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Eye of the Storm/Possibility Storm Assuming I have both those cards in play. How do they interact with instants and sorceries? Usually I'm ok with rules but here I am a bit lost.

When you cast an instant or sorcery from your hand with both of these in play, you choose which order to put the triggered abilities on the stack. You then resolve the topmost ability first. If it's [[Possibility Storm]], you do as it says: You exile your original instant or sorcery spell, then start exiling cards from your library until you exile another card of the same type. You may then cast that without paying its mana cost. If you do, [[Eye of the Storm]] triggers again since you cast an instant or sorcery card. After the Possibility Storm ability has finished resolving (when you've put the exiled cards back on the bottom of your library) the new Eye of the Storm ability goes to resolve (I'll assume no one else is interacting). It will exile the newly cast spell and then let you cast a copy of all cards previously exiled with Eye of the Storm. Once you've cast and resolved any copies you want, we're back down to the original Eye of the Storm ability that triggered off of the original spell. The original spell was exiled by Possibility Storm so Eye of the Storm won't let you cast a copy of it, but it will let you cast a copy of each other card exiled with it so far (the same as the last time this ability resolved basically). Once you're done casting and resolving all of these, the stack is empty (or back where we started before you cast your original spell at least). If you choose to put the Eye of the Storm ability first, it will exile the original spell, let you cast a copy of it and all previously exiled spells, and then go to the Possibility Storm ability. It won't exile the original spell since Eye of the Storm already did that, but it will allow you to exile cards until you find one of the same card type and cast it. If you do, Eye of the Storm triggers again, exiles the new spell and lets you cast a copy of it, the original spell and any previously exiled cards. The stack is then empty. What's important to note is the conditions for these abilities triggering: Eye of the Storm says "whenever a player casts an instant or sorcery card". It will not trigger off of its own copies since they are copies, not cards. It will however trigger off of Possibility Storm which exiles a card and has you cast that card. Possibility Storm says "whenever a player casts a spell from their hand". Meaning it also won't trigger off of copies cast by Eye of the Storm. Basically, if you let Possibility Storm go first you don't get your original spell, but get two copies of whatever you find instead. If you let Eye of the Storm go first, you get two copies of your original spell and one of whatever you find with Possibility Storm. The theoretical Storm count should be the same.

Niv Mizzet and Thousand Year Storm Hi Everyone! Just wanted to make sure I understood this interaction. If my opponent has Niv Mizzet, Parun and I have thousand year storm, after casting a spell the triggers would be (First to Last): My Spell, Thousand Year trigger, Niv Mizzet Trigger. Is that correct? So Niv Mizzet's ability would resolve before the spell is copied?

You can actually choose! Spell goes on stack first, then two triggers happen simultaneously, allowing you to choose which goes on the stack first. (Just remember that the last ability put on stack resolves first)

Devoted druid and Vizer of remedies I need some clarification on this combo. Druid says to put a -1/-1 counter on it to untap it. Vizer says that if a -1/-1 counter is placed on a creature you control, put that many minus one on it instead. So it would seem and many think it can make infinate mana but in order for Druid to untap it has to have a -1/-1 counter placed on it to do so and since Vizer says "IF" (not "WHEN") a -1/-1 counter would be placed on the creature put that minus one on it "INSTEAD", then that would mean it modifies the counters before they hit the creature so Druid wouldnt untap because no -1/-1 counters touch it. The ruling i found for it is 614.16b which says "If an event can't happen, a player can't choose to pay a cost that includes the event" So since a -1/-1 can't be placed on Druid you can't pay the cost of placing one on it to untap it. What are yalls guys thoughts on this cause i know alot of people think the combo is playable.

Putting x-1 counters on instead of x is a replacement effect. You would activate the ability, use the replacement effect and put that on the stack. The "cost" for the ability was still paid, despite the fact that it was modified. A parallel example (not the same rules but similar idea) might be: a spell that costs {2} is reduced by {2}. You pay {0} mana and the spell goes on the stack. It doesn't get "undone" because you didnt pay the intended cost, the cost was just later modified. So my understanding is that the combo does work.

Nim Deathmantle and Conclave Cavalier If I sacrifice Conclave Cavalier to Ashnod's Altar can I sacrifice the two tokens generated when Conclave Cavalier dies to pay for the Nim Deathmantle trigger?

Yes. If you have multiple triggered abilities to put on the stack at the same time ("When [[Conclave Cavalier]] dies"/"whenever a nontoken creature you control is put into a graveyard") you order them how you want. So you let the Cavalier ability resolve first, and then sacrifice the two tokens to pay for the [[Nim Deathmantle]] ability. Infinite colorless mana. It's a known combo with anything that creates two or more tokens when it enters the battlefield or dies.

Tapping for Convoke vs. Tapping Tapped Drudge Sentinel for Indestructible Hey folks - according to the rules, if I attack with Drudge Sentinel (tapping it), I can still activate it's ability, which requires you to spend 3 and tap it to give it indestructible. I was under the impression you can't tap a tapped creature. If this works for Drudge Sentinel, can you "tap" tapped creatures for convoke? If not, why not? Also, what rule allows you to tap a tapped drudge sentinel to activate its indestructible ability? ​ Thanks!

which requires you to spend 3 and tap it to give it indestructible Look at where the colon in the ability is... anything to the left is a cost, and is what's required. Anything to the right is the effect, and you do as much as you can. The only cost is {3}. When the ability resolves, you go to tap it, and you can't because it's already tapped. Then it gains indestructible.

Ixalan flip artifacts rules question I was in a game of commander last night and one my opponents had a Thaumatic Compass that was transformed into Spires of Orazka. At the end of his turn I bounced the spires back to his hand to enable me to attack on my turn. The question we had was does it transform back into the compass in his hand, or is it just a land he can play on his next turn. I apologize ahead of time for not adding card tags, I’m not entirely sure how to do it.

Whenever a DFC (double-faced card) is in any other zone than the battlefield, consider only its front side. It flips back into a [[Thaumatic Compass]].

Does "Spells ... you cast" = "cast an instant or sorcery card from your graveyard"? So working on a Jodah EDH deck, and I found Kess, Dissident Mage. I read Kess's mechanic and it made me wonder if Jodah is able to use her to cast spells from the Graveyard. I couldn't find anything online about the interaction, and I couldn't find anything about "Spells you cast" compared to "Cast a card". Is there a defined ruling on this?

Jodah says "spells you cast". No restrictions. That means you can pay WUBRG for the [[Omnisciense]] you cast from your hand, the spell cast from your graveyard with Kess, and the [Eternal Scourge] cast from exile (but why would you do that?)

Am I allowed to call a judge to help walk both players through resolving a odd spell like goblin game This question is contrived but was curious how this worked in tournament play. If both players don't know how to resolve a spell like [[Goblin Game]] can either player call a judge to have the judge walk them through it? I watched Rhystic Studies Goblin Game video ( ) where a judge explained how this would be resolved at the highest level of tournament play which is what prompted this question.

Please call a judge over.

Vial Smasher and Skull Storm So, I'm pretty sure this works, but I want some clarity here: Skull Storm has a built in triggered ability when you cast it. If I control a Vial Smasher, then cast Skull Storm, I suddenly have two triggered abilities to work with. In that case, I choose the order they resolve. So, I can order it so that the storm's copies (not the original) resolve before Vial Smasher's. Plan on building a Vial Smasher deck and I kind of want to solidify this interaction before telling my friends that this is how it works.

You understand the interaction correctly.

Words of Wind question I'm unsure about how Words of Wind works. When I skip drawing a single card, can I activate the ability as many times as I have mana? Or do I need to skip one draw for each activation? ​ Example 1: I skip one draw, I tap Serra's Sanctum for 10, and each player bounces 10 permanents. ​ Example 2: I skip one draw, I tap Serra's Sanctum for 10, and each player bounces 1 permanent with 9 left in my pool. ​ Which is it? ​ Thanks in advance! :)

Example #2 is closer. Activated abilities are formatted {cost}:{effect}. Think of it like a candy machine... you put in a coin, you get a candy. If you floated 10, then activated the ability, you'd have 9 mana floating. When the ability resolves, an effect is created that sits out there and waits for you to draw a card. If you would, everyone bounces something instead... until end of turn. With 10 floating mana you could activated the ability 10 times if you wanted... if you went to draw 4 cards that turn somehow, everyone would bounce 4 things (because each draw is replaced with one of those bounce effects), and the other 6 would wear off at end of turn.

Crafty Cutpurse and Trostani Discordant. Will the Trostani Discordant owner will get the tokens that were stolen by the Crafty Cutpurse?

Nope. The owner of a token is the player under whose control it entered the battlefield, so Crafty Cutpurse causes you to own the tokens that you end up creating.

Lazav (GRN) and Reaasembling Sekelton? If I copy a Reaasemmbling Skeleton (Pay 2 mana to return to the battlefield tapped) will Lazav be "Immortal"?

No, when Lazav dies it stops being the skeleton, so you can't activate the ability

Are Saprolings still Tokens after playing Life and Limb? After playing the enchantment Life and Limb all Saprolings and all Forests become "creature-land-saproling-forests" (see card rulings). My question is: Do they still have the card-type token? For example: Is it possible to use cards which explicitly say "sacrifice a nontoken creature"?

"Token" isn't actually a permanent type, it's just something that is true. Are Saprolings still Tokens after playing Life and Limb? Yes. Is it possible to use cards which explicitly say "sacrifice a nontoken creature"? No.

When only one creature in an attacking band is blocked by multiple creatures with banding, what happens to the damage from the other creatures in the attacking band? I’ve always heard about how impenetrable banding is, so I’ve been reading up on it. I think I have a pretty good grasp on the basics of the mechanic except for one aspect, which is when creatures with banding are blocking only one creature in an attacking band. For example: the attacking player attacks with a 4/4 with banding and a 3/3, which they declare as a band. The defending player blocks the attacking 4/4 with their own 4/4 with banding and another 4/4. I understand that the defending player can distribute the damage from the 4/4 being blocked however they choose to their own creatures. But what happens to the attacking 3/3? I know that it’s considered blocked due to the 4/4 being blocked, but what happens with its damage? Does the defending player assign its damage as they choose as well, does the attacking player get to assign its damage to the blocking creatures as they choose, or does the damage just “disappear into the aether” like when a blocking creature is sacrificed before damage? I suppose I’ve just realized that this question works just as well to ask what happens when only one creature in an attacking band is blocked by any creature.

