This thread is for the discussion of my latest article, Cranial Insertion: Quest[ion]s. We would be grateful if you would let us know what you think, but please keep your comments on topic.
Are we sure about the Sphinx of Jwar Island ruling? I get the impression from the Zendikar FAQ that you can look at the top card while a spell is resolving. It is prohibited to look while paying costs though, apparently.
Edit: Nevermind, I get it now. That is indeed a weird interaction :/
The Nissa Revane and Cobra Trap v. Vampire Hexmage interaction should be in the Zendikar FAQ. I don't expect it to come up a lot, but I think many players will miss this, try to cast their Cobra Trap and be unpleasantly surprised. Or, their opponents will let them and then will be GRVs flying around.
I remember back when I first learned of this interaction (Sacred Ground does not trigger when your opponent Shocks your Rude Awakening lands) and I was pretty :(.
Note: I didn't actually check the Zendikar FAQ so if someone wants to foot-in-mouth me, now's your chance.
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Hmm, are you sure about the ruling with Reprisal vs. Guul Draz Specter? The Specter isn't really a legal target for Reprisal when you cast the card, and you have to declare targets when/as you put the spell on the stack?
Also, I believe that you are incorrect regarding Mindless Null equipped with Blazing Torch targeting White Knight. It is not the Null that does the damage, it is the Blazing Torch that is dealing 2 damage/targeting the guy, not the Null.
I might be wrong on these, but they seemed like things that could be confused/missed, so I pointed them out.
Also, I believe that you are incorrect regarding Mindless Null equipped with Blazing Torch targeting White Knight. It is not the Null that does the damage, it is the Blazing Torch that is dealing 2 damage/targeting the guy, not the Null.
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No this is definatly right, Funny thing is if you equip the torch to vampire nighthawk he can throw it at someone and gain you life
EDIT: Ok giving blazing torch a closer look i think you are right. as it reads equipped creature has..... BLAZING TORCH DEALS 2 DAMAGE TO TARGET CREATURE OR PLAYER.
Hmm, are you sure about the ruling with Reprisal vs. Guul Draz Specter? The Specter isn't really a legal target for Reprisal when you cast the card, and you have to declare targets when/as you put the spell on the stack?
You check whether a spell is illegal not before casting it, but at the beginning of it. And the very first step of casting a spell is putting it on the stack (probably from your hand). Now you select targets. If that's not possible, the game backs up. But in this case, it IS possible, because the Specter is already 5/5 because the Reprisal isn't in your hand anymore.
Also, I believe that you are incorrect regarding Mindless Null equipped with Blazing Torch targeting White Knight. It is not the Null that does the damage, it is the Blazing Torch that is dealing 2 damage/targeting the guy, not the Null.
The Torch is dealing the damage, but the ability is from the equipped creature, so the creature is doing the targeting.
The Torch's design is actually a pretty poor choice in my view. I've already had a player fire off a Torch at one of my creatures which had three toughness on the basis that it was equipped to a Giant Scorpion and so he expected the Deathtouch to finish the job.
(And the real irony is, it did kill my creature, for reasons I am not permitted to discuss here!)
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My opponent has a Jace out, i have a vampire hexmage. He casts path on the hexmage and i respond by saccing and removing jace counters. Do i still get to search for a basic?
Also I have a bloodchief ascension with 3 counters on it in play and my opponent casts esper charm choosing kill enchantment. Doesn't his card resolving hit the graveyard and trigger the ascension before its destroyed? I'm honestly not sure about this one.
My opponent has a Jace out, i have a vampire hexmage. He casts path on the hexmage and i respond by saccing and removing jace counters. Do i still get to search for a basic?
No, because when the Path to Exile wants to resolve, it finds its target missing and will therefor be countered by the rules.
Also I have a bloodchief ascension with 3 counters on it in play and my opponent casts esper charm choosing kill enchantment. Doesn't his card resolving hit the graveyard and trigger the ascension before its destroyed? I'm honestly not sure about this one.
No. The Ascencion is destroyed, and then the Esper Charm is put into the graveyard. The Ascension is already gone, so it won't trigger.
I thought that the specter's hability was checked only when SBE were checked. That's why I think that there's nothing that makes the Specter realize it can be a 5/5 untill you've put the spell on the stack after paying its costs and declared its targets...
I know that SBE aren't checked in the middle of the resolution of a spell (Maro doesn't die from a Wheel of Fortune) and I think that they are not checked while casting, but I'm not sure that the specter's hability get's checked only with SBE timings.
