Vampire Nocturnus
Asked by Follow. 9 years ago
What does "Play with the top card of your library revealed" mean? Can I do this multiple times? Does play mean cast?
Thank You
Epochalyptik says... #3
Play used to mean cast when referring to specific cards, but it doesn't any longer, and it doesn't in this context.
"Play with the top card of your library revealed" means "while you play the game, do so with the top card of your library face up instead of face down."
This is simply a change to the way you play the game; it's not something you do multiple times. It's a static ability that's just always "true." This effect also doesn't change what you can do with that card; it's still in your library. You can't cast it unless an effect explicitly allows you to do so (Future Sight, for example).
These rulings also apply:
4/15/2013: The top card of your library isn't in your hand, so you can't suspend it, cycle it, discard it, or activate any of its activated abilities.
4/15/2013: If the top card of your library changes while you're casting a spell or activating an ability, the new top card won't be revealed until you finish casting that spell or activating that ability.
4/15/2013: When playing with the top card of your library revealed, if an effect tells you to draw several cards, reveal each one before you draw it.
May 31, 2015 10:46 a.m.
One more thing:
If it be positive (The top card will be black) is the effect of Vampire Nocturnus second abilty permanent? i.e. If a vampire come into play under my control after I cast Vampire Nocturnus, will it get +2/+1 and flying?
BlueScope says... Accepted answer #1
Playing with the top card of your library revealed is pretty much to turn the top card of your library face-up so that all players have all information about what that card is. It will become hidden again once it's in your hand, for example.This applies to card draws in such a way that if you draw 2 cards, you draw 1 card, reveal the now-on-top card, then draw that card (then reveal the top card). Basically, all players will always get to know which card you draw next.
In this case, play does not mean cast (while usually it does) - it just means "play this game of MtG with the top card of your library revealed".
And no, you cannot do this multiple times. In fact, you can do nothing actively - your creature(s) will have +2/+1 and flying if the top card of your library is black, you don't get a choice in the matter.
If you meant what happens if you control two Vampire Nocturnus: Both will make you play with the top card of your library revealed, and that's the same card, so there's no additional gain for you - however, the bonus will stack, so if there's a black card on top and you control 2 Nocturni, creatures will get +4/+2 and "Flying, Flying" (which again is redundant).
May 31, 2015 10:37 a.m.