The crux of the answer to your question is in 702.21h: 702.21h. If an attacking creature becomes blocked by a creature, each other creature in the same band as the attacking creature becomes blocked by that same blocking creature. What you end up with is each attacking creature being blocked by both defending creatures. Under normal circumstances, the attacking player would choose the order in which each attacking creature deals damage to the creatures blocking it, and the defending player would choose the order in which each blocking creature deals damage to the creatures blocked by it. However, since one of the attacking creatures has banding, the attacking player chooses how the damage dealt by the blocking creatures is assigned among the attacking creatures (see 702.21k). Similarly, since one of the blockers has banding, the defending player decides how the damage dealt by the attacking creatures is assigned among the blocking creatures (see 702.21j).

Gyrus + Dragon Breath Question If I cast \[\[Gyrus, Waker of Corpses\]\] for 6+ will \[\[dragon breath\]\] auto-equip to it from the graveyard? Rule 202.3c says "when calculating the converted mana cost of an object with an X in its mana cost, X is treated as 0 while the object is not on the stack, and X is treated as the number chosen for it while the object is on the stack." I am unsure when DB will check Gyrus' CMC or if his X is considered part of his CMC or not? Thank you in advance for clarification!

will dragon breath auto-attach to it from the graveyard? No. EtB triggers check the game state after Gyrus enters so X is treated as 0. - 603.10 Normally, objects that exist immediately after an event are checked to see if the event matched any trigger conditions, and continuous effects that exist at that time are used to determine what the trigger conditions are and what the objects involved in the event look like. [..]

A quick question. So, I'm new to magic and a relatively casual player. The dudes at local FNM are not. More than once rules have been bent or broken by my opponents in order to win (which I'm at fault for because I simply don't have the time to read all the fine print in the comprehensive rule section). That's fine, as i said, I'm casual and if people need to take advantage to feel good that's on them... But a situation arose last night, and I'm h Just not sure about. I was playing G/W elves, had the board flooded with pointy eared warriors, which included 4 elvish clan callers (each a 4/4). My golgari opponent dropped a finality, which killed the clan callers. With the buff removed, everything else died as well. It didn't seem legit for some reason. Thanks in advance!

Finality applies -4/-4 to all creatures. State based actions are checked - the clan callers die. Since something happened during state based actions we check them again. Since the buffs from the clan callers is gone, everything with a 0 or less toughness dies. We check again, nothing happens, priority goes back to normal. Do you have a judge of any kind at your FNM?

Harness the storm question In an hypothetical situation where I have infinite mana, Harness the storm and 1 Lightning bolt in hand and another in the graveyard, can I cast the Lighitning bolt then use Harness the storm to cast the one in the graveyard and then use Harness the storm again to cast the one that I casted first and keep casting them until I run out if mana?

Nope, that doesn’t work. Harness the Storm only triggers when you cast a spell from your hand, so when you cast the one in your graveyard it doesn't do anything. Also, even if it did, after you cast the one in your graveyard, you have two Lightning Bolts on the stack and none in your hand and graveyard, so there’s nothing to target.

Communication in 2HG The rules clearly state that teammates may communicate at any time, but are there limits to what form that communication takes? Specifically I’m wondering about texting between teammates (provided it doesn’t cause significant delay of game)

At Regular Rules Eenforcement Level, that'd be fine. Smartphones and equivalent aren't permitted at Competitive or Pro REL.

Stack Question Board State: 1 Beamsplitter Mage, 1 Guttersnipe, 3 Steam Vents, 2 Sulfur Falls in play. Plan: Cast Quasiduplicate targetting Beamsplitter Mage, then Expand targetting Quasiduplicate. Question: Is it possible to allow the Beamsplitter created copy of Quasiduplicate to resolve (putting a 2nd copy of Guttersnipe into play), THEN cast Expand targetting the original Quasiduplicate, which would increase the Guttersnipe damage from 10 to 16?

• Cast [[Quasiduplicate]] targeting [[Beamsplitter Mage]]. • Beamsplitter Mage's ability and [[Guttersnipe]]'s ability go on the stack at the same time. You order them how you want. In this example, the order is irrelevant. We'll put Guttersnipe's ability on top to get rid of it for this example. • Guttersnipe's ability resolves, dealing 2 damage to each opponent. • Beamsplitter Mage's ability resolves, creating a copy of Quasiduplicate targeting Guttersnipe. • You let the copy of Quasiduplicate resolve. You get a token copy of Guttersnipe. • You cast [[Expansion//Explosion]] (the Expansion half) targeting the original Quasiduplicate. • Both of your Guttersnipes trigger, putting their abilities on the stack. • You let all Guttersnipe abilities resolve. They deal a total of 4 damage to each opponent. • Expansion resolves, creating a copy of Quasiduplicate. You may choose new targets for the copy. • The copy of Quasiduplicate resolves, creating a copy of whichever creature you selected as its target. • The original Quasiduplicate resolves, creating a copy of Beamsplitter Mage. That's about it. You deal a total of 6 damage to your opponent.

Prismatic Omen vs Blood Moon in Valakut I have a Blood Moon out. My opponent plays Prismatic Omen. Does the layering now allow his Valakuts to trigger if he drops a land?

Prismatic Omen doesn't make them basic lands, it just add Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain (redundantly), and Forest to their typeline. And since it doesn't change what Blood Mood would affect, we don't run into dependency issues either, so timestamps are the deal. So Valakut enters as a Nonbasic Mountain Plains Island Swamp Forest, with no abilities other than tapping for any color (since it's all basic types)

Bequeathal And Crown of the Ages I’m going back and forth on this one and I’d love another opinion. Bequeathal Crown of the ages Is it at all possible to set up a combo with these cards so the enchanted creature would die, the card draw would trigger but I could save bequeathal with the crown’s aura moving ability? Thanks in advance for your explanation!

Is it at all possible to set up a combo with these cards so the enchanted creature would die, the card draw would trigger but I could save bequeathal with the crown’s aura moving ability? No. The unattached Bequeathal is put in the yard as a State-Based Action before anyone can do anything to save it.

Melded Hanweir, the Writhing Township + Nim Deathmantle Hey all, I have a melded \[\[Hanweir, the Writhing Township\]\]. It dies, and in response I activate my \[\[Nim Deathmantle\]\] 1. Do both halves of Hanweir return to the battlefield? 2. Are one or both halves now equipped by Nim Deathmantle? Thanks in advance! ​ Edit: I just had this question answered by a judge, but I'll leave this up with the answers in case anyone comes looking in the future: 1. Both halves return to the battlefield 2. The creature will be equipped by Nim Deathmantle

I see your edit. Just in case someone is wondering the rationale: 712.4c If an effect can find the new object that a melded permanent becomes as it leaves the battlefield, it finds both cards. (See rule 400.7.) If that effect causes actions to be taken upon those cards, the same actions are taken upon each of them. [and some examples follow]

Djinn of Infinite Deceits and ETBs Hi all, this came up in a very casual commander game this weekend and we just rolled with it. But I've been thinking about it since and just wondering what the right call is for future reference. Player A: had [Djinn of Infinite Deceits] and a [Steel Hellkite] on his board Player B: plays a [Bane of Progress] to destroy all artifacts. Player A: responds by tapping the Djinn to swap control of the Steel Hellkite and the Bane of Progress. The cards change control, the Bane of Progress resolves, destroying the Hellkite. Player A has a tapped Djinn and a summoning sickened Bane of Progress. Player B has nothing. Was this correct? Or should the etb effect happen before control could be swapped?

That was correct. Bane of Progress has a normal triggered ability that can be responded to.

Grenzo dungeon warden and undead alchemist Hi all! If I have a [[Grenzo dungeon warden]] and my opponent has an [[undead alchemist]] , when I hit a creature with Grenzo's ability, what happens? Does he get a zombie? Do I get my creature on the battlefield? Thanks in advance

It's yours, but they still get a zombie. When the trigger tries to exile the card, it's not there anymore. - Remember that abilities resolve completely, you can't interrupt them in the middle. So you put the bottom card into your yard (Undead Alchemist triggers, but it doesn't go on the stack yet). That card then gets put onto the battlefield. Now that it's done, you're about to get priority, so the game checks State Based Actions, then looks for triggers to put on the stack, and there one is. So now Alchemist's trigger goes on the stack... a round of priority happens, the triggered ability starts to resolve... looking in the graveyard for the card to exile. But it's not there, so nothing happens. (it moved to the battlefield... which makes it a different game object). And then they get their zombie since you do as much as you can (and the card doesn't say "and if you do"... so it doesn't check for success)

mycoloth and blood seeker so i have a \[\[mycoloth\]\] with 20 counters on it, one of my opponents cast \[\[blood seeker\]\], i also have a \[\[temur sabertooth\]\] on board but i have no mana left, my turn comes, after i untap, what happens if i pay 2 to return the mycoloth to my hand? do the 20 saproling still enter the battlefield and so im deal 20 damage or do not saproling enter and im safe? ​ thanks for answering.

It will use the last information it had about your Mycoloth and you get a ton of tokens (assuming they're 100 lb each)... ouch.

Kindred Discovery and Najeela If I have a Najeela and a Kindred Discovery on board (naming warrior) and I attack with 3 warriors, I know I will draw 3 from the attacks, as well as 3 from the 1/1 tokens Najeela creates. My question is, as the tokens etb attacking, will I get the draw from the attack part discovery?

No, it doesn't work like that. You choose your attackers all at once, putting both Najeela's and the Discovery's trigger on the stack (you choose the order they resolve, but they go on the stack in the same instance). As the stack is resolving, there is no more chance for the Discovery to find new attackers. That being said, it also doesn't work because the tokens are put tapped and attacking. They are never actually declared as attackers. One moment they don't exist, the next one they are there and already attacking. You still draw from the etb but that's it.

Sigarda and Smokestack interaction Today we played a game in which my opponent had smokestack on the board and I had a Sigarda Host of the Herons. When the turn came to me, he said that I still need to sac. a permanent because the smokestack trigger is my part of the trigger to control... There was a lot of commotion and in the end, I didn't give a damn and just went on ahead with the game. Anyway, my understanding of the card is that first and foremost my upkeep triggers go on the stack than my opponents. Since I am not the owner of Smokestack, the trigger goes on the stack last and it's first to resolve on my turn and since I have a Sigarda on the board and the ability is from my opponent, I don't have to sac. anything. Am I thinking the right way.. or is there really a catch? edit: minor fix to the text

You are correct. Even though the ability triggers in your turn, your opponent controls the ability (since it came from a permanent they control). Therefore, it can’t cause you to sacrifice anything, thanks to Sigarda.

