Abilities. Basically, it is an activated ability that doesn't target, could add mana to the mana pool upon resolution, and isn't a loyalty ability. Some triggered abilities are also mana abilities. Triggered abilities are only mana abilities if they trigger from an activated mana ability or the addition of mana to the mana pool, do not have a target, and also could add mana to the mana pool. The one that always tricks people is Deathrite Shaman. Its ability is not a mana ability because it has a target (the land you are exiling from the graveyard). Elvish Mystic, on the other hand, is a mana ability. You should also note that planeswalkers do not have a mana abilities, since activating a planeswalker is activating its loyalty ability.
2
Can somebody explain the Whirler Rogue/Winter Orb interaction a bit for me? So I’ve been building a [[Brago, King Eternal]] blink/stax deck and I do have a [[Whirler Rogue]] in the list but wasn’t aware that using his second ability I could tap my [[Winter Orb]] and [[Static Orb]] to free up my resources and use everything to its full advantage instead of just working around the lock pieces after combat. Noob move I know, but anyway, my question is: Do I tap them on the end step before my turn and then, during my untap step, untap everything else while untapping the two orbs last?
Do I tap them on the end step before my turn ? Yes. during my untap step, untap everything else while untapping the two orbs last? No, they all untap simultaneously. The effect of the Orbs only matters during the determination of what can untap, they're tapped so have no effect at that point. - 502.2 Second, the active player determines which permanents he or she controls will untap. Then he or she untaps them all simultaneously. This turn-based action doesn’t use the stack. Normally, all of a player’s permanents untap, but effects can keep one or more of a player’s permanents from untapping.
2
Body Double and Erebos, God of the Dead (Theros) How do these two cards interact? Can Body Double Copy Erebos or any of the other Theros gods? Thank you for your answers!
Can Body Double Copy Erebos or any of the other Theros gods? Yes. Theros gods are creature spells on the stack and creature cards in every other zone (including the graveyard) except the battlefield where they are sometimes creatures, sometimes not. The Body Double will become a copy of the Theros god card and enter the field just like a Theros god would and be a creature or not on the field just like a Theros god would.
1
Clones and panharmonicon Does [[panharmonicon]] trigger a clone twice? If so if the chosen creature/s have etbs will those trigger twice? Also in regards to that, would that cause [[the mimeoplasm]] to end up as one creature, but with 2 creatures worth of +1/+1s?
By the first question, I take it you are thinking of a situation like where a [[Clone]] chooses an [[Eternal Witness]] on the battlefield as it resolves. Gatherer says "Abilities that apply “as [this creature] enters the battlefield,” such as choosing a creature to copy with Clone, are unaffected." but that means you only choose one creature for the Clone to copy. You would gain one Eternal Witness creature that would make two triggered abilities and could return two cards from your graveyard. By the second question, Panharmonicon does not affect the ability of [[The Mimeoplasm]]. The ability of [[The Mimeoplasm]] is a replacement effect, and not a triggered ability. Triggered abilities contain "When", "Whenever", or "At". Gatherer ruling: "Abilities that create replacement effects, such as a permanent entering the battlefield with counters on it, are unaffected."
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May be a stupid question... So... I'm fairly certain of the answer but I would like to have some input here just in case I'm wrong. This came up in a game of EDH I had the other night. I was playing my tron deck with Mirri, Weatherlight Duelist at the helm. I had an aura attached to Mirri that granted her flying (the name escapes me atm) as well as Conviction. Also have her equipped with Captain's Claws. I played Lightning greaves and moved to attach it to Mirri. An opponent stated that this would cause the aura's and other equipment to fall off of her due to her gaining shroud. Now, I argued that since they were already attached that they did not. My opponent didn't agree. I gave in for the sake of finishing the game but would like to know for certain which way this should've went. EDIT- fixed some grammatical errors. Lmk if I missed any. :)
You are right. Shroud = cannot target. For the previously played/attached auras and equipment targeting already happened and is irrelevant by the time the Greaves are attached.
