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Oath of Druids Ok. Say you are in a multiple person game, one person has an Oath of Druids in play. It’s my turn, I’m at upkeep, Oath goes on the stack, I decide to respond to it going to the stack with a Wordly Tutor. I begin searching and my friend says that I have to declare which person I’m targeting with the Oath first. This doesn’t matter in the slightest if he is right by the way, it’s just semantics but I say to him. No, I don’t choose the target player until Oath starts resolving and right now I’m resolving my Worldy Tutor. He said that Oath cannot be on the stack unless a target player has been chosen. I argue that the target choice is part of resolving Oath and not putting on the stack. He said that I couldn’t put a Planeswalker effect requiring a target on the stack without a target. I tell him that is true, but the wording on Oath is much different. Help me out here guys. Who was right?

You friend is correct.

When can you respond? How can you stop this? Mikeaus the unhallowed, razaketh and grey merchant all etb at the same time. What can an opponent do to stop me from sacrificing grey merchant instantly? Etb=I maintain priority on my turn, and can sac immediately. I can sac in response to a removal spell targeting any one of the creatures (unless split second) Essentially, I want grey merchant to etb twice, and drain twice because of undying... Other than a counter triggered ability, or a split second removal, or exile grey merchant when he hits the graveyard (before he comes back from undying) what can an opponent do? As far as I’m aware, not a damn thing, assuming all they have is a run of the mill generic removal spell... say, swords to plowshares...

If you retain priority and sac Gary, your opponent will only have priority once he hit the graveyard since you will probably paas it at this point. He can't even use split second spells because he needs priority to cast it. Once Gary newly undying ability triggers, your opponent could do a bunch of thing to get rid of him (like [[Faerie Macabre]] but I won't list them all). Does that answer your question?

Is text that says how to calculate P/T an ability? If I have Consuming Aberration and opponents have 5 cards total in graveyards and someone plays Sudden Spoiling does Consuming Aberration go do down to 0/2 or 5/7?

It is an ability, yes, a special kind called a "". The only difference between it and a regular static ability is that it functions in all zones instead of just the battlefield. Sudden Spoiling would make it a 0/2.

Sarkhan the Mad If someone casts Sarkhan the Mad and uses his -4 to deal damage for each dragon's power, and in response I board wipe, does the ability resolve but do no damage because there are no dragons when it resolves, or would I take the damage?

ability resolves and deals no damage. The existing dragons deal damage equal to their power when the ability resolves, not when the ability was cast. Edit: changed the word 'spell' to 'ability'

Windbrisk Heights question On MTGO, I attacked with two creatures, one of which was a Hero of Bladehold. Hero made two tokens, and now I'm attacking with four creatures. I would think this would trigger the Heights, but it didn't work. Am I understanding the rules correctly that I should be allowed to cast the spell under Heights? Thanks.

I believe MTGO is correct. From the rulings on Gatherer: At the time the ability resolves, you’ll get to play the card if you declared three different creatures as attackers at any point in the turn. A creature declared as an attacker in two different attack phases counts only once. A creature that entered the battlefield attacking (such as a token created by Militia’s Pride) doesn’t count because you never attacked with it. Because the tokens from Hero of Bladehold enter the battlefield already attacking, they aren't "declared" attackers and don't count.

Dire Fleet Daredevil + Ancestral Vision Can Dire Fleet Daredevil cast suspend cards? What is the difference between "no mana cost" and CMC=0? Dire Fleet Daredevil reads "When Dire Fleet Daredevil enters the battlefield, exile target instant or sorcery card from an opponent's graveyard. You may cast that card this turn, and you may spend mana as though it were mana of any type to cast that spell. If that card would be put into a graveyard this turn, exile it instead."

If you exile a card with no mana cost with Dire Fleet Daredevil, you won't be able to cast it. You can't pay an undefined cost, no matter what type of mana you try to use.

Territorial Hammerskull Hi guys, If Territorial Hammerskull attacks and I block with Merfolk Branchwalker, does Territorial Hammerskull's effect apply before the creature blocks. So that in the end the blocking creature becomes tapped and therefore is unable to block? (Whenever Territorial Hammerskull attacks, tap target creature an opponent contols).

does Territorial Hammerskull's effect apply before the creature blocks, so becomes tapped and therefore is unable to block? Yes, that's correct. The trigger triggers and resolves in the Declare Attackers step. - 508.1 First, the active player declares attackers. This turn-based action doesn’t use the stack. [..] - 508.1m Any abilities that trigger on attackers being declared trigger. - 508.2 Second, the active player gets priority. - 508.2b Any abilities that triggered on attackers being declared or that triggered during the process described in rules 508.1 are put onto the stack before the active player gets priority; the order in which they triggered doesn’t matter. - 509.1 First, the defending player declares blockers. This turn-based action doesn’t use the stack. [..]

Grasping Current Hi guys, Can I use Grasping Current only to Return two target creatures without searching for Jace, Ingenious Mind-Mage? 'Jace' was already summoned to the field and there are no other copies of this card in my deck. Grasping Current Return up to two target creatures to their owner's hand. Search your library and/or graveyard for a card named Jace, Ingenious Mind-Mage, reveal it, and put it into your hand. If you searched your library this way, shuffle it.

Yes, you can cast it knowing there are no copies to find in either your library or graveyard. When it resolves, you search your library, graveyard, or both. Let’s examine each of the three possibilities: You choose to search your library: You aren’t required to find anything when searching your library for something specific, even if there’s something you could find. In this case, you don’t have anything to find, so you just don’t find anything and then shuffle your library. You choose to search your graveyard: Since the graveyard is a public zone, you have to find any copies that are there, but once again in this case there aren’t any, so you just find nothing. You choose to search both: As in the previous examples, there’s nothing to find, so you just don’t. Since you searched your library (even though you knew you wouldn’t find anything), you shuffle it.

Gain control of target creature combo with 2nd attack phase. Hoping to get some clearification. I built a deck around cards that have "gain control of target artifact/creature until end of turn, give it haste," and combat celebrant "exhert gain an additional attack phase." We ran into a ruling that did not read very clear and cannot find it again. the first ruling said there was a reason I could not use the opponent's creature for more than one attack. So my question is, if I take control of an opponent's creature attack and trigger combat celebrant's multiple attacks can I use the opponents creature for both attacks or just the initial?

There’s normally not anything that would prevent you from attacking more that once with the stolen creature. While you don’t own it, you do control it until the end of the turn, and Combat Celebrant affects all creatures you control.

Hexproof question If you give something like [[Spellskite]] hexproof would you be able to negate all single target removal as he would be a invalid target?

No. Check the first ruling.

Quick rules question on Unwind from Dominaria Can Unwind untap other lands other than your own?

Yes. There are no rulings for Unwind on Gatherer, but [[Rewind]] has a ruling: 14/03/2017 You can choose up to four lands, no matter who controls any of them. Those lands untap once. You can’t choose one land and have it untap four times, for example. Emphasis mine. The thing is that Unwind doesn't say "Untap three lands you control.", it just says "Untap three lands.", so yes, you could untap any three lands on the battlefield.

Danitha Capashen and cards with Bestow Danitha's card text is as follows: "First strike, vigilance, lifelink Aura and Equipment spells you cast cost {1}less to cast." Does this cost reduction affect cards that have the option to be cast as Auras, like Thassas Emissary? Text: "Bestow 5W (If you cast this card for its bestow cost, it's an Aura spell with enchant creature. It becomes a creature again if it's not attached to a creature.) Whenever Thassa's Emissary or enchanted creature deals combat damage to a player, draw a card. Enchanted creature gets +3/+3."

It reduces the cost to cast them if you’re casting them for the bestow cost, but not if you’re casting them as a creature.

Can you "as this eneters the battlefield" effects If I have a body double, a sac outlet, and a goblin guide in my GY and I living end, can I sac the goblin guide and then have nodu double enter as a copy?

No, this doesn’t work. Body Double has an effect that modifies how it enters the battlefield. For effects like these, we need to make the relevant choices before the zone change even happens, much less before players actually get a chance to do anything. In this scenario, the only things Body Double could copy are things in the graveyard the moment before it enters the battlefield (i.e. creatures sacrificed due to Living End’s effect).

wayward swordtooth and flickering If I have played two lands this turn due to [[wayward swordtooth]], can I then [[cloudshift]] it and play another? I guess the same logic will also apply to [[oracle of mul daya]] and [[azusa lost but seeking]].

If I have played two lands this turn due to wayward swordtooth, can I then cloudshift it and play another? No. You've already played two lands and the rules and current effects allow you to play two. I guess the same logic will also apply to oracle of mul daya and azusa lost but seeking? Yes, same reasoning. - 305.2a. To determine whether a player can play a land, compare the number of lands the player can play this turn with the number of lands he or she has already played this turn (including lands played as special actions and lands played during the resolution of spells and abilities). If the number of lands the player can play is greater, the play is legal.

Do cards with dual effects separated by a period trigger regardless of whether or not one of those effects fail? For instance, if I were to [[Fungal Infection]] a creature, and it was given Hexproof at instant speed, would I still create the saporling token? Or does hexproof not allow the spell to resolve at all.