Can i play a might of masses after blockers are assigned?

With the exception of the untap step and the final cleanup step, a step or phase can't end until all players have passed priority. - 116.4 If all players pass in succession (that is, if all players pass without taking any actions in between passing), the spell or ability on top of the stack resolves or, if the stack is empty, the phase or step ends. - 509.1 First, the defending player declares blockers. This turn-based action doesn’t use the stack. [..]. - 509.4 Fourth, the active player gets priority

Question about Control Magic + Humble Defector interactions? If I have a [[Humble defector]] then cast [[Control Magic]] enchanting it, then activate Humble defector’s ability, what happens? I still control the aura so does the ability resolve, but I retain the defector?

what happens? You lose control of Humble Defector. I still control the aura so does the ability resolve, but I retain the defector? No, the time stamp of the control effect of the Defector activated ability is later than that of Mind Control so it overwrites it.

Aminatou's ultimate reversion of permanents after a loss question. Here's the situation my group found itself in last night. I was playing [[Queen Marchesa]] faced against an Arahbo & Aminatou and had [[Stolen Strategy]] in play. I stole and played a [[Mirari's Wake]] at some point from Arahbo. Later on; Aminatou used her ultimate shifting my permanents to herself (the mirari's wake, a couple creatures and a couple other things), her permanents to arahbo (a single sphinx) and arahbo's permanents to myself (literally nothing). At this point the Arahbo and I banded together to take down the current king of the hill; Aminatou. After Aminatou dies; I took claim of all the permanents I had previously controlled (my own permanents and the mirari's wake) because I remembered reading somewhere in the past that permanents revert to the control of their previous owner (when I was reading about [[crown of doom]]) My question is: Who should have gotten control of the Mirari's Wake; and also... in aminatou's case, should I have gotten my permanent's back from her the effect of her ultimate.

Control of a permanent starts with its default controller (ie. the player that puts it on the field for a card or creates it for a token) and then control effects are applied on top to determine the final controller. I remembered reading somewhere in the past that permanents revert to the control of their previous owner No, this is inaccurate. First off, the owner of a card in the game doesn't change (outside of the unused ante rules). Second, even if you meant controller instead of owner, it would still be incorrect in certain cases. Like this case for example. Let's say Arahbo played a creature. On Aminatou's turn, you cast Act of Treason on Arahbo's creature via Vedalken Orrery so now you control that creature. Next Aminatou blows her ultimate and Aminatou's controller gains control of that creature. During the cleanup step of Aminatou's turn the control effect of your Act of Treason ends, but Aminatou's effect is still on it. On Arahbo's turn, he kills Aminatou's controller so the effect giving Aminatou's controller control of that creature ends, but it doesn't go back to you even though you were its previous controller, it goes back to Arahbo because they are the default controller and there are no control effects giving it to another player. Who should have gotten control of the Mirari's Wake? You. You put Mirari's Wake on the field (by casting it from exile) so you are its default controller (in spite of the fact that you don't own it) and there are no longer any control effects on it so you control it. should I have gotten my permanent's back from her (after) the effect of her ultimate (ended on them)? Typically, yes, because either you are the default controller of them or there's presumably a control effect still giving you control of them once Aminatou's control effect ends on the permanents you transferred over, except for cases like the example above where you aren't the default controller and there isn't a control effect still giving you control of it.

Giving a creature text it already had If you give a creature text it already has, will it then have 2 instances if that text, or will one he ignored? For example, enchanting Ageless Entity with Sunbond.

It depends a little on the ability. (what we call that text) In your example, yes. The creature has two copies of that ability, so whenever you gain life, you get two triggers that each give a +1/+1 counter when the resolve. For something like Kalastria Nightwatch and Arcane Flight, while the creature does get 2 instances of "Flying", they're redundant as double-flying doesn't mean anything.

Weird Chromium interaction So, this just happened in arena: I attack with my Chromium Opponent plays Seal Away on it I activate it's hexproof ability, discarding one card Opponent plays shock on my Chromium, I resolve, thinking, who cares, he'll just become a 7/5 and then a 1/1 with hexproof ​ What instead happened on resolve was: Shock deals 2 to Chromium, which becomes a 7/5 Chromium's ability resolves, and for some reason it gets destroyed and goes to the grave. ​ What am I missing? ​

Chromium does not become a 7/5, he is still a 7/7, but with 2 damage marked on it. Chromium's ability resolves, he becomes 1/1 but still has 2 damage marked on it. The damaged marked on him is greater than the toughness, so he is put in the graveyard.

Expansion resolution order If my opponent is on 5 life, and I have 4 cards left in my library. I cast Explosion for X=5, do I win from the damage, or do they win because I can't draw the 5th card? ​ I think I'd lose, because I'd draw 5 before state based actions would check that my opponent is at 0 life. But I'm not 100% sure that's correct.

i'm pretty sure it's a draw beacuse checking who has won is state-based so it checks at the same time (i could be wrong)

General tazri and Celestial dawn i have started using celestial dawn recently in order fix my mana in my General Tazri edh tribal deck but i recently came in doubt when i thought about activating her second ability, does each permanent account for white and the other color of each creature or does it only recognize the white color in my allies?

Well Celestial Dawn makes all of your permanents white (and only white), like it says. That includes your Ally creatures. So General Tazri's ability will give your allies +1/+1, because the only colour among them is white.

Hazoret's Fury + Transform-Planeswalkers EDIT: I meant Hazoret's Fervor So if I give my Chandra +2/+0, she makes contact, I cast a spell to untap her post-combat and then ping to flip, will the delayed trigger cause me to sacrifice her whilst she's a planeswalker? I think no, as she technically leaves play and re-enters. We know Meld causes a new ETB effect when it happens but I'm not sure on this one.

Lucky you, flip planeswalkers exiles themselves to reenter the battlefield transformed. When an object changes zones, it becomes a new object so the sac effect dosen't happen since its original object do not exist anymore.

Creature trigger resolution So this is probably a stupid question, and I feel bad for asking but after skimming the rule books I'm just too dumb to figure this out. If I've got Seraph Sanctuary on the board (gain a life if you play an angel) and I play Angel of Thune (when ever you gain life put a 1/1 on every creature you control) does the lifegain resolve in a way that I get a 1/1 counter on everything just for playing it?

Yes. You couldn't find this in the rule books because there isn't a specific rule for this. This is just about reading the cards and seeing what they do. So suppose you have Sanctuary and cast Archangel. It enters the battlefield and Sanctuary triggers. When the trigger resolves, you gain a life. Upon gaining the life, Archangel is in play (it entered the battlefield, remember?) so it sees the life gain and its second ability triggers.

Questions regarding Trinisphere and Layers on the Stacks I have an \[inspiring statuary\], a forest and a \[trinisphere\] in play. I go to play a \[scavenging ooze\]. Do the layers work in a way that I am able to tap the forest and the trinisphere to pay the alternate cost, through the improvise ability, and cast the scavenging ooze for 2 mana? Or will I be unable to, because the trinisphere is not tapped when we determine the cost of the spell?

Layers don't apply here, we need to look at the steps of casting a spell: 1. Announce and Place the Spell onto the Stack. 2. Choose Modes. 3. Targets. 4. How to Divide Effects. 5. Total Costs. 6. Activate Mana Abilities. 7. Pay all Costs. So in step 1, we move the Ooze from our hand onto the stack and announce we are casting it. Steps 2, 3, and 4 don't apply as there are no modes, targets or divisions of effects, Ooze is just a creature. In step 5, we determine the cost. It starts out at 1G, there are no cost increasers or reducers, then Trinisphere sets the cost to 2G. In step 6, we activate the mana abilities - in this case, we can tap the Forest for G, and then our artifacts for CC. In step 7, we pay the costs and the Ooze is successfully put on the stack. TL;DR: there is no window to cast it for 1G.

Hapatra Ruling vs an opponent's BSZ So I was playing an EDH game last night and a buddy of mine played a \[\[Black Sun's Zenith\]\] with enough counters to wipe the board. I had a \[\[Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons\]\] out along with a small snake army. A third opponent got onto my buddy saying that he was giving me an even larger board state in doing so, since everything is getting several -1/-1 counters. If I'm not mistaken, though, the Zenith would simply just wipe the board, right? Hapatra's second ability only applies when something \I\ control is putting counters on, right? Or is the second ability saying just whenever I put a counter on anything for any reason, regardless of the source's controller? ​ We played it assuming me and my buddy were right, but that would've made a massive difference in the game outcome, so I figured I'd at least entertain the idea and ask someone a little more knowledgeable.

Correct, your buddy's BSZ doesn't count as you putting counters on your dudes, so Hapatra doesn't trigger. It would be worded more like "whenever one or more -1/-1 counters is put on a creature..." if it was meant to trigger regardless of who caused it.

Lazav + Erebos So I'm building a new commander deck around Lazav, the Multifarious and I think Erebos, God of the Dead would be a good include, however I have a question about how the two interact. (Really this goes for any of the Theros gods, but Erebos just happens to be the one I'm running.) If I use Lazav to copy Erebos in my graveyard, but my devotion to black is less than five, am I still able to use Lazav's ability to copy other creatures in my graveyard, or do I have to wait until devotion "turns on" and Lazav becomes a creature again?

Lazav still has his ability even if he's not a creature, and there's nothing that restricts you from activating it, so you can still activate his ability even if he's not a creature.

Ghostly Prison and "attack each combat if able" Relevant Board: My opponent has a [[Ghostly Prison]]; I have a [[Goblin Rabblemaster]], a Goblin token (just created at the beginning of combat), a Spirit token, and 2 open mana. - Can I choose to not pay (2) and not attack at all? I think the answer is yes, due to the "if able" clause. But I'd appreciate a cross-check and a deeper explanation! - Can I pay (2) to attack with just the Spirit token? I think the answer is no ... it seems like if I chose to declare attackers, one of them has to be the Goblin token. Here too, I'd appreciate a cross-check and a deeper explanation! Thanks much!