2
Does a Morph leave the battlefield when turned face up? If there is a trigger upon a creature leaving the battlefield, would it trigger when a morph is turned face up?
Does a Morph leave the battlefield when turned face up? No. If there is a trigger upon a creature leaving the battlefield, would it trigger when a morph is turned face up? No. Faceup/Facedown is a status pair and every permanent has one value from each of the four pairs. The other three status pairs are tapped/untapped, flipped/unflipped (Kamigawa block) and phased-in/phased-out (Phasing)
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Maddening Imp Explanation Needed I have a question about how the ability of [[Maddening Imp]] works. More specifically I guess, a question more pertaining as to wether or not a creature with summoning sickness would fall outside of the “attacks if able” part of the imps ability description and if it would get destroyed or not due to not attacking? Saw a pretty heated debate on /r/EDH and wanted to get some clarification for my own sake.
Gatherer ruling: - 10/4/2004 If a creature can’t attack because of some restriction, or because it is tapped, it is destroyed at the end of the turn. Summoning sickness would qualify as a restriction so yes, the delayed trigger would attempt to destroy it in the next end step and no, summoning sickness would not. Non-Wall creatures the active player controls (must) attack this turn if able. At the beginning of the next end step, destroy each of those creatures (ie. the non-wall creatures that had an attack requirement put on them) that didn't attack this turn. Activate this ability only during an opponent's turn and only before combat. if able is just indicating that the requirement to attack can be overcome by a restriction, nothing more. The trigger doesn't care why it didn't attack.
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Can i use one of each killbot in commander even though they have the same collectors number?
I would say you can do whatever your playgroup (or the people you happen to be playing with at the moment) agree to. Commander is, after all, a casual format. I can’t imagine many people having an issue with you doing this. They are all uniquely named cards.
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Okay! So I have a question regarding The Ur-Dragon and when it puts a permanent into play. Say I attack with Ur-Dragon and I place an Atarka, World Render into play. Will the double strike still trigger or will it be too late?
[L2] It would be too late as it wasn't on the battlefield when they were declared as an attacker.
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Does Viridian Revel work with Mycosynth Lattice? I have [[Viridian Revel]] out. Then I use a card to change an opponent's permanent to an artifact temporarily, and then destroy it. Will I draw a card off of Viridian Revel? (Things like [[Mycosynth Lattice]], [[Liquimetal Coating]], [[Thran Forge]], etc.) Thanks in advance for any insight.
Will I draw a card off of Viridian Revel? Probably. If they own it, yes.
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Crew and Improvise on tap abilities Noob Qs.. If I have a zero mana cost tap ability on a creature card, does/can it be activated when said creature is used for Crew? Or does tapping the creature card via the affect of another card not activate the tap ability? Similarly, I have the same question but with Improvise and artifacts with tap abilities. Thank you!
Hi there. Tapping a creature for the effect of crewing a vehicle or tapping one to activate their own ability are both, well, activated abilities. And activated abilities have a cost which is everything before the ":" of the ability. Once you announce you are activating an ability, you, among other things, have to pay their price. Once you do, well your creature is tapped and you cannot pay the price of tapping them again. I hope this was clear enough :)
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Tap+Sac abilities So, I'm curious about something. Take Tormod's Crypt, for example. It has tap, sac: exile all graveyards. My question is this: can I tap it and not sac it right away? Like wait until the end of the turn to do it?
No. The sac is part of the cost of the effect. You have to pay all of the costs to get the effect. You can't choose to pay some of them and not the rest, and you can't choose to pay them later, either. The easy way to tell if something is a cost (on most cards) is to look for the colon (:) in the text box. Things in front of the colon are a cost, things after it are the effect. All costs must be paid before the effect even happens (as part of placing it on the stack). This is why the Tormods Crypt effectively exiles itself (if you targeted yourself with the ability, of course). Note that on some cards the text will implicitly state that something is a cost (e.g., as an additional cost to cast X, do Y.) Hope this helps!
