Gidgetimer on I recently heard that we …
3 hours ago
(meant to comment on this when I saw it the day it was posted, but forgot by the time I had time to comment on it)
It is almost assuredly that someone in this scenario is misunderstanding something they heard about permanents that have ETBs that target. Declaring a target as you cast Oblivion Ring isn't required since the ETB targets, not the spell. So if someone has a Counterspell but not a Stifle you are giving them "additional free information" that matters.
Gidgetimer on Mentor plus creature fetch
3 hours ago
Mentor targets the creature it is putting the counter on. Targets have to be declared when the ability goes on the stack. Therefore, if a creature is put on the battlefield after attacks are declared it will not be able to be targeted with a Mentor ability.
BrolysShadow on Mentor plus creature fetch
8 hours ago
If I have a creature with mentor that attacks, and when I declare an attack I can put a creature on the field attacking, can I mentor the new creature? Or is it too late?
seshiro_of_the_orochi on Interaction between Archaeomancer and See …
18 hours ago
Ok, here's our stack:
1: Lightning Bolt, targeting whatever.
2: See Double, target Bolt and Archaeomancer
Both players pass priority, so the stack is resolved.
See Double resolves, giving you a copy of Bolt, and the token copy of Archaeomancer before being put into your graveyard.
As state-based actions are checked, the Archaeomancer token's triggered ability is put onto the stack. You'll have to choose a target now, and as See Double is already in your graveyard, you can target it.
Going to close my answer with saying yes, Omniscience will allow you to win at this point. Then again, it's Omniscience. Why even pass your turn once it's online?
The_Dragonmaster on Interaction between Archaeomancer and See …
19 hours ago
I'm wondering what happens when I cast See Double to create a token of Archaeomancer.
Let's say our opponent has 8 cards in his graveyard. He casts Lightning Bolt, and in response I use see double to both copy Lightning Bolt, and create a token copy of Archaeomancer. Would the token be able to return See Double to my hand? And if so, if I had Omniscience, could I in theory recast See Double for infinite tokens and infinite Lightning Bolt copies before Lightning Bolt resolves?
Rhadamanthus on Would cards that transform need …
1 day ago
Yes, you will still have to sacrifice it. A double-faced object that transforms without leaving the battlefield is still the same object that it was before. In this example that means the Cadric's effect will keep track of the Path copy after it transforms into Metzali, Tower of Triumph Flip and you will have to sacrifice it.
Asep on Would cards that transform need …
1 day ago
If Cadric, Soul Kindler copied a Path of Mettle Flip and immediately trasforms it, will it still need to be sacrificed at the end of turn? Now that the token tranforming rules changed a la incubator tokens
wallisface on Battle blinking
1 day ago
AzocK yes you are correct, everything will happen the same as if it had just entered for the first time. So its ETB triggers will happen once again, you'll pick an opponent to defend it, and it will have Defense counters equal to whatever is listed on the card.
Just treat it the same as if it had just come into play for the first time - there's no differences to any of the interactions that happen (you just get to do them all again)
Also, for the record I think your English here has been fine. Its been some of the other-peoples comments that have made this more confusing than it needed to be. Part of that might be people getting confused by the rulings of a new card type.
AzocK on Battle blinking
1 day ago
Sorry, I am fairly new and english it's not my first language. So as Wallisface said, if I understand correctly, when the invasion returns to the battlefield from exile on the nex end step his ETB triggers once again, right?
wallisface on Battle blinking
2 days ago
Ok i feel like the above comments are either poorly worded or extremely confused. So, here’s the situation:
-
you can “blink” any battle the same as any other permanent. In your scenario, you can 100% blink Invasion of Alara Flip with an Oath of Teferi
-
when the Battle re-enters the battlefield, it’ll always enter on its front-facing side, regardless of what side it was on before. You’ll get to resolve whatever etb effects happen as normal, and can choose a defender of it (which can be a different player to the original defender)
griffstick on Battle blinking
2 days ago
However Blink it with the Oath. Let that fully resolve (including the battle trigger), then Blink it again.
griffstick on Battle blinking
2 days ago
Upon entering the battlefield the Oath trigger goes on to the stack. That's when you have to pick a target, you have no choice. Then you hold priority as the active player. Cast a spell that blinks said battle. That spell goes on the stack and targets the battle. The battle exiles and enters the battlefield thus triggering the the battles etb putting that on the stack. Then when that resolves the Oath trigger fizzles because it's tartget had exiled. When the battle comes back to the battlefield, its considered a "new object". This "new object" has not been targeted by the Oath trigger on the stack. That's why ilthe Oath trigger fizzles.