It depends. Generally speaking, when following instructions, you simply ignore any that are impossible. (For instance, if you try to cast Sip of Hemlock on a creature with indestructible, you just skip the instruction to destroy it, but its controller still loses 2 life.) However, targets can change this because if a spell has targets and none of its targets are legal when it starts to resolve, it just fails to do anything at all. So in your example, since Fungal Infection’s only target is illegal when it starts to resolve, it is removed from the stack without any of its effects occurring—you won’t get a 1/1 Saproling.

Double Cascade? If I had Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder equipped with Helm of the Host and dealt damage with both would the cards i cast gain Cascade, Cascade?

Yup

Time of Ice Question For the first two turns Time of Ice is on the field it says: I, II — Tap target creature an opponent controls. It doesn't untap during its controller's untap step for as long as you control Time of Ice. So my question is, since you can't tap already tapped creatures, if all of my creatures are already tapped when that effect triggers is the game automatically a draw? For the second sentence of text to apply the first has to happen, but it can't since there are no legal targets to tap. So the game can't continue, right? I'm not the most knowledgable when it comes to technical stuff like that so I'm asking the great Reddit.

it can't since there are no legal targets to tap. Ask yourself what the target requirement is. Does it say target untapped creature an opponent controls? Nope, it doesn't, so any creature an opponent controls can be targeted. For the second sentence of text to apply the first has to happen Nope, it can happen just fine without the first instruction doing anything. it can't since there are no legal targets to tap There are legal targets, just none of them will be tapped. They will be stuck tapped down though. So the game can't continue, right? It will continue without issue. Even if there actually weren't any legal targets, the trigger would just get removed from the stack. Rules reference: - 114.1d A triggered ability is targeted if it identifies something it will affect by using the phrase “target [something],” where the “something” is a phrase that describes an object, player, or zone. The target(s) are chosen as the ability is put on the stack. - 603.3d The remainder of the process for putting a triggered ability on the stack is identical to the process for casting a spell listed in rules 601.2c–d. If a choice is required when the triggered ability goes on the stack but no legal choices can be made for it, or if a rule or a continuous effect otherwise makes the ability illegal, the ability is simply removed from the stack.

Does a creature count as a controlled creature for it's own triggered ability "when it enters the battlefield"? I have a . I played with a friend the other day who said that the creature itself doesn't count as one of the vampires that I control when the ability triggers and said that's just how the stack works. I'm thinking the creature is counted because it's on the battlefield or the ability wouldn't have triggered in the first place. If you have a specific rule I can reference I would appreciate it. I'm also wondering since it names the card instead of says "this card" that it would also trigger for other Bishop of the Bloodstained cards entering the battlefield. Thoughts?

It's actually one of the specific rulings on the gatherer page for it: 9/29/2017 The number of Vampires you control is counted only as Bishop of the Bloodstained’s ability resolves. If Bishop of the Bloodstained is still on the battlefield, it’ll count itself.

Merfolk Trickster and Kitesail Freebooter Had this situation come up in MTGA today. Opponent had my History of Benalia under Freebooter and I cast Trickster, ended up targeting different creature, but I really wondered what would happen if I had trickstered the pirate. Would I have got my History of Benalia back or would it be permanently exiled or would temporary removal of Freebooter's text box had no particular effect?

It wouldn't have done anything. Both exiling the card and returning it are part of the original effect that's already happened, so removing the ability at a later point won't change anything.

Casting Spells: When to Interact and How to Explain it! (???) # Situation: Player 1: Casts "Mind's Desire," it resolves and he shuffles his library. In response to shuffling his library \(before the full effect of his Mind's Desire resolves\) he casts Merchant Scroll to search for a card and place it on top of his library THEN casts the card with Mind's Desire. \(The game was decided upon Mind's Desire going unchallenged so it was over even if this is an incorrect play.\) # Player 1's Explanation: As he shuffles his library, that is the FIRST PART of the card's effect and thus can interact with the spell at this point because he hold's priority. Because it says "Shuffle your library." his reasoning is that you should be able to interact with the spell at this point because it \(1\) changes the state of the game with an effect \(2\) has a period, indicating a "full stop" which is when you can begin to interact with a spell or ability. # Question: As I \-know\- \(or at least I THINK HEAVILY\) that each ability or effect has to resolve in full before you can interact with it and you cannot interject on what's in the process of resolving, how can I explain this and what rules can I provide for clarity? While I'm fairly sure I have the right of this situation, his logic makes sense to me. I've looked over the rule for "Resolving Spells and Abilities: CR 608" and I THINK that 608.2j explains how the situation should resolve. Can anyone chime in to help me explain how this should go down or perhaps help me understand why I'm not playing correctly! :D

TL;DR That was incorrect. Nobody gets priority until after the resolving thing has resolved completely. That means shuffle, exile, AND optionally cast in this case... THEN someone gets a chance to do something else, since that's the next priority available. 112.3a Spell abilities are abilities that are followed as instructions while an instant or sorcery spell is resolving. Any text on an instant or sorcery spell is a spell ability unless it’s an activated ability, a triggered ability, or a static ability that fits the criteria described in rule 112.6. Mind's Desire has an ability that says "Shuffle your library. Then exile the top card of your library. Until end of turn, you may play that card without paying its mana cost. (If it has X in its mana cost, X is 0.)" That whole thing is one ability. That whole thing is on the stack.That whole thing resolves as one thing. 608.1. Each time all players pass in succession, the spell or ability on top of the stack resolves. (See rule 609, “Effects.”) Simple enough 116.1a A player may cast an instant spell any time he or she has priority. A player may cast a noninstant spell during his or her main phase any time he or she has priority and the stack is empty. Opponent can't cast a spell unless they have priority. Notice how nothing in 608.2 gives priority? 116.3b The active player receives priority after a spell or ability (other than a mana ability) resolves. That spells it out a little clearer. 608.2j If an instant spell, sorcery spell, or ability that can legally resolve leaves the stack once it starts to resolve, it will continue to resolve fully. This is more about a spell making itself invalid. I can't think of a simple case it'd come up off hand, but let's say the controller of the spell conceded while the spell was in the middle of resolving (since you can concede at any time, not just at priority) and it was a multiplayer game, the spell would continue to resolve even though it's already ceased to exist.

Tapping Marwyn, the Nurturer equipped with Sword of the Paruns If I equip with and then tap her for mana will she have +2/+0 or +0/+2 when calculating power?

When Marwyn's ability resolves, she'll be tapped, so the sword will be granting her +2/+0 at that time.

Ulasht and Essence of the Wild If I have essence of the wild in play and then play Ulasht, what happens? My thought process: Ulasht enters the battlefield and Ulasht's ability causes him to get counters and Ulasht becomes a copy of essence of the wild. Is this correct? I think both effects are replacement effects and both go on the stack and resolve in either order.

Is this correct? No. I think both effects are replacement effects and both go on the stack and resolve in either order. 1) replacement effects don't go on the stack, they apply right before something happens and alter what happens 2) there is an order of application used for replacement effects similar to the layers system for continuous effects Per 614.12, you look at what the permanent will look like on the field and then check to see which prospective replacement effects could apply. In this case there are two, Essence's and Ulasht's. They both apply to the same event, as opposed to one applying to an event within the event. We look at 616.1 and see that Essence's copy effect has higher precedence so we apply it. Next per 614.12, we re-evaluate the look ahead and see an Essence of the Wild entering and there's no longer a replacement effect from Ulasht to apply nor any other so the event processes and Ulasht as a copy of Essence enters the field.

how exactly naban with inalla works? im playing wizard with etb effect and pay 1 for inalla. do i understand correctly that i got: \- wizard \- wizard token \- 4 etb effects?

If I understand you correctly, you've got Naban and Inalla on the battlefield, and you've got a 3rd Wizard entering the battlefield? You're mostly correct. Though, if you chose to pay (1) for both of Inalla's triggers, you'd have 2 wizard tokens, not just one. For interactions like these, you really want to take some time and do them step by step. Inalla is triggering because a Wizard ETB'd, as does your new wizard. Naban sees both of those individually, and makes them happen twice. - New Wizard w/ ETB Enters - Inalla triggers once and your wizard triggers twice all at the same time. - All 4 triggers go on the stack at the same time in any order you like - For ease of conversation, let's say you put the new wizards' triggers on first, then Inalla's, so both Inalla triggers would resolve before your new wizard ones do. - Assuming nobody does anything in response, the top object resolves, with the next 3 triggers still on the stack - You choose to pay (1), a token is created. It's a token so doesn't trigger Inalla. - Assuming nobody does anything (since there's a round of priority before the next thing resolves), the top object resolves, with the next 2 triggers still on the stack - You choose to pay (1), a token is created. It's a token so doesn't trigger Inalla - Assuming nobody does anything (since there's a round of priority before the next thing resolves), the top object resolves, with the last trigger still on the stack - You do your wizardy thing - Assuming nobody does anything (since there's a round of priority before the next thing resolves), the top object resolves, nothing left on the stack - You do your wizardy thing If Inalla is in the command zone, she only triggers once, so you'd be correct. Only one token, and the above just loses the second Inalla trigger. EDIT: updated, thx Todd

Grip of Chaos questions Greetings, Does Grip of Chaos effect the resolution of enchantments, auras, and Equipment as well? Thank you in advance.

Grip of Chaos randomizes the targets of spells or abilities with single targets, as it says. So the question you're asking is simply which of those things target a single thing. The only weird one is Auras, which target single things when they're being cast. Enchantments that aren't auras don't target anything when they're cast, though they might have abilities that target things. The Equip ability of an Equipment targets, so that will be randomly reassigned as well.