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Basic rules question I’m looking to understand what I think is a basic rules interaction, I have one specific example but would appreciate general advice also... If a sweeper is cast (either me or opponent) and I crew a vehicle in response, would the vehicle die? (Presuming it was destroy all creatures). Effectively I’m wanting to know if the sweeper would see the vehicle as a creature when it resolves. My general question is much the same for other instances - flash creatures/creatures that produce tokens when they die etc etc Any help greatly appreciated!!
Yes. Magic uses a last in/first out system to resolve spells - this is The Stack. So you or your opponent cast a sweeper. You get priority before the sweeper resolves (while it’s waiting on the stack) and crew your vehicle. You pass priority and so does your opponent. The crew ability resolves and you and your opponent pass priority again. The sweeper resolves and nukes everyone, including the freshly crewed vehicle.
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A Complicated Cast Out I have a champion of wits in play, and my opponent gains control of it with a confiscation coup. I use cast out to exile the champion of wits, then I use slice in twain to destroy the cast out, where does the champion of wits go? Does it return to my opponents control, or to the owner's (my) control?
Creatures returned when Cast Out leaves the battlefield return under their owner's control, due to rule 610.3b: 610.3. Some one-shot effects cause an object to change zones “until” a specified event occurs. A second one-shot effect is created immediately after the specified event. This second one-shot effect returns the object to its previous zone. ... 610.3b An object returned to the battlefield this way returns under its owner’s control unless otherwise specified.
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Death Watch If I equip Death Watch on a creature that has +1/+1 counters do the counters count when totaling the power toughness of the creature when it goes into the graveyard? At what point in the process of a creature going into a graveyard are counters removed?
Great Question! Death Watch is an Aura that has a triggered ability that looks to see the power and toughness of the creature as it last existed on the battlefield when it resolves. To answer your question, yes, counters and other modifications will count towards the P/T. Additionally, counters cannot exist on cards unless a card says otherwise, like Suspend or Oubliette. So the counters would never be on the creature in the graveyard.
2
Pithing needle question So I'm a big fan of sorcerous Spyglass in standard right now it hits a lot scarab God, walkers, any embalm creature or vehicle and potentially the new flip lands my question is do I have to name the side with the ability for a flip card if I name search for azcanta can they use it's ability as a land or is it the same card so it can't be activated
- 711.13 If an effect instructs a player to choose a card name, the player may name either face of a double-faced card but not both. - 711.4 Each face of a double-faced card has its own set of characteristics - 711.4a While a double-faced card is outside the game, in a zone other than the battlefield, or on the battlefield with its front face up, it has only the characteristics of its front face - 711.4b While a double-faced permanent’s back face is up, it has only the characteristics of its back face. However, its converted mana cost is calculated using the mana cost of its front face. If a permanent is copying the back face of a double-faced card (even if the card representing that copy is itself a double-faced card), the converted mana cost of that permanent is 0. do I have to name the side with the ability for a flip card? Yes. However, if you want to name the other side, but forget the name you can say "the other side of Search for Azcanta" to name it. if I name Search for Azcanta can they use it's ability as a land or is it the same card so it can't be activated? Well naming Search for Azcanta wouldn't be productive because it doesn't have any activated abilities, however, naming it would not affect the other side because it has a different name - Azcanta, the Sunken Ruin. You'd have to uniquely identify Azcanta, the Sunken Ruin to shut down its second ability. So "Azcanta, the Sunken Ruin" or "the card on the other side of Search for Azcanta" or "that DFC that lets you look at 4 from the top of your library and keep one and mill the rest" or even just "Azcanta"
3
Owner vs controller question. Now I know the rules around someone taking control of a creature when it's in play but my question is who is the owner of a creature that has been played off an effect like Gonti or Etali. I read that whoever started the game with it in their deck is the owner but got told conflicting information. I was told who brought it into the game is the owner and because Gonti and Etali exile and bring them in they are the contoller so cards like homeward path don't work on creatures cast with them. Any one able to help with this?