AzocK on Battle blinking
2 days ago
It was my only permanent when I cast Oath of Teferi so I had the doubt. The Invasions said "When enter the battlefield..." so when ETB the second time with the blink it activates his ETB trigger, right?
griffstick on Battle blinking
2 days ago
310.11b: Sieges have the intrinsic ability "When the last defense counter is removed from this permanent, exile it, then you may cast it transformed without paying its mana cost."
griffstick on Battle blinking
2 days ago
Ok so what this means if I understand what you are asking is. Can you Blink your battle in response to it being targeted by Oath of Teferi. Short answer, yes.
What is the reason for this btw
griffstick on Battle blinking
2 days ago
310.2: When a battle spell resolves, its controller puts it onto the battlefield under their control.
310.8a: As a battle enters the battlefield, its controller chooses a player to be its protector. Which players may be chosen as its protector are determined by its battle type (see rule 310.11). If it has no battle types, its controller becomes its protector.
seshiro_of_the_orochi on Battle blinking
2 days ago
I think you can do that, but why would you? If my understanding of battles is correct, it would reset the battle to the printed number of "life". Can anyone confirm or deny?
AzocK on Battle blinking
2 days ago
Can I blink a Invasion of Alara Flip that I cast and other player defens with a Oath of Teferi?
SteelSentry on Un-set cards dealing 1/2 damage …
3 days ago
I'm aware of that, haha. It's for a silver bordered commander deck I'm building. Just curious if someone had encountered it before, since fractional damage existed before both of those card types.
I suppose "figure it out" is probably the best answer I'm going to get, though there's also nothing forcing these permanents from having non-integer counters if it comes down to it. As for mill, who knows. :^)
Rhadamanthus on Un-set cards dealing 1/2 damage …
3 days ago
I had another thought about this. It's not clear from your question whether or not you know the following already, but I'll add it just in case: Silver-bordered cards (from Unglued/Unhinged/Unstable, plus some special promo cards) and acorn-stamped cards (from Unfinity) aren't meant to be used in "normal" games of Magic. They aren't legal in any tournament format, and for casual games it's polite to check with the other players beforehand to make sure they're okay with you using them.
nhhale on Does Gandalf the White double …
3 days ago
Rhadamanthus thanks, your explanation made perfect sense to my smooth brain. Much appreciated.
Rhadamanthus on Does Gandalf the White double …
3 days ago
It will trigger an additional time. To leave a zone is to go from that zone to some other zone. The fact that Ichor Wellspring's ability is specifically battlefield to graveyard doesn't disqualify it from being affected by Gandalf. Gandalf doesn't look for triggered abilities written in a particular way, but for abilities that are triggered by a particular kind of event.
When the FAQ / Rulings Notes article for the set is published, it will have more specific details on what Gandalf's ability does and doesn't interact with.
Rhadamanthus on Un-set cards dealing 1/2 damage …
3 days ago
In regular Magic, any effect that might result in a fractional result will specifically tell you which way to round, so there's no default rule for it.
In Un-Magic, you're encouraged to be a little creative with interpretations where the rules aren't clear and you're able to come up with something fun that makes sense and is agreeable to each player. The fractions in Unhinged were meant to just interact with life totals and P/T, and other things weren't strictly defined. For Protean Hydra, maybe you could turn one of the +1/+1 counters into a +1/+0 or +0/+1 counter. For Mindcrank, maybe one of the cards could be simultaneously in the graveyard and the library until it moves somewhere else (like on Yet Another Aether Vortex or Masterful Ninja).
Or, to keep it simple, you could just come to an agreement with the other players on a fixed rounding convention for Saute when dealing with odd interactions like this.
nhhale on Does Gandalf the White double …
3 days ago
Gandalf was recently spoiled for the new LOTR set: https://scryfall.com/card/ltr/19/gandalf-the-white
I think I am probably wrong about this, but my first instinct with this card tells me that since another card like Ichor Wellspring triggers from being put into the graveyard form the battlefield, this is different from "leaving the battlefield" without distinction on where it went and Gandalf wouldn't double the card draw from being put into the graveyard.
SteelSentry on Un-set cards dealing 1/2 damage …
3 days ago
If I use a card like Saute targeting a planeswalker or battle, or a creature like Protean Hydra, does it remove half a counter from them, or is there a rule I'm not sure of that rounds the damage in one direction for the replacement effects? I'm aware that in most cases it won't matter, but there's fringe interactions that I will need to know since most people don't have decks that deal with damage in increments of 1/2.
Somewhat related, if an effect turns the damage dealt into mill (like Mindcrank), would the opponent mill 3 or 4 cards if hit with Saute?
dragonstryke58 on I recently heard that we …
4 days ago
Comprehensive Rules Section 601 covers casting spells. Rules 601.2a–d covers the proposal of the spell including choices of targets (601.2c).