Do cards trigger themselves Lets say I have [[nabahn, dean of iterations]] on the field. I then cast whatever and [[naru meha, master wizard]]. Does Naru entering the field cause a triggered ability (her own etb) to copy via Nabahn?

Yes. Naru is a Wizard and triggers on entering the field so triggers an extra time.

Etherium Sculptor/Jhoira’s Familiar/Traxos ruling So, it’s pretty straightforward, I have an Etherium Sculptor and a Jhoira’s Familiar on the battlefield, and I want to cast Traxos, Scourge of Kroog. Sculptor says since Traxos is an artifact it’s 1 colorless less to cast, Familiar says all historic spells which includes artifacts are 1 colorless less, but, since Traxos is a Legendary creature (historic) does this mean Familiar and Sculptor stack? Is Traxos 1 less or 2 less?

2 less! Enjoy your very cheap 7/7 :)

shallow grave & jin-gitaxias If jin-gitaxias in my graveyard and I shallow grave on my second main phase, what happens at the end of my turn? Do I draw seven cards and then it gets removed from game, or does it get removed from game and I don't get to draw?

what happens at the end of my turn? Your choice between: - exile Jin-Gitaxis, then draw seven cards - draw seven cards, then exile Jin-Gitaxis

I have a smuggler’s copter in play that has just been crewed on my opponent’s turn with a mausoleum wanderer. Aether vial at 2 counters. My play was to vial in Phantasmal Image to copy smuggler’s copter which is already a creature for turn and it lasts the turn as a crewless creature. Am I right?

Am I right? No. Image will enter as a non-creature Copter, the animation crew effect on your crewed Copter is not copied. The Image Copter will have the sac if targeted trigger, but won't be type illusion, even if it gets crewed later. - 706.2 When copying an object, the copy acquires the copiable values of the original object’s characteristics and, for an object on the stack, choices made when casting or activating it (mode, targets, the value of X, whether it was kicked, how it will affect multiple targets, and so on). The “copiable values” are the values derived from the text printed on the object (that text being name, mana cost, color indicator, card type, subtype, supertype, rules text, power, toughness, and/or loyalty), as modified by other copy effects, by its face-down status, and by “as . . . enters the battlefield” and “as . . . is turned face up” abilities that set power and toughness (and may also set additional characteristics). Other effects (including type-changing and text-changing effects), status, and counters are not copied.

Panharmonicon/Snapcaster Mage Me and a couple others are discussing things Panharmonicon could trigger an effect on. After revealing that Iona, Shield of Emeria doesn't gain the ability to detain two colors with it, the conversation shifted to Snapcaster Mage, thinking it entering will allow two Flashbacks. I don't think Snap goes off with Pan (it's an ETB, and unless you have a 'when a creature/permanent enters' effect out, it doesn't really set off anything, while the others think it does (because it's a when effect, which Panharmonicon looks out for.) How would it work out if played?

ETB's are checked just after a creature enters the battlefield, so it qualifies itself. So yeah, you get 2 flashback triggers, which resolve separately. If you're worried they have something that can counter an ability, you could select the same target for both of them if you really wanted to make sure you got what you wanted, or you could choose two different ones. You can refer to first ruling on as well

Which happens first. mirror universe or Black vise?

Up to you. Upkeep happens, Black Vise triggers and goes on the stack. You can let it resolve, then activate Black Vise if you want. (You don't go from upkeep to draw until both you and your opponent pass priority with nothing on the stack.) Or you can response to the trigger and have Black Vise's ability resolve before Mirror Universe's does.

History of Benalia / Consign // Oblivion interaction If I have a History of Benalia in play with two lore counters on it, can I respond to it's third trigger at the start of my next first main phase by bouncing it back to my hand with Consign \(or similar\) before I have to sacrifice it? The ruling says, "...the Saga’s controller sacrifices it as soon as its chapter ability has left the stack...", so if I respond to the last chapter's trigger by bouncing it, then I assume I can get it back.

Yep, that works.

Grim return archaeomancer trigger What happens if my friend kills my archaeomancer, then plays grim return targeting archaeomancer. Could he return his grim return to his hand because of archaeomancer's etb trigger (return target instant or sorcery from your graveyard to your hand) or would it not be a legal target? Thank you for your help

Could he return his grim return to his hand because of archaeomancer's etb trigger (return target instant or sorcery from your graveyard to your hand) or would it not be a legal target? It would be a legal target so yes he can do that. It goes down like this. - Grim Return starts to resolve - Your friend chooses a creature card that died this turn ie Archaeomancer - He puts it on the field under his control which triggers its EtB trigger - Grim Return finishes resolving and is put into your friend's graveyard - the active player is about to get priority so state-based actions are checked and do nothing - waiting triggers get put on the stack ie the waiting trigger from Archaeomancer - as he puts it on the stack he chooses its target ie Grim Return which is in his graveyard - active player finally gets priority

Ball Lightning and Mirage Mirror If i use Mirage Mirrors effect to make it a copy of Ball Lightning, will Mirage Mirror sacrifice itself at the end of turn? Thanks

Indeed. Do it at your own risk ;)

Afflict and Insult // Injury After playing MTG arena I noticed that Insult // Injury doubles Afflict damages. Is it normal ? For exemple interacts with on block

Is it normal ? Life loss is not equivalent to damage so that's a bug.

One card triggering multiple cards? Hi! I'm brand new to MTG so I'm sorry if this is a dumb question. I recently bought a Planeswalker deck (Gideon) and started playing with a friend who is also new, so he can't answer my question because he doesn't know either. Let's say I've played [[Trial of Zeal]] twice, so I have two Trial of Zeal cards down at once. It returns to your hand if you play a cartouche card. So if I play [[Cartouche of Zeal]] , does that return BOTH trials to my hand at the same time, or only one? Thanks!

Both would go back to your hand. Each trial of zeal has its own triggered ability and see their own ability

Card art alters I'm planning on playing Mill at GP Vegas in a couple weeks. Would these altered Archive Traps be okay to use in my deck, or would they get me a game loss? according to the alter rules?

- from MTR 3.3: Artistic modifications are acceptable in sanctioned tournaments, provided that the modifications do not make the card art unrecognizable, contain substantial strategic advice, or contain offensive images. Artistic modifications also may not obstruct or change the mana cost or name of the card. The Head Judge is the final authority on acceptable cards for a tournament. This means you'll want to clear the cards with the head judge (or appeals judge if any) prior to the event start. They are the only individuals with opinions that matter. It's difficult for someone to make a ruling on whether or not they'd okay cards without being able to inspect them physically unless they obviously break the listed rules above. The one on the right runs afoul of the requirement not to obscure the name or mana cost.

Firesong and Sunspeaker interaction with mass damage spells that destroy it. Like the title says. If I cast a spell like Star of Extinction or Blasphemous Act, does the lifelink effect from F&S still apply?

Yep. The damage resolves (and lifelink happens), then state base actions come along and go "Dude is lethal damage, destroy it".

Can Iona, Shield of Emeria be countered by Counter Spell? When Iona, Shield of Emeria is cast as a creature, I'm assuming it's being cast as a creature spell. Can that creature spell be countered by Counter Spell then? Rulings say "Once the color is chosen, it’s too late for opponents to respond by casting spells of that color. Iona is not yet in the battlefield at the time the color is chosen, so, for example, there’s no way for an opponent to destroy it by casting Doom Blade if the chosen color is black." However, the time of choosing color is done, or only done after the creature spell resolves right? Therefore the order would be to cast Iona, wait for it to resolve \(or be countered\) from the stack, and then enter the battlefield, declaring color and so static ability begins.

Sure. It doesn't say it can't be countered. So it can be countered. The colour isn't chosen until she's entering the battlefield, meaning she's resolved already. If she's countered, she never resolves. However, the time of choosing color is done, or only done after the creature spell resolves right? Therefore the order would be to cast Iona, wait for it to resolve (or be countered) from the stack, and then enter the battlefield, declaring color and so static ability begins. Yes, exactly.

few questions that appeared after last brawl session 1. 4/4 creature with lifelink is blocked by 2/2. does attacking player get 4 life or 2? 2. with muldrotha ability, after i played land from hand, may i play another one from graveyard? 3. in multiplayer game (brawl) what is the order of choosing blockers/performing actions (playing instants etc) when attacker attacks multiple players at once? 4. if commander is returned from hand and then played from hand, what is his casting cost? (in other words does the commander tax apply when played from hand or only when played from command zone?)

1) 4 life. 2) only if some effect gives you a second land play for the turn. 3) Active player, next active player, etc. 4) only from command zone

Panharmonicon + Champion of the Flames and Valduk Hey guys, the rulings on Panharmonicon have me a bit conflicted understanding if this card would in fact effect more triggers on Champion and Valduk, mainly: 'Panharmonicon affects an artifact or creature’s own enters\-the\-battlefield triggered abilities as well as other triggered abilities that would trigger when an artifact or creature enters the battlefield. Such triggered abilities start with “when” or “whenever.” ' and Panharmonicon affects an artifact or creature’s own enters\-the\-battlefield triggered abilities as well as other triggered abilities that would trigger when an artifact or creature enters the battlefield. Such triggered abilities start with “when” or “whenever.” / Any Judges out there willing to give their two cents? What do you guys think?