Owner refers to the person who’s deck it started in. Whoever told you otherwise is incorrect.
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Tooth and Nail and Eternal Witness If I tutor and summon Eternal Witness using Tooth and Nail can I return Tooth and Nail to my hand when Eternal Witness enters the battlefield? Is Tooth and Nail already in the graveyard when Eternal Witness enters the battlefield? Looking to do a combo with Roaring Primadox, Eternal Witness, and Tooth and Nail.
You can get it back, yes. To be technical about it, the TN isn't in your graveyard as the EW enters. The creatures are put into play as part of TN resolving, so it's still in the stack at that moment. However, as soon as TN finishes resolving it goes to the graveyard, and that's the first time state based actions are checked. So that's when EW triggers and you are required to choose a target for it, and TN is in the graveyard at that time.
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Jungleborn Pioneer and Deeproot Waters/ Tocatli Honor Guard and Deeproot Waters If I have Deeproot waters on the field and I summon Jungleborn pioneer do I get a total of 3 merfolk tokens? One for pioneer, the one that pioneer makes, and a third for the one that pioneer made triggering deeproot waters. Also if my opponent has Tocatli honor guard while Deeproot waters is on the field, when I summon a merfolk do I not get a deeproot waters trigger?
do I get a total of 3 merfolk tokens? No. You get 2. DRW triggers for you casting JRP and gives you one merfolk token with hexproof before JRP enters. Next JRP enters and triggers. Once the trigger resolves you get your second merfolk token. a third for the one that pioneer made triggering deeproot waters. This doesn't trigger DRW because there's no spell being cast, it's just an ability creating a token. if my opponent has Tocatli honor guard while Deeproot waters is on the field, when I summon a merfolk do I not get a deeproot waters trigger? You'd get one merfolk token in this case. You still are casting JPR (a merfolk spell) so DRW triggers and makes a merfolk token with hexproof, then when JPR enters THG shuts down JPR's EtB trigger so no second merfolk token.
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Soothsaying question So can I use the abilities of [[Soothsaying]] at instant speed? So say on a players end step I use it’s x cost ability to look at the top 7 cards of my library to set up a good Rashmi trigger on another players turn or to put a card I’ll need on the beginning of my turn on top of my library? I feel like I can, but just wanted some clarification before I made room for it in my commander deck.
Yes. Any activated ability can be activated at instant speed, unless it specifies otherwise.
1
It that Betrays vs Commander If my opponent sacrifices his or her commander and returns it to the command zone while I control It that Betrays will the commander remain in the command zone or go under my control?
You would get the commander. [[It That Betrays]] doesn't care what zone the sacrificed permanent goes to (unless, somehow, it goes to the hand or library, which are hidden zones and so are treated a bit differently). It only cares that the permanent was sacrificed.
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Question on why destroy effects don't have a source I'm curious why damaging spells always specify that the card is the source of the damage, but destroy effects don't. What about damage makes it important to be clear that the card is the source of the damage, and on the other side, aren't destroy effects (and otherwise) still the sources of their effects? i.e. Murder doesn't say "Murder destroys target creature", but we can still infer that, right? Was discussing a card someone had made on a custom mtg reddit, and this issue came up. What makes a card uniquely the source? Why don't all spells say that? "This card makes target player draw 2 cards" instead of "Draw 2 cards"? Thanks in advance for responses!
I suspect it's because damage redirection effects exist (and thus the source of damage matters), but there aren't destroy redirection effects or card draw redirection effects. So for damage it's helpful to spell out what the source is for people to understand how a card like [[Deflecting Palm]] works, but it never matters what the source of a destruction effect is.