601.2c: The player announces their choice of an appropriate object or player for each target the spell requires. A spell may require some targets only if an alternative or additional cost (such as a kicker cost) or a particular mode was chosen for it; otherwise, the spell is cast as though it did not require those targets. Similarly, a spell may require alternative targets only if an alternative or additional cost was chosen for it. If the spell has a variable number of targets, the player announces how many targets they will choose before they announce those targets. In some cases, the number of targets will be defined by the spell’s text. Once the number of targets the spell has is determined, that number doesn’t change, even if the information used to determine the number of targets does. The same target can’t be chosen multiple times for any one instance of the word “target” on the spell. However, if the spell uses the word “target” in multiple places, the same object or player can be chosen once for each instance of the word “target” (as long as it fits the targeting criteria). If any effects say that an object or player must be chosen as a target, the player chooses targets so that they obey the maximum possible number of such effects without violating any rules or effects that say that an object or player can’t be chosen as a target. The chosen objects and/or players each become a target of that spell. (Any abilities that trigger when those objects and/or players become the target of a spell trigger at this point; they’ll wait to be put on the stack until the spell has finished being cast.)
TypicalTimmy on I recently heard that we …
4 days ago
Could someone please cite the actual rules for this?
I don't want to mark the first reply as the answer, because I don't want to get into an argument that this is "just an opinion" or whatever if I show the person that.
I'd rather have the actual rule(s) at hand for this one.
Thanks.
Rhadamanthus on I recently heard that we …
4 days ago
It's probably just someone misunderstanding something that wasn't explained to them very well to begin with.
TypicalTimmy on I recently heard that we …
4 days ago
So the people I heard this from were either misinformed, or trying to cheat?
Rhadamanthus on I recently heard that we …
4 days ago
The reflexive trigger creates a separate triggered ability that goes onto the stack independent of the ability that created it and follows all the normal rules for how to handle triggered abilities, including choosing targets, making responses etc. For each of those examples, the target is chosen when the reflexive trigger is put onto the stack.
There are different reasons for an effect to use a reflexive trigger.
- For Calibrated Blast, it's to make the card easier to use effectively and reduce feel-bads (it's a big oof to hit 5 on Erratic Explosion when you just targeted a 2/2 to be safe)
- If Heart-Piercer Manticore or Grist, the Hunger Tide used an "if you do" then you'd choose the target right away but your opponent would have to decide on their response before you decided whether or not to sacrifice anything
- If they wanted to make the sacrifice mandatory for Grist, it would need to say "As an additional cost to activate this ability..." due to the way loyalty abilities are templated, so the reflexive trigger here also saves words/space
Delphen7 on I recently heard that we …
4 days ago
Rhadamanthus Where I get hung up is reflexive triggers. Grist, the Hunger Tide, Calibrated Blast, Heart-Piercer Manticore etc.
We only choose targets after the first part happens (I think), but can the opponent know that info before responding to it? The common practice I see, especially with Grist, is they'll choose targets immediately and sac a creature, but then the owner will protect the targeted creature.
Rhadamanthus on How does Ezuri, claw of …
4 days ago
Monomanamaniac: Answers to your question have been up for a while. Since there don't seem to be any more follow-ups or corrections to be made, I marked one of them as the "Accepted answer" so this topic can move out of the list of unanswered questions. In the future you can take care of this yourself using the "Mark as Answer" button on the response that you feel best answers your question.
Rhadamanthus on Interaction between Yedora, Grave Gardener, …
4 days ago
Yes, that's how it works. Activating the ": Add " on the "Land Creature - Forest Saproling" is tapping a creature for mana, so the Leyline will trigger.
Rhadamanthus on I recently heard that we …
4 days ago
If a spell has targets, you MUST choose all targets as part of casting it. Everyone knows what the targets are when they get their chance to make a response.
When you're casting a spell / activating an ability / putting a triggered ability on the stack, you must make the necessary choices for modes, targets, the value of X, whether to pay optional additional/alternative costs, distributions, and a few other things (see the CR section on casting spells for more details). Any decisions that aren't made there are made as the spell/ability resolves. In the example you brought up with Rakdos Carnarium, you don't have to decide which specific land to return to your hand until the triggered ability resolves (it doesn't have any targets, so you don't need to choose when it first goes onto the stack).
TypicalTimmy on I recently heard that we …
5 days ago
I heard this recently and now I am wondering if I have been playing the game wrong this whole time, or if the information presented to me was incorrect.
Suppose I have Murder in hand, and my opponent has a problematic creature I want gone. I go to cast Murder.
The claim goes that putting Murder on the stack only acknowledges that a spell is waiting to resolve. That when it actually DOES resolve is when I choose my target. The argument claims that telling my opponent(s) what my intended target is ahead of the spell resolving is a case of "additional free information".