Champion of the Flame and Valduk, Keeper of the Flame don't have any ETB triggers, and don't have any abilities that trigger when an artifact or creature enters the battlefield, so they have no interaction with Panharmonicon. I'm not sure what there is to explain here though. It's clear from reading those two cards that they don't have any abilities that trigger from creatures or artifacts entering the battlefield.

Mishra's factory vs Shock This confuses me. Usually you can respond triggers? Let me explain senario. Senario 1 The opponent activate Mishra's factory to become a 2/2. If I target it with my Shock, in response he pump it to a 3/3. Stacks goes: Shock \-\> Pump. It resolve in reverse, pump to 3/3 then shock for 2. The factory lives. Senario 2 The opponent activate Mishra's factory to become a 2/2. He pump it to a 3/3. In response I Shock it. Stacks goes: Pump \-\> Shock. It resolve in reverse, Shock for 2 (RIP) and pump is too late?

Indeed, in scenario 2 the factory dies as you explained.

Mistfolk and Experiment Kraj Mistfolk has the ability "u: counter target spell that targets mistfolk". Experiment Kraj has all activated abilities of creatures with 1/1 counters on them. If Mistfolk has a counter on it and Experiment Kraj uses Mistfolk's ability, can it counter a spell targeting Kraj or can Kraj only counter a spell targeting Mistfolk because Mistfolk's ability technically states "that targets Mistfolk"?

The ability would only be able to counter a spell that targets Kraj. Comprehensive rules: 201.4b If an ability of an object refers to that object by name, and an object with a different name gains that ability, each instance of the first name in the gained ability that refers to the first object by name should be treated as the second name. [Examples follow]

Muldrotha and Sakashima I have a Muldrotha on the battlefield and play a Sakashima as a copy o muldrotha. Am I allowed to play two permanents of each permanent type from my graveyard a turn, or do the two instances of that ability not stack?

Each gives you separate permissions so generally yes. With respect to lands (whether played using the permission as a land or something else), you still have to obey the normal restrictions for land plays so if you only have one allowed land play, the permission from the second is irrelevant.

Siren Stormtamer vs. Karn's Temporal Sundering I just finished a Magic Online game where I played Karn's Temporal Sundering targeting myself for the extra turn and Siren Stormtamer which I owned but was currently under the control of my opponent. They activated the Stormtamer counter sacrifice ability in response targeting Karn's Temporal Sundering. I did not know what would happen and the game was tight so I did it anyways. I figured it would be countered but when my turn ended low and behold I had an extra turn. Bug or actual rule interaction?

They activated the Stormtamer counter sacrifice ability in response targeting Karn's Temporal Sundering. Ok, KTS has one or two targets, the first targets you because you want the extra turn. If the other targeted one of their permanents, they could target KTS with Stormtamer. If you didn't choose to target something or didn't target one of their things, they can't activate Stormtamer so if they did, that's a bug. If you did target one of their permanents, the activation would be legal and KTS would be countered and none of its effects would happen so if you got an extra turn after targeting one of their permanents, that's a bug.

Responding to firebreathing triggers So an odd situation came up in a match last night. A creature is enchanted with firebreathing, and activates it for R. With that activation on the stack the opponent destroyed the enchantment. So we were clear that the firebreathing trigger is still on the stack, but not sure if it resolves successful or not because the oracle text specifically says ‘enchanted creature gets +1/+0’ and by time it resolves, the enchantment is already destroyed and so it could be considered an illegal target (because it is no longer the ‘enchanted creature?) or it could fizzle due to a state based necessity for it to be enchanted at resolution? Anyway, we weren’t sure and couldn’t find it online. Any ideas?

- 303.4k An ability of a permanent that refers to the “enchanted [object or player]” refers to whatever object or player that permanent is attached to, even if the permanent with the ability isn’t an Aura. The reference is created when the ability is activated. Destroying the aura won't have any effect, the activation(s) on the stack know(s) which creature is being buffed - the creature that was enchanted at the time of activation. Similarly, if Firebreathing was moved from Creature A to Creature B (say via Simic Guildmage) in response to the activation, it'd still buff the first creature, not the second. Edit: it seems I'm partially incorrect.

Corrosive Ooze + Forebear's Blade If Corrosive Ooze blocks a creature equipped with Forebear's Blade, and the attacking creature is sacrificed (Thallid Omnivore) and the Blade placed on another creature, does the 'at end of combat' trigger apply to the equipment on the new creature? Or just the equipment 'attached to that creature' at end of combat?

If the creature that Corrosive Ooze blocked is no longer on the battlefield when its end-of-combat trigger resolves, it uses the last set of equipment that was attached to that creature, which would include the Forebear's Blade.

I cast a spell. Opportunity casts Counterspell targeting my spell. Can I cast Misdirection targeting Counterspell to change its target to Misdirection?

Yes. Misdirection only targets the spell whose target you're trying to change (Counterspell in this case); it doesn't target the thing you're trying to change the target to (which would have been a problem, since spells can't target themselves). You choose the new target for the targeted spell (Counterspell, in this case) while Misdirection is resolving, and at that time it's still on the stack and so it's a legal target for Counterspell. Of course, once Misdirection finishes resolving it goes to the graveyard and is no longer on the stack. So when the Counterspell tries to resolve it no longer has a legal target and is countered by the game. Note that this question is answered by the . You should always look up the rulings when you have a question about a card, as they usually answer the common ones.

Scourge of Nel Toth Hello, I'm new at magic and there is a card which the text confuse me. Scourge of nel toth, "You may cast Scourge of Nel Toth from your graveyard by paying BB and sacrificing two creatures rather than paying its mana cost." For me the part "rather paying it's mana cost" opens the door to cast it also for it's mana cost. Can anyone take me from the doubt?

You cannot cast it from your graveyard except by paying BB and sacrificing two creatures (or via some other effect that explicitly gives you permission to do so, like Gisa and Geralf). The "rather than paying its mana cost" is just there to clarify that you don't have to pay its mana cost on top of the cost it's specifying.

flame of keld, goblin chainwhirler, soul scar mage interaction im pretty sure each opponents creature is supposed to gain 3 -1/-1 counters when you cast chainwhirler with soul scar mage in play after flame of keld gets its 3rd counter. mtgarena only put 1 counter on each opposing creature so im not sure if its a bug or if i misunderstood the layering.

TL;DR Technically a bug yes, but didn't affect your outcome. I recall a post saying that haven't implemented the UI for selecting the order of multiple replacement effects, so I'd report it as a bug so it's visible. However, it most likely wouldn't matter for you because when multiple replacement effects would affect something, the controller of the thing affected gets to choose how the replacement effects are processed. A note on applying multiple effects: Most people say "choose the order of effects". The actual process is slightly different (but that difference doesn't matter 99.9% of the time). What you really do it collect all the replacement effects that would apply, pick one and apply it, then look for what replacement effects are left, pick another one, and continue until you're out of effects... Some original effects may disappear, some new ones may show up. But once an effect has been applied, it doesn't get to reapply so you don't get stuck in loops at least.) - We have 2 replacements here: Scar:"damage -> -1 counters" and Keld:"damage -> damage + 2" Scenario 1: Apply Keld first, so "1 damage" event becomes "3 damage" event. Then we see Scar is left to process, so replace "3 damage" with "3 -1 counters". Scenario 2: Apply Scar first, so your "1 damage" event becomes "gets a -1 counter (that is not damage anymore)". Look for more effects to apply... Keld doesn't fit since there's no damage to replace, so there is just a single -1 counter. Which scenario do you think the opponent would choose? =)

Polymorphist's jest If [[Polymorphist's Jest]] is played do creatures that have equipment still have the abilities added by the equipment?

If it is cast after the equipment was attached, any abilities given by the equipment are lost. Power/Toughness stuff still holds though. Example: Forbear's Blade ends up just giving +3/+0, and when the equipped creature dies, it swaps to something else.

please clarify combat rules. and supernatural stamina on morph 1. supernatural stamina on a morph creature. does the creature return face up? that makes the combo feel so broken in masters 25 draft 2. can somebody clarify combat phases. im confused on damage assignment. so after assigning damage, can players play instant spells or use abilities in response? if so, are there two chances to play tricks (ie once after attacker assigns dmg. second after defender assigns damage) or after both players assign dmg. also i read somewhere on wizards site from 2011 after assigning dmg if you blink a creature the dmg is still on the stack. is that an old rule? im so confused cause these rules have changed so much over the years... i thought once you goto assigning dmg then there is no chance to interact. that also means you cant blink after assigning dmg

1. Yup. When it changes zones, it becomes face up. 2. It depends a little on precisely what you mean by "assigning damage". You start off in beginning of combat, and you both have a chance to do things. Then active player declares attackers. You both get a chance to do things. Then the opponent declares blockers. If anything is double blocked (or more), you choose the damage assignment ORDER. Just "I'm hitting that one first, then the other one". Actual numbers don't come into play here. Then you both get a chance to do things. Now you're in the combat damage step. Now the damage numbers are sorted out, assigned, and applied. And all damage happens at the same time. Once all damage is done, you both get a chance to do things, etc... So once you you've done the blocks and had chances for tricks (with both of you able to do things until you both do nothing and pass), you're committed to damage. EDIT: There hasn't really been a chance to this part of combat in a very long time. (only the tournament shortcut about what "go to combat" means... but the actual rules haven't changed)

Rules clarification please!!!!! A rules disagreement has me and a friend at odds.. please help us! I cant find any answers on google. My friend has zealous conscripts first, then uses quicksilver amulet to put kiki-jiki, mirror breaker into play. Knowing he will activate the infinite combo, i return his zealous conscripts back to hand with Snap before kiki resolves. He says that i cant react to it as quicksilver amulet just puts kiki into play and i wouldnt know its kiki untill after the quicksilver amulet trigger resolves (i would just know A creature is going to be put into play, but i dont know which one untill it resolves), and because kiki has haste, once it resolves, its too late. I say that the quicksilver amulet trigger goes on stack, with kiki revealed as the creature about to be put into play, then priority passes to me, allowing a response if i have one. Which of us is correct??