Can I choose to not pay (2) and not attack at all? Yes. There is a restriction on each of your three creatures that says it can't attack. There is a requirement on the goblin token to attack. The maximum number of requirements you can obey is 0 for purposes of determining legality unless you pay to remove the restriction on the goblin in which case it situationally increases to 1. Can I pay (2) to attack with just the Spirit token? Yes. Attacking with the spirit meets 0 requirements and disobeys no restrictions. You aren't required to pay to remove the restriction on the goblin so if you don't pay for the goblin the maximum number of requirements that you can meet is 0 and you are meeting the maximum by declaring just the spirit as attacking.

Skipping Turns and Glorious End I could not find the answer to my question so I guess here is where I should put it. If you play Glorious End and your next turn is being skipped does that mean your next end step is skipped or do you still lose the game at your next turns end step?

Your next end step is skipped, so the trigger waits around until you actually get one. 614.10a Anything scheduled for a skipped step, phase, or turn won’t happen. Anything scheduled for the “next” occurrence of something waits for the first occurrence that isn’t skipped. If two effects each cause a player to skip their next occurrence, that player must skip the next two; one effect will be satisfied in skipping the first occurrence, while the other will remain until another occurrence can be skipped.

Can Militia Bugler always fetch Crusader of Odric Hi, back in the days wasn't there a rule that said that creatures that have \/\ as P/T were considered as being 0/0 on your hand / library. However the rules on say: "The ability that defines Crusader of Odric’s power and toughness works in all zones, not just the battlefield.". So I figure if you use to fetch CoO you can only do with 2 or less creatures on the battlefield (if there are 2 out, the CoO in the library should be 2/2). Did I get this right?

back in the days wasn't there a rule that said that creatures that have \/\ as P/T were considered as being 0/0 on your hand / library. There used to be, but it looks like it changed when Future Sight was released. Nowadays, those \/\ abilities function in all zones. So I figure if you use Militia Bugler to fetch CoO you can only do with 2 or less creatures on the battlefield (if there are 2 out, the CoO in the library should be 2/2). Did I get this right? Yep, you got it right.

Rule disputes for beginners My wife and I both just began playing MTG. We end up spending just as much time looking up rules as we do actually playing. She has a card, I believe it's called willbender that allows her to change the target of a spell or ability. She tries to use it on things like my creature spells, casting them onto the battlefield in her favor and various other things that I don't believe she is allowed to do. How do I easily determine what is a valid use of this ability and what is not? Also, she keeps turning the card up and down, but I'm pretty sure she is only allowed to cast it face down and then pay to turn it face up one time.....

She tries to use it on things like my creature spells, casting them onto the battlefield in her favor and various other things that I don't believe she is allowed to do. Yeah, that doesn't fly. She wants Gather Specimens to do that. How do I easily determine what is a valid use of this ability and what is not? One, does the spell or ability have a target? A spell or ability only targets if it says the word target in its text or in rare instances in the rules. Aura spells target because it says so in the rules, likewise the Equip ability targets, but generally, if it doesn't say target, it doesn't. Two, how many targets does the spell or ability have? If it's zero or has more than one which aren't all targeted at the same target, it's not a legal target for Willbender's trigger. - 114.10a 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. I'm pretty sure she is only allowed to cast it face down and then pay to turn it face up one time That's correct. She'd need a way to turn it facedown again, like Backslide. However, she'd probably like to use Vesuvan Shapeshifter with it or Ixidron.

Gaea’s Revenge and Suppression Bonds Hello! Quick question that I couldn’t find a definitive answer to after some research: would casting Suppression Bonds on Gaea’s Revenge work if there are other creatures on the opponent’s board that can be targeted instead, since Gaea’s Revenge “can’t be the target...”? E.g., opponent has Rhox Maulers and Gaea’s Revenge on the board—can I cast Suppression Bonds on Gaea and have it resolve? Or, since there’s another creature that can be a target, would casting Suppression Bonds on Gaea equal to me “targeting” it, hence making my spell null since Gaea’s Revenge can’t be a target of non-green spells? Thank you very much!

Aura spells, such as [[Suppression Bonds]], target the creature you want them to enchant while the spell is being cast. Since [[Gaea's Revenge]] can't be the target of non-green spells, you simply can't cast the Bonds targeting it. The opponent having other creatures or not doesn't really matter... if you cast the Bonds, Gaea's Revenge can't be the target, but other permanents certainly could be. And if Gaea's Revenge is the only nonland permanent on the battlefield, then you straight-up can't cast Suppression Bonds at all since there is no valid target for the spell.

Sword of War and Peace and Countryside Crusher If I put Sword of War and Peace onto Countryside Crusher does Countryside Crusher lose it's effect?

No. Because the Countryside Crusher doesn't target itself with it's first or second ability, the Sword would not protect it from itself. Thus, you can equip it and still mill lands to get counters.

Scythe of the Wretched + non-creature death? So, here's the situation. I have a creature with deathtouch and Scythe of the Wretched equipped. I attack and my opponent blocks with a creature he copied using Sculpting Steel. I can't remember if Sculpting Steel comes back onto the battlefield under my control because of the Scythe or not. I want to say no, because it stops being a creature when it hits the graveyard, but it's been so long since I played, I can't remember.

It is brought back under your control. If you choose to copy a non-creature artifact on its return, Scythe will stay where it is. - 603.10 Normally, objects that exist immediately after an event are checked to see if the event matched any trigger conditions, and continuous effects that exist at that time are used to determine what the trigger conditions are and what the objects involved in the event look like. However, some triggered abilities are exceptions to this rule; the game “looks back in time” to determine if those abilities trigger, using the existence of those abilities and the appearance of objects immediately prior to the event. The list of exceptions is as follows: - 603.10a Some zone-change triggers look back in time. These are leaves-the-battlefield abilities, abilities that trigger when a card leaves a graveyard, and abilities that trigger when an object that all players can see is put into a hand or library. - 701.3b If an effect tries to attach an Aura, Equipment, or Fortification to an object it can’t be attached to, the Aura, Equipment, or Fortification doesn’t move. [..] - 301.5 Some artifacts have the subtype “Equipment.” An Equipment can be attached to a creature. It can’t legally be attached to an object that isn’t a creature.

Saheeli Rai + Nicol Bolas, the Ravager If you copy Nicol Bolas, the Ravager with Saheeli Rai, can you transform the token with Bolas' activated ability? Or does one copy immediately die to the legend rule? Furthermore, if you can transform the copy and have it live, would it still be exiled at the end of the turn? Thanks!

If you copy Nicol Bolas, the Ravager with Saheeli Rai, can you transform the token with Bolas' activated ability? No, the copy immediately dies as soon as it enters the battlefield, before either player can take actions. Or does one copy immediately die to the legend rule? Yes. Furthermore, if you can transform the copy and have it live, would it still be exiled at the end of the turn? Assuming an effect like the one on [[Mirror Gallery]]: The transform ability exiles the permanent, then tries to return it. A token anywhere outside the battlefield ceases to exist. Nothing would return to the battlefield and there would be nothing for Saheeli's ability to exile.

Cascade + Split Cards Say I have a cascade trigger for a card that costs 4 or less and I cascade into a Research // Development, do I have to cast the research or can I "skip" the card because the CMC is higher than 4? What if I cascade into Spite // Malice, do I have to cast it (because both individual cards cost 4) or do I skip it because it has 8 CMC? Thanks in advance

do I have to cast the research or can I "skip" the card because the CMC is higher than 4? You must skip the split card because its CMC is 7 so higher than 4. What if I cascade into Spite // Malice, do I have to cast it (because both individual cards cost 4) or do I skip it because it has 8 CMC? You skip it. It's CMC is 8. - 708.4 In every zone except the stack, the characteristics of a split card are those of its two halves combined. This is a change from previous rules. - 708.4b The mana cost of a split card is the combined mana costs of its two halves. A split card’s colors and converted mana cost are determined from its combined mana cost.

That Progenitus fella and Shifting Shadow rules question I run a deck revolving around the shifting shadow enchantment card to bring out emerakul, worldspine wurm and the like easy peasy. There are only 4 big creatures in the deck (chosen to be re shuffled into the deck) and the rest generally are spells to gain tokens, life and evil doings. My question is if I have shifting shadow on a token. When the card activates, the token dies and if I happen to draw progenitus as the creature to replace it, can this happen due to the ^protection from everything.^ Would this combo work? And if it does work would the enchantment attach to progenitus or not? Sorry for the long windedness of this. Has been long ......16 hour day today. Many thanks in advance

Would this combo work? Depends what you mean by work. The token would be destroyed. You'd put Progenitus on the field. You'd fail to attach Shifting Shadow to it. You'd put the other cards on the bottom of the library. The trigger would finish resolving and cease to exist. The unattached Shifting Shadow would be put in the graveyard. - 701.3b If an effect tries to attach an Aura, Equipment, or Fortification to an object it can’t be attached to, the Aura, Equipment, or Fortification doesn’t move. - 702.16c A permanent or player with protection can’t be enchanted by Auras that have the stated quality. [..] - 704.5m 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. [..]

If I’m playing a three player game and one resurrects my platinum angel and the third player plays roil elemental gaining control of said platinum angel when he loses control of elemental who gets the Angel me or the original controller who resurrected it

The default controller, the player that put in on the field, the caster of Resurrect.

Erratic Cyclops effect Evening friends; Quick question, erratic cyclops says that whenever you cast an Instant/sorcery it gets +x/0 till end of turn. I cast a Goblin rally getting +5/0 then I cast radical idea, my friend thinks that now changes so my Erratic Cyclops is now a 2/8 where as I think it is additive making it a 7/8 (adding the 5 cmc of the goblin rally and the 2 from radical idea). Sorry if this is the wrong place for this any help would be great. Your friend; Magic Mike 20XX

It's 7. You cast Goblin Rally, which caused Erratic Cyclops to Trigger, putting the triggered ability onto the stack. When that triggered ability resolved, it created a continuous effect giving your cyclops +5/+0. (Then your Rally resolves) You then cast Radical Idea, and same deal... triggered ability triggers, goes on the stack, then resolves, creating another continuous effect giving your cyclops +2/+0), then your Idea resolves. Now there are 2 separate continuous effects affecting your dude. And end of turn, both those continuous effects expire.

For abilities that are activated when a player or opponent “attacks,” does this include blocking as well?

No. Attacking is specifically "to be declared as an attacking creature in the 'Declare Attackers' step of the Combat Phase".