1
Storm Cauldron and Counters If I tap a land to remove counters to add mana to my mana pool is that the same as tapping a land for mana? Vivid Grove has charge counters that remove when you tap, Hollow Trees, Rushwood Grove, Mage-Ring Network have storage counters, Hickory Woodlot has depletion counters. If I tap those and remove counters will Storm Cauldron cause them to go back to my hand?
Tapping a land for mana means activating any mana ability that includes tapping as a cost. Abilities like the last ability on [[Vivid Grove]] count, because you have to tap them. Abilities like the last ability on [[Calciform Pools]] don't, because you don't have to tap them.
2
Mosswort Bridge What happens if Mosswort Bridge is removed from play before the card that was removed from the game has a chance to come out? Like if it's sacrificed with Lotus Vale or goes back to my hand with Storm Cauldron? If I'm able to play Mosswort Bridge a second time can I get both cards out for (G) and tap?
What happens if Mosswort Bridge is removed from play before the card that was removed from the game has a chance to come out? Not much, you just lost a card to exile indefinitely. If I'm able to play Mosswort Bridge a second time can I get both cards out for (G) and tap? Nope, the first card was linked to a game object that no longer exists so is stuck there indefinitely. Even if the same Mosswort Bridge card came back to the field, the first card in exile still couldn't be played. - 400.7 An object that moves from one zone to another becomes a new object with no memory of, or relation to, its previous existence. There are eight exceptions to this rule: - 607.1 An object may have two abilities printed on it such that one of them causes actions to be taken or objects or players to be affected and the other one directly refers to those actions, objects, or players. If so, these two abilities are linked: the second refers only to actions that were taken or objects or players that were affected by the first, and not by any other ability. - 607.2a If an object has an activated or triggered ability printed on it that instructs a player to exile one or more cards and an ability printed on it that refers either to “the exiled cards” or to cards “exiled with [this object],” these abilities are linked. The second ability refers only to cards in the exile zone that were put there as a result of an instruction to exile them in the first ability.
2
Remembering Triggers Say I have a [[Nettle Sentinel]] that is tapped and I cast a green spell and I forget to untap him. Is it the responsibility of both players to make sure the trigger is done correctly or is it only the responsibility of the player who owns the Nettle? Say my opponent knows I am forgetting to untap it and doesn’t tell me, is that wrong? Or should they say something. Is there any rules section on remembering triggers?
Only the responsibility of the player who owns the Nettle Sentinel. Your opponent is never required to remind you of your triggers (and that's true regardless of whether it's a "may" trigger). You can look this up in the Magic Tournament Rules (MTR), which is a pretty easy to find and easy to read document if you google for it. Specifically: #4.4 Triggered Abilities Players are expected to remember their own triggered abilities; intentionally ignoring one is Cheating. Players are not required to point out the existence of triggered abilities that they do not control, though they may do so if they wish. Triggered abilities are considered to be forgotten by their controller once they have taken an action past the point where the triggered ability would have an observable impact on the game. Triggered abilities that are forgotten are not considered to have gone onto the stack. How forgotten triggered abilities are subsequently handled is defined by the Rules Enforcement Level of the tournament.
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Question about Awakening. So my question is how [[Awakening]] affects the board since it’s an older card and doesn’t really specify exactly what or who it affects. Does everybody get to untap during every other upkeep or just the person controlling Awakening?
Late reply, but oh well. Everyone. If it was just the player that controlled Awakening, then it would say "At the beginning of each upkeep, untap all creatures and lands you control."
1
Question about Chromatic Sphere My LGS is starting to host pauper tournaments and I was building an eggs list I found online. Anyway, if I were to activate [[chromatic sphere]] would I be able to play an instant, such as [[frantic salvage]], before drawing the card off sphere?
No. Chromatic Sphere's ability is a mana ability, meaning it doesn't use the stack.