Your friend is correct; the creature being put into play with [[Quicksilver Amulet]] doesn't get revealed until it has already been put into play, at which point it is too late to respond (you can't cast a spell while another spell or ability is resolving). You could respond to the activating of the Amulet's ability, but at that point the creature is not yet revealed, so you can't be certain that it's Kiki-Jiki that's getting put into play. You could, however, cast [[Snap]] after the first time your friend activates Kiki-Jiki's ability. If you return the Conscripts to their hand at that time, Kiki-Jiki's ability will no longer have a legal target, so it won't do anything when it resolves. EDIT: Accidentally typed "responding" instead of "resolving" in one place.

Using tap abilities after declaring attackers So my friend claims he saw this in arena on twitch and we are a bit confused by it: Player declares attack with Aryel, Knight of Windgrace and Elenda, Dark Rose. After declaring attacks, player activates Aryels second ability, taping elenda, for an X of 1 to take out one of the defenders creatures. Then combat resolved with aryel and elenda dealing combat damage? Is that possible? can you use creature tapping abilities after you declare attackers before those creatures get tapped?

Aryel has vigilance, which means that attacking doesn't cause her to become tapped. Normally, creatures get tapped the moment that they get declared as an attacker, so they can't use their tap abilities, but since Aryel doesn't tap to attack she can use her tap abilities just fine. However, tapping Elenda as part of the cost for Aryel's second ability should not be possible at this time. Elenda could either be attacking or could have been tapped for Aryel's ability, not both, unless there was something else in play giving Elenda vigilance as well. Perhaps your friend misinterpreted the boardstate and either Elenda wasn't attacking, or she was attacking but a different creature was tapped to pay for Aryel's ability? If it really did happen as your friend described, that sounds like a bug in Arena.

AoE attack that wiped a board or did it? I'm pretty much a newbie when it comes to MTG so at times I question whether or not something was played right. I have to take the more experienced players word. But there was one attack that happened the other night that I wish to know if they were in the right. I'll try to explain what happened in the clearest way I can TLDR at start: Fire player plays 5 damage AoE spell on forest player. Forest player has 3/3 buffing others to 6/6 but the 6/6 are also 3/3s. Does A) only the 3/3 buffer die or does B) the 3/3 and the 3/3s it was buffing to 6/6 also die? I was playing a 1v1v1 game. I was a swamp/water deck (SWD), a friend was a fire/water deck (FWD), and the other player was a pure forest deck (PFD). We also had another person who plays but was just observing (OBS). So SWD and FWD kinda get on the others nerves and keep going back and forth with attacks. PFD just sits not provoking others and builds up his line. PFD has a card that for every elf he has it provides a 1/1 buff and was a 3/3 if I remember correctly. Everything else is about the same. So lets say for all intents and purposes all of them were 3/3 and so he has a 3/3 and with the elf buffs several 6/6. Well FWD sees this and drops a fire nuke AoE for 5 damage on PFD. I know some of you are already seeing where this is going. Now PFD is saying that only the 3/3 buffer is dead. But FWD and OBS are saying that yes the 6/6 are now 1 health but because 3/3 is dead that his buff his 3/3 buff on the others now falls off and so they are in the negatives and also die in a somewhat chain reaction. Now I'm on the side of PFD thinking that the single AoE kills only one and makes the 6/6s now 3/3 again but were saved from the damage spell at first so are all like one health at the moment. PFD relented and cleared most his characters. Soooo who is right here? Me and PFD or FWD and OBS?

If the red spell dealt damage, that damage remains until the cleanup step of the turn so if the 3/3 providing the buff dies the other 3/3's lose their buff to 6/6 and the damage that didn't kill them as 6/6's is still there and can kill them as 3/3's. the 6/6 are now 1 health No, the 6/6's are 6/6 with 5 damage marked on them. Once the buffer leaves they are 3/3's with 5 damage marked on them and lethally damaged so get destroyed as a state-based action. - 704.5g If a creature has toughness greater than 0, and the total damage marked on it is greater than or equal to its toughness, that creature has been dealt lethal damage and is destroyed. Regeneration can replace this event.

Sylvan Reclamation against an artifact creature with swiftfoot boots So this week I was playing EDH against a guy who had a Platinum Emperion equipped with Swiftfoot Boots. He was basically invincible unless I could destroy the Emperion but I didn't have any board wipes. Would it have been possible to use Sylvan Reclamation to destroy both the Boots and the Emperion, or would the Emperion not be targetable until the spell had fully resolved because the boots would still be conferring hexproof?

Would it have been possible to use Sylvan Reclamation to destroy both the Boots and the Emperion Nope , or would the Emperion not be targetable until the spell had fully resolved because the boots would still be conferring hexproof? Eactly He was basically invincible unless I could destroy the Emperion but I didn't have any board wipes. Keep in mind, commander damage is still a thing. You still take damage even if it's not changing the life total =) So there's at least one avenue many folks forget about.

Goreclaw + Hungering Hydra Checking how Goreclaw effects the casting of a large Hydra. If i have a Goreclaw in play and go to cast a 4/4 Hungering Hydra I would only pay 2G for the casting correct? I am assuming that I put the Hungering Hydra in the casting block in 4/4 mode for a price of 4G. But when I go to pay the cost my boy Goreclaw hands me a discount 2 mana coupon which allows me to only pay 2g to put it on the stack. Is that correct? sorry. found the answer in gather.

sorry. found the answer in gather.

Sacrifice X creatures + death triggered abilities. If I cast a spell that has \`sacrifice X creatures\` as part of its mana cost and my creatures have \`undying\` or \`persist\`, can I sacrifice the same creature multiple times (after its reviving ability evaluates)?

No, you must pay the cost of sacrificing X creatures all at once. Once you’ve finished casting the spell and it is on the stack waiting to resolve, then the triggered abilities for undying and persist can be put on the stack and resolve, but far too late to help pay for the original spell.

Nantuko husk vs unsubstantiate If a play nantuko husk can I sacrifice it to itself if an opponent cast unsubstantiate. Since unsubstantiate doesn’t “counter” the nantuko husk can I use its sacrifice ability.

If you mean "While Nantuko Husk is on the stack (being cast)", no. You can only activate creatures ability if they are in play (unless specified otherwise). Roughly, "Counter" means it does nothing then put it in the graveyard. Returning a spell in its owner hand is the same thing but the spell goes back in hand instead. But if that Unsubstantiate was cast to return a creature in play in its owner hand (like Unsummon), then yes, you can sac in response.

Gonti and kicker cost Can I pay a spell's kicker cost exiled with my [[Gonti]] using mana as though it is of any type, or I have to pay the right mana (for the kicker cost)?

Yes. Additional costs are paid as part of the total cost of the spell and the effect covers its payment too.

-1/-1 counter question Just ran into this during a game. A friend had a creature enter through a persist trigger, but Metallic Mimic gives it a +1/+1 counter. All other players at the table think he doesn’t have any counters.. does he not have one of each of these counters?

None. It enters with both, and before anyone has a chance to do anything, the game goes "Oh, a +1/+1 and a -1/-1 counter? cancel them out"

Where do my counters go? Elenda, the Dusk Rose So, Elenda(1/1) and a 1/1 token in play on my side, a 2/2 on theirs Combat, 2/2 attacks, I block with both elenda and token, but cast abnormal endurance on elenda Where do my counters go? 1. They vanish? sadness 2. New elenda gets 2 counters? great Still gives 2 extra vamps luckily Card text Elenda (1/1) Lifelink Whenever another creature dies, put a +1/+1 counter on Elenda, the Dusk Rose. When Elenda dies, create X 1/1 white Vampire creature tokens with lifelink, where X is Elenda's power. Abnormal Endurance (instant) Until end of turn, target creature gets +2/+0 and gains "When this creature dies, return it to the battlefield tapped under its owner's control."

The "put a +1/+1 counter on Elenda, the Dusk Rose" triggers and the trigger from Abnormal Endurance can go on the stack in either order. Assuming you did try to stack them so Elenda is on the battlefield when the counters trigger resolves, Elenda dies and returns to the battlefield from Abnormal Endurance. But then: 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. When an object goes to the graveyard and comes back, it's a new object. The triggered ability for the counters can't find the object it's looking for, and does nothing.

Can Teferi's Protection be countered?

Yes. Unless I'm misunderstanding what you're asking, no reason why not.

Manifest and "Whenever ~ becomes blocked"? I'm attacking with a manifested [[Slith Strider]] and my opponent blocks, can I flip it to draw a card or is the timing window of "becomes blocked" already passed?

Once the block has benn annonced, the window for the ability to trigger indded has passed.