If Dread Statuary’s ability is activated and the Golem artifact creature is defeated (blocked by a creature with power of 2 or greater), is Dread Statuary sent to the graveyard or does it stay on the battlefield as a land card?

It will take lethal damage and go to the graveyard. ​ Also worth noting (or at least I find it very interesting) that if this land took 1 damage and then stopped being a creature the damage would still be marked on it till the end of the turn. Meaning that if you made this into a creature, it took 1 damage, then stopped being a creature, then you activated it again and it was dealt 1 damage it would have lethal marked on it.

In Bolas's Clutches question My opponent use Ixalan's Binding to catch my In Bolas's Clutches. What happens when I destroy Ixalan's Binding? Does it go to graveyard/enchants nothing or can I use In Bolas's Clutches to enchant any permanent on battlefield? (I'm not sure, as this is not ETB effect)

Yup. (assuming nothing has protection from blue) Even cooler, since it's entering the battlefield attached to something, you can even enchant hexproof stuff =)

Illusionary Mask and cost reducers Will face-down cost reducers like Obscuring AEther and Dream Chisel work on creatures cast using the mask? Will normal cost reducers like planar gate, semblance anvil, helm of awakening, etc work on creatures cast using the mask? Would mycosynth lattice allow cost reducers to bring down the cost to cast creatures with the mask down to 0?

Leyline of the Void + Stiffle Based on how the second ability is worded it seems like the effect is a triggered ability. Could I use stiffle to make something go to the graveyard if LotV is in play?

Nope. Triggered abilities always use "When", "Whenever" or "At". Leyline has a replacement effect, which typically is worded with "If... instead". Also, activated abilities are {cost}{colon}{effect} If you look at Liliana's abilities there's a small colon after the cost... so Lili's abilities are activated abilities, and those can be countered by Stifle. So while you can't prevent a sacrificed card from going to exile, you can counter the thing that made you sacrifice something to begin with.

Quick question! Interaction of Tiana and Bestow cards As the title implies: what is the interaction of a bestowed card on a creature - being then an aura that enchants creatures - with Tiana in the field, with the bestow-aura being sac'ed or destroyed? Does the bestowed aura come back my hand? Because, while it's on the battlefield, it is an aura. But when it touches the graveyard, it goes back being a, enchantment creature. If it goes back to hand, this opens up some more space for both creatures AND auras in my decks... Thanks!

Does the bestowed aura come back my hand? Yes. It's like how if you turn a land into a creature, if it dies, that's a creature dying. Even though it's only a land again in the graveyard. In the comprehensive rules, section 603.10 covers this topic, though it's not an easy read.

Master Biomancer+ Wreath of Geists+Mycoloth question? So, let's say I have [[Master Biomancer]] on the field and it's enchanted with [[Wreath of Geists]]. There's no creatures in my graveyard. Now, I cast [[Mycoloth]] and Devour three creatures. What I am wondering is if the stack allows me to Devour those creatures so my Mycoloth gets 6 counters, then after that when he enters the battlefield the Biomancer would put on an extra 5 counters? Or would the Mycoloth only get an addition 2 counters from the Biomancer because he has already entered the battlefield when he first Devoured the creatures?

The only thing involving the stack here is Mycoloth resolving. Devour and Biomancer's effect are replacement effects that alter what happens as Mycoloth enters. You can choose to apply the effects in either order, but Mycoloth will enter with six +1/+1 counter from Devouring and 2 + 0 (the number of creature cards in your graveyard prior to the Devouring) counters from Biomancer so eight in total. Initial event: {Mycoloth enters the battlefield} Two replacement effects are applicable, choose one, let's apply Devour. Modified event: {Mycoloth enters the battlefield with six +1/+1 counters, sacrifice 3 creatures} The other replacement effect is still applicable so let's apply it. Modified event: {Mycoloth enters the battlefield with ~~six~~ eight +1/+1 counters, sacrifice 3 creatures} Finally, there are no more replacement effects to apply so the event gets processed and Mycoloth enters with 8 counters and the three creatures get sacrificed.

Incendiary command and nath of the gilt-leaf Hey i had a question regarding incendiary command in a specific situation, i had a game where my friend had nath of the gilt-leaf on the battlefield. I used command to discard and draw, and also do 2 dmg to each creature. It was 3 player game and we all had 7 cards so he got 14 tokens. Does the effect all go off at the same time therefore the 2 dmg is hitting only whats on the board at time of cast? Or am i able to choose we all discard then he creates tokens then the 2 dmg smacks the board thanks in advance!

Damage is done, then discards/draws happen, then the tokens happen. In that order. When Incendiary Command resolves, you follow its instructions in order without interruption. (nobody gets priority while a spell is resolving) So, 2 damage goes onto each creature that exists at that moment, then everyone discards and draws. (The discards cause Gilt-leaf to trigger, but triggers don't go onto the stack until someone is about to gain priority, so nothing happens yet). Now the spell is done resolving, active player is about to get priority, and now anything that was dealt lethal damage is destroyed, and then the discard triggers go on the stack... if nobody does anything, the triggers end up resolving, and tokens come into play... but we're quite a few steps past when damage was dealt, so they're fine.

Can I sacrifice crypt creeper to pay for bloodflow connoisseur? Would both the ability happen?

Each cost is a separate payment. You would have to announce which ability you were activating; then the sacrifice would pay only for that ability.

Shahrazad counterflux A kind of strange question, but what would happen if one player played Shahrazad, then the sub-game started, then later in the sub-game another player played counterflux (counter target spell you don't control) for its overload cost? Is the Shahrazad spell constantly on the stack? If so, what happens to the sub-game? Is it just over, and they go back to the real game? I know this won't ever come up in a Wizards sanctioned tournament, just wondering.

- 719.1a A “subgame” is a completely separate Magic game created by an effect. [..] - 719.1b No effects or definitions created in either the main game or the subgame have any meaning in the other, except as defined by the effect that created the subgame. [..] - 719.2 As the subgame starts, an entirely new set of game zones is created. [..] Is the Shahrazad spell constantly on the stack? Yes, in the stack of the main game. Counterflux affects spells in the stack of the sub-game. what happens to the sub-game? It continues just fine.

Melding with Blind Obedience onboard When \[\[Bruna, the Fading Light\]\] and \[\[Gisela, the Broken Blade\]\] meld into \[\[Brisela, Voice of Nightmares\]\] while \[\[Blind Obedience\]\] in present in an opponents battlefield and both Bruna and Gisela are tapped, will the merged creature be tapped because of the previous tapped state of its melding components, will it be tapped because of blind obedience, or will it be untapped? What would happen if only one of the creatures melding into Brisela is tapped?

Gisela's oracle text contains this instruction: At the beginning of your end step, if you both own and control Gisela, the Broken Blade and a creature named Bruna, the Fading Light, exile them, then meld them into Brisela, Voice of Nightmares. The rules on the Meld keyword action say this: 701.36a Meld is a keyword action that appears in an ability on one card in a meld pair. (See rule 712, “Meld Cards.”) To meld the two cards in a meld pair, put them onto the battlefield with their back faces up and combined. The resulting permanent is a single object represented by two cards. Because the Melded creature of Brisela is entering the battlefield, it will have Blind Obedience's replacement effect applied to it and will enter tapped. This is irrelevant of the state of the Bruna or Gisela cards before the meld occurred, as Brisela is a new permanent with no connection to those two permanents.

Cards stolen by Thief of Sanity being exiled and returned If [[Thief of Sanity]], as per its normal ability, steals away a creature card from the opponent's deck and plays it. Said creature card is then exiled by [[Hieromancer's Cage]] [[Hieromancer's Cage]] is then subsequently exiled/destroyed. Who gains control of said creature when it returns to the battlefield?

Owner's control. This is the same wording as [[Banishing Light]] which has reminder text to that effect.

Need info about blinking Auras and Fading counters Hi, all! I put together a Brago deck for EDH and I’m not sure about some blinking and fading cards. If I have a aura on my opponent’s permanent, let’s say a [[Spreading Seas]] on a opponents mountain, and then I attack with Brago. Can I blink the aura and put back in a opponent’s [[Tundra]]? Is it legal? Is it legal for all auras as long there are legal targets on the battlefield? Another question. [[Parallax Tide]] Can I remove all fade counters on the turn I played the enchantment exiling my lands, then attack with Brago, blink the enchantment putting the return all lands trigger first, and then exiling other 5 lands for good and getting my lands back untapped? If so, it works the same way for [[Parallax Wave]], right? With [[Strionic Resonator]], can I copy the Brago and start blinking all over again multiple times if I have mana rocks that generates 2 or more mana? That’s all! Thanks.

Can I blink the aura and put back in a opponent’s Tundra? Is it legal? Yes. Is it legal for all auras as long there are legal targets on the battlefield? Yes, there doesn't even have to be legal objects or players to enchant, but if there isn't the aura would stay in exile. Can I remove all fade counters on the turn I played the enchantment exiling my lands, then attack with Brago, blink the enchantment putting the return all lands trigger first, and then exiling other 5 lands for good and getting my lands back untapped? You can exile your lands, yes. You can then attack with Brago and deal combat damage and trigger targeting Tide. Tide will leave and then return triggering its ability to return your lands. It will also have five new fade counters. You can exile five target lands, but they aren't gone for good, presumably they'll return on your next upkeep when you have to sacrifice Tide. Wave works the same way, except with creatures instead of lands. can I copy the Brago trigger and start blinking all over again multiple times if I have mana rocks that generates 2 or more mana? Yes.