- An example of additional free information would be the following: You have a Swamp on the battlefield. You play a Rakdos Carnarium and bounce the Swamp back to hand. On your following turn, you play a Swamp for turn. An astute observer will notice that this Swamp has different artwork from the one you had bounced, meaning you have at least one land in hand. If you only have 2 cards in hand at this point, your opponent(s) now know at least 1 is a basic land, by default.
So, back to the question. I have Murder on the stack. My opponent asks who I am aiming to kill. I decide to say nothing. My opponent freaks out and says I am cheating or whatever. The game grinds to a halt and people are mad.
Alternatively, I tap my mana, pull Murder from my hand, motion it over Edgar Markov and say YEAH FUGG THAT GUY and my opponent goes "Uh, in response Sheltering Light."
Well. Crap.
But, Murder never resolved. I never had to say Edgar Markov was my target. I gave that information, freely. Had my opponent not known I was going to kill him, they might not have protected him.
So... who's correct?
- Do I not actually need to reveal a target until a spell or ability ACTUALLY resolves?
- Or do I need to reveal the intended target immediately, as the spell or ability moves ONTO the stack?
CamraMaan on Timing question: Alchemist's Retrieval and …
5 days ago
Much appreciated! That's what I assumed would happen. Makes sense that you can only respond to the activated ability on the stack, at which point Ral is gone, no different than sacrificing a creature to pay an activated ability. Looking into building a Ral Zarek oathbreaker deck, reusing the [-7] ability as often as possible, so every little bit matters. Thanks again!
CamraMaan on Interaction between Yedora, Grave Gardener, …
5 days ago
In short, when Yedora, Grave Gardener turns a dead creature into a Forest, and Life and Limb makes it into a creature, will tapping that Forest creature for mana produce an extra green mana from Leyline of Abundance? My assumption is that it effectively exists as a creature with the ability to tap and add one green, like a Llanowar Elves (but a saproling), and should therefore trigger the Leyline. But I just want to make sure. Thanks in advance!
dragonstryke58 on Timing question: Alchemist's Retrieval and …
6 days ago
If a planeswalker has 0 loyalty, it is put to the graveyard as a state-based action. This happens before a player would gain priority.
In this case, if you used Ral Zarek's -7 ability and put him at 0 loyalty, he will be put into the graveyard for having 0 loyalty before you could target him with a bounce spell such as Alchemist's Retrieval. Do note that if Ral Zarek still had 1 loyalty after using his -7, he will not be put to the graveyard since he does not have 0 loyatly.
Relevant Comprehensive Rules:
704.3. Whenever a player would get priority (see rule 117, “Timing and Priority”), the game checks for any of the listed conditions for state-based actions, then performs all applicable state-based actions simultaneously as a single event. If any state-based actions are performed as a result of a check, the check is repeated; otherwise all triggered abilities that are waiting to be put on the stack are put on the stack, then the check is repeated. Once no more state-based actions have been performed as the result of a check and no triggered abilities are waiting to be put on the stack, the appropriate player gets priority.
and
704.5i If a planeswalker has loyalty 0, it’s put into its owner’s graveyard.
Delphen7 on Timing question: Alchemist's Retrieval and …
6 days ago
Since loyalty abilities are a subset of activated ability, you cannot respond to them paying the cost, but you can respond to the ability.
- 209.2: "An activated ability with a loyalty symbol in its cost is a loyalty ability. Loyalty abilities follow special rules: A player may activate a loyalty ability of a permanent they control any time they have priority and the stack is empty during a main phase of their turn, but only if none of that permanent’s loyalty abilities have been activated that turn. See rule 606, “Loyalty Abilities.”"
Even if you bounce/destroy/exile/etc Ral Zarek, his ability's on the stack, and so would require different interaction (Stifle)
CamraMaan on Timing question: Alchemist's Retrieval and …
1 week ago
If Ral Zarek has seven loyalty on it and I [-7] it to flip five coins for extra turns, can I respond to the ultimate ability with Alchemist's Retrieval targeting Ral Zarek and return it to my hand before it dies, or is the [-7] going to remove it as an SBA tied to the payment to put it on the stack? My assumption is that it will be gone before I can respond, but I'm crossing my fingers I'm wrong. Thanks in advance!
CamraMaan on Vesuva and Dark Depths
1 week ago
Just had to make sure. Saw someone post it somewhere as a combo, and it didn't look right. Much appreciated!
Rhadamanthus on Vesuva and Dark Depths
1 week ago
That's right. Since Vesuva becomes a copy "as" it enters the battlefield, the ability that makes Dark Depths enter with counters will be applied. Thespian's Stage, the usual combo with Depths, gets around this by already being on the battlefield when it becomes a copy.
CamraMaan on Vesuva and Dark Depths
1 week ago
When Vesuva enters copying Dark Depths it will come with 10 counters on it too, correct? In order for the copying to avoid counters it has to already be in play before it copies, correct? Thanks in advance!