How does Sudden Spoiling work against an opponent with a Darksteel Forge in play? \[\[Sudden Spoiling\]\] \[\[Darksteel Forge\]\]

Do you mean how does it work against artifact creatures? If the Darksteel Force was in play before, then the Spoiling is cast, the artifact creatures lose all of their abilities, including indestructibility and are 0/2s. If somehow the Forge comes into play after the Spoiling resolves on the same turn, then they're 0/2s indestructible with no other abilities.

If Tilonalli's Skinshifter copies Ball Lightning, is it sacrificed at the end of the turn?

It does.

Gitrog Monster and sack outlets If I have a Gitrog monster in play, can I sacrifice a land with another card's ability to meet the conditions of the [[Gitrog Monster]]? Say I [[Knight of the Reliquary]] at the beginning of upkeep; do I still need to sacrifice a land to the frog? I assume I need to but I want to be careful of loopholes.

Yes, you have to sacrifice a land specifically to Gitrog Monster's ability. Sacrificing a land for another effect doesn't count.

Stack/Resolve question carnifex demon and nest of scarabs Hi, New to the newer editions of magic and have a question that may seem obvious but my group weren't sure: Player A runs a wizard deck and has tones of 1/1 wizards. He casts Kindred Dominance and chooses wizards. In response I pay 1 mana and put a -1/-1 counter on all creatures. Now, all his 1/1 wizards will die along side all my creatures too Now, I have nest of scarabs - How will that resolve with the creation of insects? I'm assumed it goes: C-demon -1/-1 counters resolves, then Nest of scarabs triggers the produciton of X amount of insects, THEN kindred dominance happens and everything dies (including the newly created insects) My group insisted my insects survive but I disagreed even tho it was in my favour.

How will that resolve with the creation of insects? The insects die too. KD is lowest on the stack, under the NoS triggers so will kill the Insects too.

Zealous Conscripts & Thaumatic Compass question... I want to play Zealous Conscripts to take an unflipped Thaumatic Compass... however when I take it. It would flip on my turn. Do i need to give it back? is it the same permanent at that point? Thank you!

Do i need to give it back? Once the effect of Zealous Conscripts wears off at the end of your turn, yes. is it the same permanent at that point? Yes, it's the same permanent at all points so once the control effect ends it goes back to whoever would otherwise control it.

Mirage mirror vs summoning sickness If mirage mirror has been on the field for more than one turn and copied a creature you control that has been out for more than one turn can it attack the same turn it copied said creature? Or does it have summoning sickness since it counts as a creature entering the battlefield?

Copy and swing away, no sickness to worry about. If that physical piece of cardboard has been under your control since the start of your turn (before untap), it's not sick anymore, regardless of what else has been done to it, as long as you didn't lose control of it.

Lieutenant and the Ascendant cycle If my commander is Homura, Human Ascendant, and I've flipped it into Homura's Essence, does that count as controlling my commander for the purposes of cards with Lieutenant?

If my commander is Homura, Human Ascendant, and I've flipped it into Homura's Essence, does that count as controlling my commander for the purposes of cards with Lieutenant? Yes. Commanderness is a quality of the physical card (or cards for partner commanders) - 903.3 Each deck has a legendary creature card designated as its commander. This designation is not a characteristic of the object represented by the card; rather, it is an attribute of the card itself. The card retains this designation even when it changes zones. (or when it flips, transforms, becomes a copy of something else, etc.)

Arixmethes + Master Biomancer Masterbiomancer reads: "Each other creature you control enters the battlefield with a number of additional +1/+1 counters on it equal to Master Biomancer’s power and as a Mutant in addition to its other types." Arixmethes reads: "Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle enters the battlefield tapped with five slumber counters on it. As long as Arixmethes has a slumber counter on it, it’s a land. (It’s not a creature.)" Does Arixmethes enter with +1/+1 counters if Master Biomancer is on the battlefield?

Does Arixmethes enter with +1/+1 counters if Master Biomancer is on the battlefield? Under current rules, I suspect the answer is yes. The relevant rule is 614.12 - 614.12 Some replacement effects modify how a permanent enters the battlefield. Such effects may come from the permanent itself if they affect only that permanent (as opposed to a general subset of permanents that includes it). They may also come from other sources. To determine which replacement effects apply and how they apply, check the characteristics of the permanent as it would exist on the battlefield, taking into account replacement effects that have already modified how it enters the battlefield, continuous effects from the permanent’s own static abilities that would apply to it once it’s on the battlefield, and continuous effects that already exist and would apply to the permanent. So as it is about to enter there are two replacement effects that want to apply to it: its own (which places slumber counters) and Biomancer's (which places +1/+1 counters). Biomancer's effect can apply because in the look ahead it has no slumber counters and is therefore seemingly entering as a creature. One can therefore choose to apply Biomancer's replacement first and give it +1/+1 counters.

Nevermore vs Ward sliver My opponent played nevermore on my commander sliver hivelord. I then played ward sliver and choose the color white. Can I cast my commander?

Can I cast my commander? No. Ward Sliver gives your sliver permanents protection from white. Slivers cards in other zones wouldn't have protection and even if they did protection wouldn't have any interaction with Nevermore. You want Harmonic Sliver.

Fiend Hunter + Restoration Angel + Cloudshift Hello! Let's say I have a [[Restoration Angel]] on the board. I, then, cast [[Fiend Hunter]] and target my own [[Restoration Angel]]. If I [[Cloudshift]] this [[Fiend Hunter]] could I stack the triggers so that the Enter The Battlefield trigger for [[Fiend Hunter]] would go to the stack before its Leave The Battlefield? This means that I could target an opponent's creature with [[Fiend Hunter]], and blink it with [[Restoration Angel]] in order to exile that creature permanently while still being able to exile my own [[Restoration Angel]] again. tl;dr Can I stack the ETB trigger before the LTB trigger when I [[Cloudshift]] a [[Fiend Hunter]]?

could I stack the triggers so that the Enter The Battlefield trigger for [[Fiend Hunter]] would go to the stack before its Leave The Battlefield? Yes, what you propose works.

Sol ring/artifacts in general? if sol ring or any other mana artifact generator is smashed on the table can you instantly tap it for the mana? at first we kept playing it like this, but then another person from a different group came and told us it didn't worked that way so we had to change that rule to, that you're not allowed to tap it for mana instantly when casted. Now i actually want to know for REAL what is allowed to happen would be great if whoever can clarify it link me to the game rule which states it aswell so i can show it to the others \^ \^.

If it's a non-creature, you can tap it the turn it comes down under your control. Sol Ring is usable the turn it comes down, just like untapped lands. Arbor Elf or Llanowar Elves could not be used the turn they are played.

Demonic Vigor + Desecrated Tomb Does the creature hit the graveyard before coming back to your hand?

Yes. On Magic cards, "dies" is short for "is put into the graveyard from the battlefield". If the aura were going to prevent it from ever hitting the graveyard it would have to have a replacement effect rather than a triggered ability. Something like "If enchanted creature would be put into the graveyard from the battlefield, return that card to its owner's hand instead."

Can Myojin’s counter be removed before Reciprocates remove effect? Basicly, can creature abilities be used on any given time?

Yes. Creatures can activate their abilities any time you could cast an instant, unless the card says otherwise. This is true for all activated abilities in the game.

Copying a temporary copy : What's happening ? I find it very confusing ... Let's say I got a 2/2 bear on the board and a 1/1 token. I use Polymorphous Rush to "transform" my token into my bear until the end of turn (card says : Choose a creature on the battlefield. Any number of target creatures you control each become a copy of that creature until end of turn). Now my 1/1 is a 2/2 bear until end of turn. But then I cast a "Cackling Counterpart" (Create a token that's a copy of target creature you control.) on this transformed token. What happen ? Do I get a 1/1 ? A 2/2 ? A 2/2 which transform back into a 1/1 at the end of turn ? It's super confusing because I don't know if the rule 706 apply here (the end of turn effects are not copied). Thanks in advance and sorry for formating, I'm still a reddit noob ;)

You get a 2/2 bear token. The token is created as a copy of what the creature is when the copy takes place (taking into account copy effects but not any other kind of effect), and what it is at that point is a 2/2. The fact that the copy effect will wear off the original at end of turn has no effect on the token.

EDH: Interaction between Nefarious Lich and being killed I'm building a Xantcha deck themed around Mutually Assured Destruction. Let's say I give a \[\[Harmless Offering\]\] of a perfectly neighborly \[\[Nefarious Lich\]\] to an opponent. My playgroup knows my shenanigans so I may not be long for this world after that. In multiple scenarios: \--If the table kills me, what happens to the player I've given Nefarious Lich? Would they perish as well? \--If I somehow manage to survive to the end with my forced-friend and then kill them, would the Nefarious Lich come back to me?

what happens to the player I've given Nefarious Lich? Would they perish as well? Assuming they don't stop the LtB trigger of Lich from resolving, yes. would the Nefarious Lich come back to me? Yes. - 800.4a When a player leaves the game, all objects owned by that player leave the game and any effects which give that player control of any objects or players end. Then, if that player controlled any objects on the stack not represented by cards, those objects cease to exist. Then, if there are any objects still controlled by that player, those objects are exiled. This is not a state-based action. It happens as soon as the player leaves the game. If the player who left the game had priority at the time they left, priority passes to the next player in turn order who’s still in the game.

