There were a couple of interesting Mirage Mirror interactions this weekend that I hadn't seen rulings on and thought I would ask in case they come up again:
1. Mirage Mirror/Exert. With Mirage Mirror on the board, I cast Emberhorn Minotaur, then pay 2 to have Mirage Mirror Copy the minotaur. If I attack with exert, does the Mirage Mirror untap on my next untap phase? I think that it doesn't, but looking for confirmation.
2. Mirage Mirror/Edifice of Authority. In my precombat main phase, I activate Mirage Mirror to copy a creature. Before attackers are declared, my opponent activates Edifice of Authority's second mode. Can I activate Mirage Mirror a second time to copy something else? Can I activate Mirage Mirror on my opponent's turn (after it's no longer a copy of the creature targeted by Edifice)?
What if I activate the mirror on my opponent's turn to copy a creature and declare as a blocker? If my opponent activates Edifice's second mode targeting the mirror/creature, when is the next time I can activate the mirror--my turn (because it ceases to be a creature) or my opponent's next turn?
1. No it will not. You choose to exert it on your last turn, so it won't untap during your next untap step. It doesn't matter that it stopped being a copy of that creature in the meantime, it still won't untap during your next untap step.
2. You cannot activate it in response to the Edifice's ability, because once the Mirror is a copy of something else, it no longer has the Mirror's ability to become a copy of something (it's just a copy of that creature). Once it's your opponent's turn, it's no longer affected by the Edifice's ability, and can activate its abilities like normal.
If it was your opponent's turn and they activated the Edifice's ability targeting the creature Mirror, then it's still affected by the Edifice's ability until their next turn, even if the Mirror stops being a creature, so you would not be able to activate the Mirror's ability on your next turn.
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Scientists have calculated that the chance of anything so patently absurd actually existing are millions to one. But magicians have calculated that million-to-one chances crop up nine times out of ten.
1. No it will not. You choose to exert it on your last turn, so it won't untap during your next untap step. It doesn't matter that it stopped being a copy of that creature in the meantime, it still won't untap during your next untap step.
2. You cannot activate it in response to the Edifice's ability, because once the Mirror is a copy of something else, it no longer has the Mirror's ability to become a copy of something (it's just a copy of that creature). Once it's your opponent's turn, it's no longer affected by the Edifice's ability, and can activate its abilities like normal.
If it was your opponent's turn and they activated the Edifice's ability targeting the creature Mirror, then it's still affected by the Edifice's ability until their next turn, even if the Mirror stops being a creature, so you would not be able to activate the Mirror's ability on your next turn.
Is this actually correct? The reminder text on exert specifically states that "an exerted creature won't untap during the next untap step". The mirror stops being a creature before then, so I'm a little confused. Also, this article.
from what ive dealt with at big tournaments the judges said that its not a creature so it cant be exerted. so the exertion falls off soon as the end of the turn is over.
701.37a To exert a permanent, you choose to have it not untap during your next untap step.
701.37b A permanent can be exerted even if it’s not tapped or has already been exerted in a turn. If
you exert a permanent more than once before your next untap step, each effect causing it not to
untap expires during the same untap step.
701.37c An object that isn’t on the battlefield can’t be exerted.
701.37d “You may exert [this creature] as it attacks” is an optional cost to attack (see rule 508.1g).
Some objects with this static ability have a triggered ability that triggers “when you do” printed
in the same paragraph. These abilities are linked. (See rule 607.2g.)
Note, that only the last rule, 701.37d even mentions the permanent being a creature, and it does so because only creatures can attack. As long as the object stays the same permanent, if it was exerted it is bound by the effect of exerted. This effect does not fall off just because the permanent changes types, nor is there any duration. so the turn ending does not affect exert.
1. Mirage Mirror/Exert. With Mirage Mirror on the board, I cast Emberhorn Minotaur, then pay 2 to have Mirage Mirror Copy the minotaur. If I attack with exert, does the Mirage Mirror untap on my next untap phase? I think that it doesn't, but looking for confirmation.
2. Mirage Mirror/Edifice of Authority. In my precombat main phase, I activate Mirage Mirror to copy a creature. Before attackers are declared, my opponent activates Edifice of Authority's second mode. Can I activate Mirage Mirror a second time to copy something else? Can I activate Mirage Mirror on my opponent's turn (after it's no longer a copy of the creature targeted by Edifice)?
What if I activate the mirror on my opponent's turn to copy a creature and declare as a blocker? If my opponent activates Edifice's second mode targeting the mirror/creature, when is the next time I can activate the mirror--my turn (because it ceases to be a creature) or my opponent's next turn?
2. You cannot activate it in response to the Edifice's ability, because once the Mirror is a copy of something else, it no longer has the Mirror's ability to become a copy of something (it's just a copy of that creature). Once it's your opponent's turn, it's no longer affected by the Edifice's ability, and can activate its abilities like normal.
If it was your opponent's turn and they activated the Edifice's ability targeting the creature Mirror, then it's still affected by the Edifice's ability until their next turn, even if the Mirror stops being a creature, so you would not be able to activate the Mirror's ability on your next turn.
Scientists have calculated that the chance of anything so patently absurd actually existing are millions to one. But magicians have calculated that million-to-one chances crop up nine times out of ten.
Is this actually correct? The reminder text on exert specifically states that "an exerted creature won't untap during the next untap step". The mirror stops being a creature before then, so I'm a little confused. Also, this article.
http://puremtgo.com/articles/sealed-success-182
Mirage mirror is 2nd discussed card.
Former Rules Advisor
"Everything's better with pirates." - Lodge
(The Gamers: Dorkness Rising)
"Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from science."
(Girl Genius - Fairy Tale Theater Break - Cinderella, end of volume 8)
Note, that only the last rule, 701.37d even mentions the permanent being a creature, and it does so because only creatures can attack. As long as the object stays the same permanent, if it was exerted it is bound by the effect of exerted. This effect does not fall off just because the permanent changes types, nor is there any duration. so the turn ending does not affect exert.
Former Rules Advisor
"Everything's better with pirates." - Lodge
(The Gamers: Dorkness Rising)
"Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from science."
(Girl Genius - Fairy Tale Theater Break - Cinderella, end of volume 8)