Changing Creature Types at Instant Speed I thought this would have been an easy question to answer but I've been looking all over the place and can't find a clear answer. If a player casts a spell like [[Walk the Plank]], [[Rend Flesh]], or [[Eyeblight's Ending]] choosing a valid target (i.e., a non-Merfolk, non-Spirit, non-Elf creature) and another player casts [[Blades of Velis Vel]] on the targeted creature in response, does it get destroyed or not? That is, do spells which require a specific creature type for their targets fizzle or resolve if the creature type of the formerly valid target changes so as to become invalid prior to resolution? (My understanding, based on the [[Pyroblast]] / [[Red Elemental Blast]] distinction, is that the creature still dies, but after combing the Gatherer and MTG Assist for answers I've been unable to confirm.)

does it get destroyed or not? It does not because the spell won't resolve because the target is illegal. Walk the Plank is legal if the creature doesn't have subtype Merfolk so your casting is legal, however, when it goes to resolve, the target is subtype Merfolk and no longer legal so WtP gets removed from the stack without resolving. - 608.2h If an effect refers to certain characteristics, it checks only for the value of the specified characteristics, regardless of any related ones an object may also have. Example: An effect that reads “Destroy all black creatures” destroys a white-and-black creature, but one that reads “Destroy all nonblack creatures” doesn’t. My understanding, based on the Pyroblast / Red Elemental Blast distinction, is that the creature still dies I'm not sure how you draw that conclusion from those two cards. In one case the target is still legal, but the condition is false so the effect does nothing whereas in the other case, the target is no longer legal so the spell doesn't resolve. In both cases the target would remain unaffected. To use that parallel for Walk the Plank... - Destroy target creature if it isn't a merfolk. - Destroy target non-merfolk creature. Former case, target is still legal, but nothing happens because it is a merfolk. Latter case, target is no longer legal so fails to resolve. Creature lives either way.

Excess mana in mana pool rules I encountered this scenario recently and was unsure how it is handled: Amy and Noel plays GRN draft. Amy has an Aurelia in play. Noel taps 4 mana and play price of fame targeting Aurelia. Is Amy supposed to point out that Noel has payed an incorrect amount of mana for price of fame? If so, is it a double GRV (assuming no cheating)? How is this usually handled? These are the only relevant rules I found: 106.4a If any mana remains in a player’s mana pool after mana is spent to pay a cost, that player announces what mana is still there. 106.4b If a player passes priority (see rule 116) while there is mana in their mana pool, that player announces what mana is there.

Is Amy supposed to point out that Noel has payed an incorrect amount of mana for price of fame? Yes or alternatively call a judge. Letting a player break a rule to your advantage is cheating. - JAR: Serious Problems - Intentionally and knowingly breaking or letting an opponent break game or tournament rules, or lying, in order to gain an advantage. - IPG 4.8: A person breaks a rule defined by the tournament documents, lies to a Tournament Official, or notices an offense committed in their (or a teammate’s) match and does not call attention to it. If so, is it a double GRV (assuming no cheating)? How is this usually handled? No, CPV or GRV (Noel) and FtMGS (Amy). If I had an inkling that Amy knew and said nothing for an advantage, a DQ would be on the table.

Act of Treason on Draconic Disciple, sacrifice the disciple, who gets the dragon next turn? Who is its owner? If I use \[\[Act of Treason\]\] to gain control of my opponent's \[\[Draconic Disciple\]\] until end of turn, then activate its sacrifice ability to create a dragon token, do I keep the dragon after the end of the turn? Bonus question: if I keep the dragon, what happens if a "return all creatures to their owner's control" effect comes into play? Do I "own" the token, or does my opponent? Thanks!

The token is a completely separate game object from the Disciple. It has no temporary "gain control" effect on it from the Act of Treason, so you won't "return" it to another player when Act of Treason would run out. A token is owned by whoever created it, which means the player under whose control it entered the battlefield.

Commander: Estrid's Invocation + Oblivion Ring Hello, My friend played \[\[Estrid's Invocation\]\] copying his \[\[Oblivion Ring\]\] on my commander. We both agreed that if I put my commander in the Command Zone he could recopy the Oblivion Ring to a new target next turn without my commander returning to play. Were we correct?

Yes. Oblivion Ring uses linked abilities which require the card to be in exile to be returned. The command zone isn't exile so the LtB trigger can't find the card to return.

Question about counterspells on the stack. Player A casts risk factor. Player B casts negate in response. Player A casts Expansion, targeting the risk factor still on the stack. My question is, does the expansion still go off for the risk factor even if the negate's effect resolves first? And is there a way to get around that negate if the expansion was cast before the negate?

Stack is —TOP— Expansion (Risk Factor) Negate (Risk Factor) Risk Factor —BOTTOM— Expansion resolves first, making a copy of Risk Factor. That copy resolves normally. Once it does so the Negate resolves and the original Risk Factor is countered. If the stack was —TOP— Negate (Risk Factor) Expansion (Risk Factor) Risk Factor —BOTTOM— The Negate would resolve first and counter the original Risk Factor, causing Expansion to fail to resolve due to invalid target.

Copying creatures with name-specific triggers. [[Lazav, the multifarious]] copies [[Etrata, the silencer]]. Keeps his own name, and his copy ability. Deals combat damage. ·Does the iteration of etrata's name in her ability text change to the copier's name, allowing the ability to trigger normally(which would include being shuffled into library) with Lazav? ·If so, am I able to morph him into something else after damage step to keep him on the board? Or does the printed ability happen in full before its copy ability can be resolved?

When a creature's name appears in an ability, it just means "this permanent". The permanent's actual name is irrelevant, the ability always references the permanent it's on. So neither of those things change anything about how the ability functions. One additional note: If so, am I able to morph him into something else after damage step to keep him on the board? Even if it was name-specific, this wouldn't do anything, since Lazav's copying ability specifically doesn't change his name.

Thinking with [Prototype portals] Hey there. Lets say i have a playset of prototype portals in my deck (4). I cast the 1st to exile Portal number 2, meaning I can now make, in theory, infinite, tokens of the first exiled portal. If the first portal leaves the battlefield and comes back (Portal 1 making portal 2s), does it then retain the ability to make portal 2s, AFTER coming back to the battlefield, seeing as the card it originally targeted, is still in exile

If the first portal leaves the battlefield and comes back As soon as it leaves, it's an entirely different object with no memory if its previous existence, so when it comes back, you'll need to exile something else from your hand (or have it sitting there unable to make things)

Grenzo Havoc Raiser + Treasure Nabber From a game of EDH I played yesterday, I was playing my [[Grenzo, Havoc Raiser]] deck and stole player 2's mana rock with it. Player 3 dropped [[Treasure Nabber]] and took control of the rock when I tapped it. I died during the time they had control of it. Does it return to the owner's control or does it get exiled and why?

At the end of Player 3's turn, when the control-changing effect wears off, the artifact will be exiled. 800.4c If an effect that gives a player still in the game control of an object ends, there is no other effect giving control of that object to another player in the game, and the object entered the battlefield under the control of a player who has left the game, the object is exiled. This is not a state-based action. It happens as soon as the control-changing effect ends.

[Rules Question] Stolen Creature Returns I get a Niv-Mizzet from my opponent with my Thief of Sanity. I cast the Niv-Mizzet. On my opponent turn they cast Ixalan’s Binding on the Niv-Mizzet. If I destroy Ixalan’s Binding who gets Niv-Mizzet? Not sure if this is the right place to ask this question. Thanks for the help :)

Owner's control. This is the same wording as [[Banishing Light]] which has reminder text to that effect.

Questions about Mairsil the Pretender I have some questions about \[\[Mairsil, the Pretender\]\]. If I exile some creatures with his ability, and then later exile a \[\[Cold Storage\]\] with him, can I sacrifice him to bring all creatures exiled back onto battlefield from exile? (The ones with cage counters) A bit different interaction, if I cage \[\[Sword of the Ages\]\] on him, and then use the ability to tap and sacrifice him and some others, will he count himself as an additional 4 damage since he was sacrificed to the effect? Thanks in advance

To answer your first question, no unfortunately not because the cold storage abilities are linked 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. To answer the second, Yes because the Sword ability says "where X is the total power of the creatures sacrificed this way" Mairsil is still a creature, so he does count himself as one of the creatures sacrificed just like the sword would count itself if you had a March of the Machines in play.

Niv Mizzet vs Niv Mizzet Hey guys, i have a probably simple question but i'm relatively new to MTG. Who draws and deals damage first when there are two Niv Mizzets on board and a player casts an instant? Is it the player who casts the spell or the one whose turn is? Also, does it always work like that with triggered abilities? ​

When things trigger simultaneously for both players, the triggers go on the stack in AP-NAP (Active Player - Non-Active Player) order and resolve top-down. So, the NAP will resolve their trigger first. For a bit more about APNAP and simultaneous triggers:

Lightning Storm Spellskite interaction So last night we had a weird interaction due to a misplay by myself. I cast a [[lightning storm]] after comboing off with modern Ad naseum not realizing my opponent has [[Spellskite]] After he redirects the storm to Spellskite using its ability I bounce his Spellskite. Can I still use Lightning storms ability to redirect the spell back to my opponent or does the spell now fizzle due to currently having an invalid target.

It doesn't check the target until it goes to resolve, so yes, you can.

[Rule Question] Praetor's Grasp Commander format for reference. Assume a 4 player game. Player A cast Praetor's Grasp. It resolves. They exile a card face down from Player B's library. Player C kills Player A before they get a chance to cast the card taken. What happens to the card? Does it remain exiled face down or is it now exiled face up?

It remains exiled face down. Unlike zones like the graveyard (where each player has their own copy of it) or the battlefield (where objects have both controllers and owners), there's just one exile zone, and everyone's cards go in it. So player B owns a face-down card in exile, with an effect on it that allows player A to play it. Once player A dies, there's no reason anything needs to change because it's fine that player B still owns a face-down card in exile, so nothing happens.

Naru and copying a illusionists stratagem with no targets. In [[Naru Meha]] Commander I try to draw my deck through [[Illusionists Stratagem]]. I've seen some people say you need at least one target on the original for Naru's copy to have a target. Is this correct. My main confusion is around the "up to two target" in the stratagem and Naru's "You may choose new targets". The relevant rule seems to be 706.10, which says every property is copied. Does the original have 2x a target of "null" or 0x a target?

You do need at least one target on the original to target Naru Meha with the copy. If you cast the original without targeting anything, it has no targets, so when you copy it you get a copy that has no targets. The key rules are: 601.2c The player announces their choice of an appropriate object or player for each target the spell requires. ... If the spell has a variable number of targets, the player announces how many targets they will choose before they announce those targets. ... 706.10. ... A copy of a spell or ability copies both the characteristics of the spell or ability and all decisions made for it, including modes, targets, the value of X, and additional or alternative costs. ... So, when casting a spell with a variable number of targets, you have to decide upon casting it how many targets you will choose. A copy of it copies all decisions made during casting, and since the number of targets was a decision made during casting, it copies that decision and thus has the same number of targets.

Question about cipher ability: can more than one cipher be used on one card? Meaning that card would create multiple copies of itself or can a card only be ciphered once?