Arixmethes and Wind Zendikon So I'm making an Arixmethes Voltron deck, and ran into this rules question while basically googling all of the cheapest cantrips, evasion, and mana ramp spells possible: So... you play [[Arixmethes]]. Obviously at this point you can enchant it with Enchant Land auras like [[Urban Burgeoning]] to get you a little further toward having a 12/12 in the early turns. You cannot yet target it with Creature spells and auras like [[Pemmin's Aura]] and [[Slip through Space]], however. So... if you wanted to get that commander damage a little early and/or make Arixmethes both a creature and land simultaneously, what happens if you enchant it with [[Wind Zendikon]]? The state that "Arixmethes's effect causing it to be a land overwrites any earlier effects that gave it additional types. For example, a Phyrexian Metamorph that copies Arixmethes will be a land, not an artifact land, until its slumber counters are removed", but it really seems like that doesn't cover this exact situation. So... Can you make Arixmethes into a creature while it still has slumber counters and take advantage of all that sweet infinite mana nonsense by making it both a creature and a land, or do the slumber counters supercede any effects that may cause this? Thanks for the help guys, and please... stop trashing the most unique, interesting, and flavorful commander to come out of C18. Dude's gonna be a house in about 10 different ways.

what happens if you enchant it with Wind Zendikon? Let's walk through the layers: Layer 1: no effects Layer 2: no effects Layer 3: no effects Layer 4: two effects (Arixmethes and Wind Zendikon), no dependency - apply Arixmethes as it has the earlier time stamp, loses type creature and subtype kraken, gains type land - apply Wind Zendikon, gains type creature and subtype elemental while retaining existing types (ie. land) Layer 5: one effect (Wind Zendikon) - Arixmethes becomes blue, losing other colours Layer 6: one effect (Wind Zendikon) - Arixmethes gains flying Layer 7a: no effects Layer 7b: one effect (Wind Zendikon) - Arixmethes' P/T is set to 2/2 Layer 7c: no effects Layer 7d: no effects Layer 7e: no effects #End Result: Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle (2)(G)(U) (Arixmethes is only blue) Legendary ~~Creature~~ Creature Land - ~~Kraken~~ Elemental Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle enters the battlefield tapped with five slumber counters on it. As long as Arixmethes has a slumber counter on it, its a land. Whenever you cast a spell, you may remove a slumber counter from Arixmethes. (T) : Add (G)(U). Flying 2/2 Note: once the slumber counters are removed, the effect making Arixmethes a land ends and Wind Zendikon will be illegally attached and fall off, thus leaving a blue & green 12/12 Arixmethes kraken creature without flying. Can you make Arixmethes into a creature while it still has slumber counters? Yes. do the slumber counters supersede any effects that may cause this? No.

Chalice of the Void vs Torrential Gearhulk My girlfriend and I are playing a game right now! I have Chalice on 1 and she casts Torrential Gearhulk targetting Opt in her graveyard. Does this get countered by Chalice? Thanks!

Yes, assuming she chooses to cast it, Opt has a CMC of 1 which is the same number of charge counters on Chalice so it triggers and counters it.

Problems with Curse of Echoes and Counterspell My friends and I encountered this problem tonight and we couldn’t figure it out. 3 people playing EDH, respectively playing Noyan, Bruna and Brion and that’s how I’m gonna name the players from now on. Bruna cursed Noyan with a [[Curse of Echoes]] which means that every time Noyan casts an instant or sorcery spell, all other players are allowed to copy that spell and cast it as well. Noyan then tried to remove the curse and one of Brion’s artifacts casting [[Return to Dust]], which then got copied by the two other players. Someone read the rules and found out that the copies are cast before the original. Bruna’s copy targeted something valuable to Noyan, so he countered it by casting an ordinary [[Counterspell]]. Bruna and Brion then copied that counterspell and the latter tried to save his artifact by countering the original Return to Dust, while Bruna used an [[Arcane Denial]] of her own to counter the original counterspell. At this point, the stack looked like a mess and we decided to call it draw since we all had lethal on each other anyway, but never lethal on both opponents at once. So on the stack are, chronologically (so bottom to top): (Noyan casts Return to Dust to remove Curse of Echoes) - Brion’s copy of Return to Dust - Bruna’s copy of Return to Dust (Noyan casts Counterspell targeting Bruna’s copy of Return to Dust) - Brion’s copy of Counterspell targeting Noyan’s Return to Dust (which isn’t even on the stack right now, but it’s still been cast?) - Bruna’s copy of Counterspell (didn’t target anything, is that legal?) - Noyan’s Counterspell targeting Bruna’s Return to Dust (Bruna casts Arcane Denial) - Bruna’s Arcane Denial targeting Noyan’s Counterspell targeting Bruna’s Return to Dust This is probably all very wrong. I hope the people here are able to help us.

Brion’s copy of Counterspell targeting Noyan’s Return to Dust (which isn’t even on the stack right now, but it’s still been cast?) Noyan's Return to Dust is on the stack. Curse of Echos is going to trigger after Return to Dust is cast, and make the copies above the original. Bruna’s copy of Counterspell (didn’t target anything, is that legal?) It's impossible. If Bruma chose to copy the spell, it would target the same thing as the original, if they chose not to do anything with the targets. If this stack resolves: 1. Arcane Denial counters Noyan's Counterspell 1. (Bruna could have just chosen not to copy the Counterspell if they didn't want it, and that is fine, or they could have chosen a different target.) 1. Brion's copy of Counterspell resolves. 1. (Noyan's counterspell would have been resolved here, but it no longer exists on the stack.) 1. Bruna's copy of Return to Dust resolves 1. Brion's copy of Return to Dust resolves 1. (Noyan's copy of Return to Dust would have been resolved here, but it no longer exists on the stack.)

Mana Reflection and Damping Sphere As a quick disclaimer before I get into what I want to post, this is actually my first post on Reddit ever, so if I make a mistake I apologize. Anyway, I’m not sure if this is actually the place to post this or not, but the other day while I was playing EDH with my friends one of us had played down a Mana Reflection which reads “If you tap a permanent for mana, it produces twice as much of that mana instead.” A turn or two later, one of my other friends played Damping Sphere which has two effects but the one that I’m concerned with is the first part which reads “If a land is tapped for two or more mana, it produces one waste instead of any type or amount.” There was a bit of an argument, but I’m pretty sure my friend who played Damping Sphere is correct about this. If Mana Reflection is on the battlefield while Damping Sphere is, does hat make the player who played Mana Reflection essentially only have wastes? Like if they tap a Forest for mana, it would add two green, but then Damping Sphere would trigger and that Forest would only make one waste instead. So essentially, the Mana Reflection player is now locked out of colored mana except for mana dorks and mana rocks right?

It depends. First, Wastes is a name of a card. What you are talking about is colorless mana (spelled out as {C}). Second, both Mana Reflection and Damping Sphere have static abilities that create replacement effects, not triggered abilities. So they do not trigger. If multiple replacement effects try to replace one event the player affected or controller of the affected object chooses the order inwhich they apply. In your example tapping a Forest adds {G}, to which you apply Mana Reflection's effect and get {GG}. At this point the event becomes subject to Damping Sphere's effect and in the end Forest adds {C}. If you would tap a City of Traitors it would add {CC} then you would be able to choose which effect to apply first. Depending on the order you would get either {C} or {CC}.

Arixmethes and Rishkar's expertise If I cast Rishkar's expertise with Arixmethes at 1 Slumber counter, will I draw 12 if I control no other creatures?

1. Cast Rishkar's Expertise. 1. Arixmethes trigger goes on the stack above Rishkar's Expertise. 1. Arixmethes trigger resolves, and likely you remove a counter from Arixmethes. 1. Arixmethes becomes a creature (this isn't a triggered ability, it just becomes true). 1. Rishkar's Expertise resolves. It checks the power of your creatures and finds one with power 12. You draw 12 cards.

A question for my wizard commander deck. So if I have or Panharmmonicon on the field than cast a Ghostly Flicker could I go infinite with Duelcaster Mage or ?

Nope. When you make the copy, you're going to target Naru... but once the first copy resolves, the Naru that's on the field is a different one. So the copy "fizzles", since it has no legal targets.

Opponent losing control of his own creature which I had control of. Illusionary gains is dropping off a creature which opponent owns but I controlled before gains took effect. I got the creature straight from his graveyard. What happens to his creature?

If you controlled it before it was enchanted, you control it after the enchanted, unless the effect that gave you control ended in the meantime (eg, you controlled it via Act of Treason).

Responding to Nexus of Fate with a Nexus of Fate Let's say my opponent casts a Nexus of Fate in their main phase. I respond with my own Nexus of Fate while it's on the stack. Who gets the turn following this one? Does the outcome change if I let theirs resolve first, THEN cast my own Nexus later in the turn?

Who gets the turn following this one? Your opponent. Does the outcome change if I let theirs resolve first, THEN cast my own Nexus later in the turn? Yes. - 500.7 Some effects can give a player extra turns. They do this by adding the turns directly after the specified turn. If a player is given multiple extra turns, the extra turns are added one at a time. If multiple players are given extra turns, the extra turns are added one at a time, in APNAP order. The most recently created turn will be taken first.

Lorthos vs Kira So this just happened while playing EDH. I have a [[Lorthos, The Tidemaker]] in play and I attack one of my opponents. I pay 8 to tap down one of the other player’s permanents, but forgot he had a [[Kira, Great Glass Spinner]] in play. Does the entire ability of my Lorthos become countered or do I simply need to target each creature twice?