1
Ruling Q: Enduring Renewal + Memnite + Grinding Station vs Opponent's Path to Exile I activated Grinding Station's ability sacrificing Memnite with Enduring Renewal in play. Memnite returns to my hand b/c of Enduring Renewal. I play Memnite, but what happens first? Does Grinding Station untap before my opponent can cast Path to Exile targeting my Memnite, or can I untap the Grinding Station and effectively mill my opponent to death before he removes Memnite from the game?
Grinding Station's second ability is what's called a triggered ability. (Apologies if you know this. I don't mean to patronize, but I assume from your question that you don't know about triggered abilities and the stack.) So when the Memnite comes into play, that ability triggers and goes on the stack. Then there's a round of priority during which each player gets a chance to cast instants or activate abilities. Grinding Station is tapped during all of this. After that round of priority finishes, the trigger resolves and Grinding Station untaps. If your opponent Path's the Memnite while the trigger is on the stack, they can interrupt the combo.
2
Rule Q: Revealed information and conceding Here’s the situation (context: playing a kid at a local modern tournament): I’m behind in game one, my matter reshaper dies and I reveal panoptic mirror. I flip it over fully, not keeping this information to myself with some cheeky peek. I concede a second or two later and flip it back over. As I start scooping my cards up my opponent does too, then asks “hold on, what was that card?”. To be fair he didn’t get a lot of time to look. I ask him “Do I have to tell you? The game is over.” He reaches over and takes the card off my deck. I know that’s inappropriate, but not the point of this post. At that point the damage was done for me, he knows to board in artifact and probably combo hate when he wouldn’t have otherwise. Since the information was revealed to us do I have to explicitly offer the card to him to read the before I concede? Or since the game is over does he have to guess what he thinks he remembered having revealed to him? Obviously letting a judge resolve this in person would be best, but I didn’t feel comfortable doing that to a kid at an lgs even so we could both learn.
If this is a competitive tournament, I'd say no. If the game's over, the games over. You don't have to keep it revealed. If it's a regular tournament, I'd say yes. Show him the card. (you could tell him the name and have him ask me for oracle text, but that's just a waste of time) And if there are high stakes on the line, that's a reason to not run something like that at regular. But honestly, behavior like this is part of why I don't judge as much anymore. I'm just tired of the angle shooting baby sitting. As one human player to another, ff you didn't want him to know, don't reveal before concession. If you decided to him know, just let him know.
2
Kari Zev, skyship Raider Does her monkey being created trigger abilities when creatures enter the battlefield?
Yes
2
If a creature enters the battlefield as a token copy of another, does it copy modified values? For example, if a ' power is doubled for a turn by and I then create a token that's a copy of the bears, will the token enter as a 4/4 Haste, or the original 2/2?
It'll be just a 2/2 bear. Copy effects apply in layer 1, where only other copy effects are considered. The part of Xenagos that gives haste adds the ability in layer 6, and +2/+2 is applied in layer 7c.
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Torgaar mechanics If I sacrifice Tattered Mummy to cast Torgaar, does TM ability get played before or after Torgaar's? What does their life end up as?
The Mummy's ability gets placed on the stack above Torgaar. The Mummy's ability resolves first and each opponent loses 2 life. Then Torgaar resolves, enters the battlefield and his ETB trigger is placed on the stack. When it resolves, it halves the player's life total.
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🧙‍♂️✨ Reddit MTG Rulings Q&A Dataset

This dataset contains ~12.8K questions asked in the r/mtgrules subreddit from September 1, 2019, to December 31, 2022. It primarily focuses on card rulings and interactions in Magic: The Gathering.

The dataset has been filtered to include only question-answer pairs where the answers have at least 1 upvote. If multiple answers were available, the one with the highest vote count was selected.


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  • The text has been cleaned up but some artifacts bould be found, because it was formatted in markdown.
  • The names of the cards have been marked with [[]]. Ex: [[Black Lotus]] is Restricted in Vintage.

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