It sounds like you're asking about the card Stolen Identity. If you cast multiple physical copies of Stolen Identity (copies of the spell don't count), you can encode them both onto the same creature. When that creature deals combat damage to a player, you cast all of the spells encoded on it, so you'll get to make a copy of target artifact or creature twice (you can choose different targets for the copies).

Exquisite archangel What’s the actual ruling on this card as far as where it can be exiled from and if a mans cost has to be paid to use its ability?

Text on a card only functions off the battlefield if that text is only meaningful while not on the battlefield, if the rules declare it to be a type of ability that does, or if it explicitly references working somewhere else. None of those things are true for the second ability on Exquisite Archangel, so it has to be on the battlefield for that replacement effect to work. That replacement effect requires no mana payment to function properly.

Penance/Hidden Retreat question Do I need a legal target to active the ability on those cards?

Look for the word "target" in the oracle test... if you see it, you need a legal target. If you don't, you don't. Penance says "of your choice", that isn't "target" so you can choose any source (even hexproof/shroud ones) Hidden Retreat says "target instant or sorcery", so you need a legal target in order to activate. ("I cast Ancestral Recall", "cool, I'll activate this, preventing all damage from Ancestral Recall". "but... that doesn't damage". "right? Now it really really doesn't!")

ETB ability and “loses all abilities” I played Godo, bandit warlord and my opponent flashed in merfolk trickster attempting to use the trickster’s ability to stop my Godo’s ability to tutor an equipment. Do I get the equipment?

As soon as Godo entered, his ability triggered. Before you got priority, it was put on the stack. Your opponent doesn't even get priority to play their Trickster until that's on the stack. If there had been a [[Humility]] or a [[Torpor Orb]] on the battlefield prior to Godo entering, that would have prevented it.

Primal Wellspring and counterspells So lately on MTG Arena I've been running an Izzet draw-burn deck and I've found that it didn't really suit my playstyle very well, so I've been considering converting it into a bit more of a control deck. One thing I came across that I'm a bit unsure of, however, is the use of counterspells using the Primal Amulet's transformed version, Primal Wellspring. What I'm wondering is, when I cast a counterspell but due to issues of remaining mana I am forced to tap Primal Wellspring for the necessary mana, what does the copy do? The way I was taught MTG a counterspell essentially removes the spell beneath it from the Stack, so assuming I attempted to counter a spell and Primal Wellspring triggers, will the copy (now sitting directly above the original in the Stack) counter the original counterspell and thus allow the spell I'm trying to counter to resolve? I don't want to find out in a close game at a critical moment so I thought I'd check here first.

A counterspell typically counters a target spell, not just whatever happens to be beneath it on the stack. If you get a copy of a counterspell, you will probably want to direct it at the spell you want to counter. When one of your counterspells resolves, it removes the target spell from the stack, causing the other counterspell to "fizzle" (be removed from the stack due to having no legal targets) when it tries to resolve. It's not very complicated and shouldn't cause issues for you if you have to use [[Primal Wellspring]].

What is the rule concerning where land is placed? Me and a few friends were wondering what rule actually states where land is "legally" supposed to be placed as some of us place it above our creatures.

This is only mandatory for Competitive REL and Professional REL, but players are encouraged to arrange their game state clearly in Regular REL. Players in Competitive and Professional Rules Enforcement Level matches must arrange their cards, tokens, and other accessories on the battlefield using the following layout: From the player’s perspective, nonlands must be kept closer to the player’s opponent than lands, and no non-land cards should be between the land area and the edge of the table closest to the player. Non-creature permanents whose use may reasonably be associated with either the land or nonland area (e.g. an artifact whose only ability is a mana ability) may be located in either area, provided the overall layout is, in the judgment of tournament officials, clear. However, permanents that are also creatures (e.g. artifacts with March of the Machines on the battlefield, Dryad Arbor, or a Treetop Village that is currently a creature) must be placed in the nonland area. Players may not use other cards to intentionally obscure the presence of a permanent in any area of the battlefield. Each card should remain clearly associated with any permanents attached to it. For example, an Aura enchanting a land should be in the land area in contact with that land. The player’s library, graveyard, and exiled cards should be kept all to the left of the battlefield or all to the right of the battlefield at the player’s discretion. The player’s graveyard and exiled cards should be adjacent to the player’s library. All three should be distinct at all times. If a card is exiled by a permanent and that permanent includes a way to perform additional actions with the exiled card, the association of the two cards must be clear. Keeping the two cards together is recommended. Each untapped permanent should face its controller. Players are permitted to briefly turn a card upside-down as a memory aid. Tournament officials may make exceptions or additions to these guidelines at their sole discretion in order to keep each player’s game layout clear. Players in exceptional situations (e.g. a player playing a deck with no lands or a deck that makes significant use of the graveyard) should consult with tournament officials to determine what allowances, if any, will be made.

Faceless Butcher and similar effects: Will two of them go infinite? Sorry boys, this is gonna be a long one. I'm trying to build an [[Aminatou, the Fateshifter]] commander deck that abuses things like [[Wispweaver Angel]] and [[Faceless Butcher]] to make infinite combos, with each exiling the other until the end of time. Turns out, though, the stack gets funky when you have Faceless Butcher leaving the battlefield before its trigger resolves. Here's an example, so you can get an idea of why I'm so confused. Let's say I have Aminatou, the Fateshifter and [[Storm Crow]] on the battlefield, and Faceless Butcher and Wispweaver Angel in my hand. My opponents are all F6'd. I cast Faceless Butcher. He enters, and I target Storm Crow with the trigger. I wave bye-bye to the crow. I then cast Wispweaver Angel, and it enters. I target Faceless Butcher with the trigger. Faceless Butcher leaves the battlefield, and Storm Crow comes back. Wispweaver Angel isn't done resolving though; Faceless Butcher comes back and puts its own trigger on the stack. I target Wispweaver Angel. The angel leaves, and the stack is empty. I use Aminatou, the Fateshifter's -1 ability and blink Faceless Butcher. Faceless Butcher leaves, and triggers Wispweaver Angel to enter again. This is as far as I can go before I stop knowing what happens. My questions are these: How do the triggers play out in the above scenario? If I add an [[Altar of the Brood]] to the above board state, can I mill everyone out and win? And if so, how?

Unfortunately this does not go infinite because of two rules interactions. 1.Both the triggers go on the stack at the same time after butcher is blinked 603.3b If multiple abilities have triggered since the last time a player received priority, each player, in APNAP order, puts triggered abilities they control on the stack in any order they choose. (See rule 101.4.) Then the game once again checks for and resolves state-based actions until none are performed, then abilities that triggered during this process go on the stack. This process repeats until no new state-based actions are performed and no abilities trigger. Then the appropriate player gets priority. 2. Targets for an ability are chosen when the ability is put on the stack. 114.1. Some spells and abilities require their controller to choose one or more targets for them. The targets are object(s) and/or player(s) the spell or ability will affect. These targets are declared as part of the process of putting the spell or ability on the stack. The targets can’t be changed except by another spell or ability that explicitly says it can do so. This means when you blink butcher, both its abilities go on the stack at the same time in the order that you choose. Therefore you need to choose a target for the butcher's ETB ability before its "leave the battlefield" ability resolves and returns the angel. This means you can't target the angel because it hasn't come back yet.

Either a bug in MTG Arena or I totally oofed my understanding of the stack. Twitch Highlight of the play in question is below as well as the stack order. ​ Shouldn't the expansion have let me choose a new target for the countered ionize and it not have resolved? Or am I a totally n00b? ​ ​ Stack Order P1 Lava Coil Targeting P2 Creature P2 Lightning Strike Targeting Player 1 P1 Ionize Targeting Lightning Strike P2 Ionize Ionize Targeting Lightning Strike P1 Expansion Targeting Second Players Ionize (MTG Arena doesn't let me choose a new spell target)

You countered your own expansion explosion (although EE doesn't actually get countered because the spell it copies replaces it in the stack, you so just got a fizzle instead). When you cast expansion explosion, you first target the spell you want to copy, then you target what the copy will target.

Shared Animosity + Spikeshot Elder question Hey all, I'm trying my hand at a goblin commander deck and was wondering... If I had (for example) 9 goblin tokens + spikeshot + shared animosity, I declared my attacks and then paid for spikeshot elder's ability twice, would I deal 20 damage to target player (or creature)? Or would his power still be 1 when his ability resolves? Cheers

You can wait until the shared animosity trigger resolves and then pay for the ability twice, dealing 20 damage.

Assigning combat damage to two blockers Good evening all, We just had a rules debate at standard showdown, about assigning combat damage to multiple blockers. We read the 510 combat damage rule and the level 1 judge there agreed with me, however the other player was adamant that we were wrong and interpreted the rule differently. And as of right now I am totally confused as to which is right. Here's the scenario. I attack with a golgari findbroker, 3/4 vanilla. He blocks with two 3/5's (vanilla) and at this point I want to assign the damage of 2 to one of the blockers and 1 to the other. He says that that is not allowed, stating rule 510c. However I believe I am allowed to assign damages how I please according to the first section of 510. I was wanting to cast finallity to kill his board after combat so that's where the issue lies. Thank you for any clarification.

The answer to this question starts in 509 and ends, as both you agree, in 510. Below are some sections of those rules, emphasis mine. 509.1. First, the defending player declares blockers. This turn-based action doesn’t use the stack. To declare blockers, the defending player follows the steps below, in order. 509.2. Second, for each attacking creature that’s become blocked, the active player announces that creature’s damage assignment order, which consists of the creatures blocking it in an order of that player’s choice. (During the combat damage step, an attacking creature can’t assign combat damage to a creature that’s blocking it unless each creature ahead of that blocking creature in its order is assigned lethal damage.) This turn-based action doesn’t use the stack. 510.1. First, the active player announces how each attacking creature assigns its combat damage, then the defending player announces how each blocking creature assigns its combat damage. This turn-based action doesn’t use the stack. A player assigns a creature’s combat damage according to the following rules: 510.1c A blocked creature assigns its combat damage to the creatures blocking it. If no creatures are currently blocking it (if, for example, they were destroyed or removed from combat), it assigns no combat damage. If exactly one creature is blocking it, it assigns all its combat damage to that creature. If two or more creatures are blocking it, it assigns its combat damage to those creatures according to the damage assignment order announced for it. This may allow the blocked creature to divide its combat damage. However, it can’t assign combat damage to a creature that’s blocking it unless, when combat damage assignments are complete, each creature that precedes that blocking creature in its order is assigned lethal damage. When checking for assigned lethal damage, take into account damage already marked on the creature and damage from other creatures that’s being assigned during the same combat damage step, but not any abilities or effects that might change the amount of damage that’s actually dealt. An amount of damage that’s greater than a creature’s lethal damage may be assigned to it. Your opponent is correct here - you must assign lethal damage to the first declared creature to assign any to the subsequent creature.