You're out of luck there. Lorthos' trigger only lets you pay when the trigger resolves, and its only going to happen once. (unless you get another combat phase for some reason)

Arjun, The Shifting Flame vs Thought Reflection/ Alhammarret's Archive So this is a quick one. If I have Arjun in play and I cast either Thought Reflection or Alhammarret's Archive, Arjun will trigger and resolve before either so will I only draw the cards in my hand or will I get to draw double?

As you noted, Arjun's ability resolves before the spell does, which means the permanent you're casting isn't on the battlefield when her ability resolves. So you only draw as many cards as you put on the bottom of your library.

Dissallow vs Nexus of Fate If Nexus of Fate would go to the grave Disallow can counter the replacement trigger correct? If some one casts, mills or discards Nexus of Fate and the second part of the card triggers I can cast disallow countering the tuck trigger and it goes to grave correct? Once in grave it stays in grave correct?

If Nexus of Fate would go to the grave Disallow can counter the replacement trigger correct? Absolutely not. Disallow can target ability objects on the stack, ones created by the activation or triggering of activated and triggered abilities. Static abilities and continuous and replacement effects created by them do not exist on the stack so can't be interacted with by using Disallow.

Xantcha and hero's blade trigger. The oracle on [[xantcha]] has me confused. I think xantcha will never be under my control so a [[hero's blade]] under my control won't trigger. Can anyone confirm?

It won't trigger, though you are the default controller of Xantcha, but the layer 2 continuous effect is applied and gives control of it to the chosen opponent simultaneous with its entry and by the time triggers check, it sees it on their side so doesn't trigger. - 611.3c Continuous effects that modify characteristics (or control) of permanents do so simultaneously with the permanent entering the battlefield. They don’t wait until the permanent is on the battlefield and then change it. Because such effects apply as the permanent enters the battlefield, they are applied before determining whether the permanent will cause an ability to trigger when it enters the battlefield.

Psychic Corrosion with Wheel of Fortune Hi all, Wasn't able to find much on Psychic Corrosion. If I have Psychic Corrosion in play under my control, and I cast Wheel of Fortune, what is the correct order of actions? Does everyone draw the seven cards first, then each opponent mills the 14 cards? Or does everyone draw 1 card, each opponent mills 2, everyone draw 1 card, each opponent mills 2 again, until all 7 cards are drawn and 14 cards are milled?

If I have Psychic Corrosion in play under my control, and I cast Wheel of Fortune, what is the correct order of actions? - each player discards their hand simultaneously. - starting with the active player (most likely you) and proceeding in turn order, each player draws 7 cards one by one. ie. you draw 7 (one by one), player to your left draws 7 (one by one), player to that player's left draws 7.... - after each of your draws Corrosion triggers and waits to be put on the stack. - Wheel of Fortune finishes resolving and is put into its owner's graveyard. - State-Based Actions check, the seven waiting Corrosion triggers are put on the stack and the active player (probably you) gets priority. - Players can respond to the triggers if they wish, but otherwise they resolve and each opponent mills two per trigger so 14 cards per opponent.

Meddling Mage Question Hello! So this might be a dumb question, but I've always wondered how a judge would handle this. So say you name a card with Meddling Mage. Later in the game your opponent tries to cast the named card despite your Meddling Mage still being intact. You stop them, but your opponent claims you named a different card. I'm sure this rarely, if ever, happens, but people do scummy things. Has anyone ever seen anything like this, and how would a judge sort this out? Thanks!

The judge would talk to each player to see what they remember happening, maybe ask the neighboring tables if they remember hearing anything, etc, and then use their judgment to determine what they think actually happened. There isn't any special trick to it, it's just a standard case of two people who disagree about what happened in the game.

Rules discussion I have created a Jodah commander deck with tooth and nail and Four of the Five Myojins of Kanigawa. Tooth and Nail reads: ///Choose One -- Search your library for up to two creature cards, reveal them, put them into your hand, then shuffle your library; or put up to two creature cards from your hand onto the battlefield. Entwine {2} (Choose both if you pay the entwine cost)\\\ And (in this case) Myojin of Night's Reach says: ///Myojin of Night's Reach comes into play with a divinity counter on it if you played it from your hand. Myojin of Night's Reach is indestructible as long as it has a divinity counter on it. Remove a divinity counter from Myojin of Night's Reach: Each opponent discards his or her hand\\\ My question is about the word "Play" versus the word "Cast". Cast means to pay it's mana cost (unless specified otherwise (Jodah, Sunbird's Invocation, etc.)) and Play (as far as I know) means that it has entered the battlefield (Because it has come into play). Now, if you trigger Tooth and Nail's second ability and target Myojin of Night's Reach, will it come into play with a divinity counter?

Follow up question. Ulamog, The Infinite Gyre reads: ///Ulamog is indestructible.\\\ Since it does not clarify Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre, does it make Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger Indestructible? It doesn't make sense, but it's not specified anywhere that it doesn't, can I make it a loophole?

Yennett, Cryptic Sovereign - Fuse-cards Can you cast a fuse card with its fuse ability with [Yennett, Cryptic Sovereign]?

No, you can only fuse a split card if you are casting it from your hand. Yennett causes you to cast a spell from your library.

Does Winding Constrictor trigger when counters are moved? Does [[Winding Constrictor]] "plus one counter" ability trigger when counters are moved with [[Forgotten Ancient]] or with graft abilities i.e. [[Plaxcaster Frogling]]

Yes, though Winding Constrictor's ability isn't a triggered ability (it's a replacement effect). Moving a counter is equivalent to removing a counter from the source and putting a counter on the destination, so you get an extra one if you move one or more +1/+1 counters while a Constrictor is in play.

Question regarding instants and enchantments Below is the step by step of what we had happen. Friend has creature in play, ends turn, I make my play end my turn, he starts his turn plays the enchantment. I cast instant on the creature, if the enchantment (blanchwood armor) gets there before the instant (wizard's lightning) it will live, if the enchantment comes after the instant it dies. Which would be the proper rotation for this. I was casting the instant in hopes to stop the blanchwood armor coming into play. Step 1: creature in play End turn Next turn opponent plays enhanctment, can you cast instant before enchantment is played Specifics (skalla wolf, spell wizard's lightning, enchantment blanchwood armor)

If you respond to his casting of Branchwood Armor with Wizard's Lightning, his creature dies and his spell gets put in the graveyard, that's the downside of aura enchantments. Of course, if he had an instant buff or a counterspell to respond with, he could save his creature from the Lightning and get to keep the Armor. can you cast instant before enchantment is played? Not before it's played (more properly cast), no, because you need to know who/what he's targeting with it, but you can before it resolves and enters the battlefield which will accomplish what you want.

question about missing mandatory triggers. Hi! thanks for helping! My friend is at a competitive rel. His opponent had a duskwatch recruiter and a devoted druid in play. He did not cast any spells then passed his turn. Both players missed the mandatory trigger to transform duskawatch. His opponent then castes vizir of remedies and combos, infinite mana and getting all creatures of his deck on hand and in play. He remembered the missed trigger. HE call a judges. What happens exaclty? What happens if he call the judges while devoted druid is generating mana, before he drawed the entire deck? What happens if he call the judge just after vizir of remedies resolution?

It looks like the opponent missed the trigger (controlling it, he's responsible for it). We're going to investigate (ask questions) to try to see if the person missed the trigger on purpose or not (especially since it's contextually beneficial for them). If they did, or if we feel they're lying to us during this investigation, they're getting DQ'd. Assuming we've gotten over that hurdle, how do we remedy? It's not a generally detrimental trigger, so we're not issuing a warning. We're going to ask the opponent if they want the trigger added to the stack or not. Given how late we are in the turn, I'm thinking it goes on the top of the stack. Unfortunately, that means they can just continue generating mana in response to the trigger before letting it resolve.

Question about voracious null Friend has 2 voracious nulls out Friend sacrifices geralfs messenger with nulls ability Since wording on voracious null says "1b, sacrifice a creature: put two +1/+1 counters on Voracious Null. Activate this only as a sorcery." Does this mean sacing the messenger puts 2 counters on BOTH nulls? Or would he have to choose one of the two nulls and then activate the ability a second time for other null?

When a card refers to itself by name, it means "this card". If you sacrifice a creature to Voracious Null's ability, only that Null will get the counters.

Abnormal endurance and tokens If I place this card on a token, and my token dies, does the token effectively stay on the battlefield or is it removed?

It dies, its ability triggers, it ceases to exist in the yard, the trigger gets put on the stack and it fails to return the nonexistent token on resolution.

Torgaar, Famine Incarnate and Commander Tax Can you use Torgaar's ability to pay for his Commander Tax as well or do you still have to tap for the tax regardless?

Yes. The Commander Tax is defined as an "additional cost" in 903.8. Then cost reductions can be used to pay for additional costs: 601.2f The player determines the total cost of the spell. Usually this is just the mana cost. Some spells have additional or alternative costs. Some effects may increase or reduce the cost to pay, or may provide other alternative costs. Costs may include paying mana, tapping permanents, sacrificing permanents, discarding cards, and so on. The total cost is the mana cost or alternative cost (as determined in rule 601.2b), plus all additional costs and cost increases, and minus all cost reductions...