Rules question about responding to instants during the combat phase (Collar the Culprit after Bounty of Might resolves at the end of Declare Blockers step) The other say I was in the final round of an FNM Draft, and was playing a Selesnya deck with Bounty of Might in it. Against the same opponent, in all 3 games, I was lucky enough to have [[Bounty of Might]] in my hand, with a [[Healer's Hawk]] on the battlefield. I though I had lethal once I swung with my creatures and the Hawk was left unblocked, and he only had 9 life left. I tap my mana and play Bounty of Might, giving my Hawk +9/+9, and my opponent says he is going to cast Collar the Culprit on my Hawk AFTER Bounty of Might resolves. Is this legal? Once I cast my spell and I pass priority, and he also passes it (since he lets it resolve), does he get priority back before the Damage step of the Combat phase takes place? Thanks in advance for any help. I'm still a bit puzzled by the more intricate details of the stack and priority systems

Your opponent is correct. Even thought you passed priority before, both player obtain priority before changing steps. If any of the player takes an action, the process is repeated once the stack is empty again.

Force of Savagery and Graft mechanic? So quick question. If I have Aquastrand Sprider on the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it, then cast Force of Savagery, will the Force live long enough for me to put the counter on it? Or will it die because of stat-based things? So basically, if I have a creature with Graft out, can I cast Force of Savagery and have it live as a 9/1?

It will die as a state-based action before the +1/+1 counter resolves, you would have to have another way to keep it alive.

Titania, Protector of Argoth I have a \[\[Titania, Protector of Argoth\]\] in play. My opponent casts a wrath. I cast \[\[natural affinity\]\] in response and make all lands creatures. When the wrath resolves, and my Titania and lands go to the graveyard, do I get Titania "make 5/3" triggers on the stack? Pretty sure the answer is no but a friend disagrees. ​ Thanks for your time

Yes, you do. Titania has a leaves-the-battlefield trigger. So, it will look back to see all other permanents that leave the battlefield the same time as itself. Therefore, it will see all the 2/2 Lands destroyed by the Wrath the same time as Titania and will trigger for each of them. Compare to something life [[The Gitrog Monster]], which does not have a leaves-the-battlefield trigger, since it says "from anywhere". If Wrath destroys an animated Land and the Frog at the same time, the Frog won't trigger. 603.6c Leaves-the-battlefield abilities trigger when a permanent moves from the battlefield to another zone, or when a phased-in permanent leaves the game because its owner leaves the game. These are written as, but aren’t limited to, “When [this object] leaves the battlefield, . . .” or “Whenever [something] is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, . . . .” (See also rule 603.10.) An ability that attempts to do something to the card that left the battlefield checks for it only in the first zone that it went to. An ability that triggers when a card is put into a certain zone “from anywhere” is never treated as a leaves-the-battlefield ability, even if an object is put into that zone from the battlefield. 603.10. Normally, objects that exist immediately after an event are checked to see if the event matched any trigger conditions, and continuous effects that exist at that time are used to determine what the trigger conditions are and what the objects involved in the event look like. However, some triggered abilities are exceptions to this rule; the game “looks back in time” to determine if those abilities trigger, using the existence of those abilities and the appearance of objects immediately prior to the event. The list of exceptions is as follows: 603.10a Some zone-change triggers look back in time. These are leaves-the-battlefield abilities, abilities that trigger when a card leaves a graveyard, and abilities that trigger when an object that all players can see is put into a hand or library.

Coax from the blind eternities This card says I may choose an eldrazi card I own from outside the game or in exile, reveal that card , and put it into your hand. What does “outside the game” refer too? Does that literally mean cards that aren’t in the current game like other decks etc.?

in sanctioned events it means your side board but otherwise it can be any card not being used in the game, from collection or other decks.

Can you block an attack with multiple defense creatures? Say a 3/3 attacks me, can I block with a 1/1 and a 2/2 ? Would be especially useful with trample. Getting mixed answers from the internet. Some say yes, some say no.

Unless there's some restriction (see Bristling Boar), you can announce any number of Creatures as blocking the single attacking Creature. When you declare the 1/1 and 2/2 as blocking the 3/3, the attacking player will assign them a Blocking order. Either 1/1 first and 2/2 second 2/2 first and 1/1 second. As the Combat Damage step begins, the attacking player assigns the Combat Damage of their blocked 3/3. It will have to assign at least lethal damage to the first Creature in blocking order. Any remaining damage can be assigned to the other blocking Creatures, as long as every Creature ahead of it are assigned lethal damage. If the blocking order was 1/1 first and 2/2 second, they can assign; 1 damage to the 1/1, and 2 damage to the 2/2 2 damage to the 1/1, and 1 damage to the 2/2 3 damage to the 1/1 If the blocking order was 2/2 first and 1/1 second, they can assign; 2 damage to the 2/2, and 1 damage to the 1/1 3 damage to the 2/2 Your 2/2 and 1/1 will assign their damage to the 3/3 they're blocking. All damage will be dealt at the same time.

Would Cliffhaven Vampire's ability count as dealing damage? Cliffhaven Vampire ability: "Whenever you gain life, each opponent loses 1 life." wanted to combo with "Spirit Link": "Whenever enchanted creature deals damage, you gain that much life." this does not specify combat damage like most other enchants so i'm wondering if it would also apply to the life lost when cliffhaven triggers ​

Damage leads to loss of life but is the same as loss of life. No, Spirit Link does not combo with Cliffhaven Vampire.

Master of Cruelties Kind of a stupid question but I just want to make sure- Master of Cruelties says: "Master of Cruelties can only attack alone". If there are multiple copies of MoC, would only one be able to attack?

Yes. When a card refers to its own name, it just means {this}. So, each Master would read... First strike, deathtouch {This} can only attack alone. Whenever {This} attacks a player and isn't blocked, that player's life total becomes 1. {This} assigns no combat damage this combat. 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.

Spellskite and Mutavault New players that don't understand how spellskite works: ​ Can I activate spellskite in response to my opponent activating Mutavault's ability? Would spellskite then become a 2/2 creature with all creature types?

So Spellskite's ability says, " u/2: Change a target of target spell or ability to Spellskite. (U/2 can be paid with either U or 2 life.) "Mutavault reads, " 1: Mutavault becomes a 2/2 creature with all creature types until end of turn. It's still a land. " An activated ability is read, "Pay X: Y happens." So Mutavault's ability IS an activated ability. However, Mutavault doesn't target, therefore you can't change the target to spellskite. ​ A place where spellskite would be applicable is something like:Active player casts Lightning Bolt targeting your Bear Cub. You activate Spellskite's ability to change the target to spellskite.

Panharmonicon + Caged Sun? Let's say I have a Siegehorn Ceratops on the battlefield and a Panharmonicon. I cast Caged Sun and choose White and Green as my colors. Does the Ceratops get +1/+1 or +2/+2?

I cast Caged Sun and choose White and Green as my colors. This isn't legal. You choose one or the other for the replacement effect. Panharmonicon has no interaction here because there's no triggered abilities involving artifacts or creatures entering the field. Does the Ceratops get +1/+1 or +2/+2? +1/+1 Additionally, the answer wouldn't change if you somehow managed to get two colours chosen.

Double Strike+Deathtouch+Trample VS Indestructible Hey there, I've got a damage assignement question: ​ I control a 5/5 Trample, Deathtouch with Double Strike. My opponent controls a 2/2 indestructible. I attack and my opponent blocks. How much damage does my creature deal to the defending player? 1)Does my creature 'hit' my opponent's creature twice? Meaning, it assigns 1 damage (because it has deathtouch) for each instance of damage and my opponent takes 8 damage. 2) or does it 'hit' my opponent's creature once? Meaning it assisngs only 1 point of damage to the creature on the first strike damage step and then the full 5 damage to my opponent. Opponent takes 9. ​ Thanks!!

8 damage. First damage step, since there’s a blocker you assign what would be lethal to it, which is 1, and trample the rest (if you want) Second damage step, same deal... it didn’t die so it’s still there to take lethal damage again.

Blood moon and Dryad Arbor Does blood moon make dryad arbor a non-creature? Or is it now a mountain creature ? Any help is appreciated. Thx in advance.

It's a 1/1 mountain creature. It's full type line would be Land Creature - Mountain Dryad It would also have the ability to tap for one red mana since it's a mountain (and not for green mana, since it's no longer a forest). (By the way, if you type just the subject line of this post into Google, you find a bunch of answers to your question.)

+X/+X, where X is negative Say I control a Wild Beastmaster enchanted with Pin to the Earth. If I attack with it, will my other creatures get +0/+0 or -5/-5 until EOT?

+0/+0 (It used to be -5/-5 for a fun surprise boardwipe, but that rule changed relatively recently) 107.1b Most of the time, the Magic game uses only positive numbers and zero. You can’t choose a negative number, deal negative damage, gain negative life, and so on. However, it’s possible for a game value, such as a creature’s power, to be less than zero. If a calculation or comparison needs to use a negative value, it does so. If a calculation that would determine the result of an effect yields a negative number, zero is used instead, unless that effect doubles or sets to a specific value a player’s life total or a creature’s power and/or toughness. Example: If a 3/4 creature gets -5/-0, it’s a -2/4 creature. It doesn’t assign damage in combat. Its total power and toughness is 2. Giving it +3/+0 would raise its power to 1. Example: Viridian Joiner is a 1/2 creature with the ability “{T}: Add an amount of {G} equal to Viridian Joiner’s power.” An effect gives it -2/-0, then its ability is activated. The ability adds no mana to your mana pool. Example: Chameleon Colossus is a 4/4 creature with the ability “{2}{G}{G}: Chameleon Colossus gets +X/+X until end of turn, where X is its power.” An effect gives it -6/-0, then its ability is activated. It remains a -2/4 creature. It doesn’t become -4/2.