It has nothing to do with SBA's For example, the Maro example you pointed out. It DOES have 0 toughness half way the resolving of the spell, only it gets back to 7 before SBA's are checked. Same with the Specter. The moment the card leaves your hand, the Specter becomes 5/5. Therefor it's a legal target, because you choose targets AFTER you put it on the stack.
Q: Can I use Seht's Tiger to stop the damage from a Volcanic Fallout after Unstable Footing's resolved? Seht's Tiger just says that I can't be dealt damage by anything of the chosen color, and "can't" always wins.
A: The reminder text makes it sound like the damage simply doesn't occur, but the rules on protection specify that it prevents damage. With Unstable Footing, the damage can't be prevented, and the "can't" effect wins out, as you noted, so you take 5 to the face.
You're only taking 2 damage from volcanic fallout, right? not 5?
No. The Ascencion is destroyed, and then the Esper Charm is put into the graveyard. The Ascension is already gone, so it won't trigger.
It has nothing to do with SBA's For example, the Maro example you pointed out. It DOES have 0 toughness half way the resolving of the spell, only it gets back to 7 before SBA's are checked. Same with the Specter. The moment the card leaves your hand, the Specter becomes 5/5. Therefor it's a legal target, because you choose targets AFTER you put it on the stack.
I think this is confusing for some people since just because a resolving spell is out of your hand doesn't mean it's in the graveyard immediately.
And bateleur - why aren't you permitted to say why it died?
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Actually Blazing Torch is doing the targeting the creature just has to tap and that's it. it says Blazing Torch deals 2 damage to target creature or player. could be wrong though.
Actually Blazing Torch is doing the targeting the creature just has to tap and that's it. it says Blazing Torch deals 2 damage to target creature or player. could be wrong though.
You are It's too bad most people's intuition says otherwise. Bad design The Torch gives the creature an ability. If you activate it, the ability is targeting, and that ability belongs to the creature, not the Torch. It's the Torch that's dealing the damage, but the ability that's doing the targeting. And since that ability is from the creature, that's what the game will look at.
You are It's too bad most people's intuition says otherwise. Bad design The Torch gives the creature an ability.
I think this is a very good, intuitive design actually. It's only because we've played Magic for so long and have become used to the unintuitive way of doing things that makes the interaction seem strange at first.
Think of all the players in the past that didn't understand why a creature with protection from red would still take damage from a blue creature enchanted with a Fire Whip, even though the same creature would be protected from the whip's sacrifice ability.
Look at it from a flavor perspective. A creature is holding a torch. When the creature wants to damage something, the creature must target that thing. But when the creature throws the torch, it is the torch that ends up doing the damage.
Here's a new question though. How does a creature holding the torch (and a +1/+1 counter) interact with Experiment Kraj? Can Kraj sacrifice the torch even if it isn't carrying it? Or does the ability not even get copied?
And bateleur - why aren't you permitted to say why it died?
Perhaps it is a tongue in cheek joke that he played it wrong on this occassion before reading CI :p. I see no reason why you couldn't discuss on a magic forum why your creature died
Q: When I reset my life total with Eternity Vessel, does that count as gaining life?
A: Any time that your life total goes up, it's because you gained life. If we assume that you're using the Vessel as intended, you're gaining life with each use. Your opponent's Punishing Fire will trigger, and he'll get to cast Needlebite Trap for the low, low price of only B.
Are you sure about this? Is it considered as life gain? I've read the card, my understanding leads me to believe your life is SET to a specific value, I do not think it is classified as life gain. Yet if I am mistaken, this would be obscene when used in conjunction with Sanguine bond
Edit: Nevermind, I get it now. That is indeed a weird interaction :/
If your answer is "No," then your morality does not come from God's commandments.
If your answer is "Yes," then please, please reconsider.
I remember back when I first learned of this interaction (Sacred Ground does not trigger when your opponent Shocks your Rude Awakening lands) and I was pretty :(.
Note: I didn't actually check the Zendikar FAQ so if someone wants to foot-in-mouth me, now's your chance.
Do you know any judges who always impress you with their work ethic, knowledge, or attitude? Nominate them to be the next Judge of the Week!
Also, I believe that you are incorrect regarding Mindless Null equipped with Blazing Torch targeting White Knight. It is not the Null that does the damage, it is the Blazing Torch that is dealing 2 damage/targeting the guy, not the Null.
I might be wrong on these, but they seemed like things that could be confused/missed, so I pointed them out.
No this is definatly right, Funny thing is if you equip the torch to vampire nighthawk he can throw it at someone and gain you life
EDIT: Ok giving blazing torch a closer look i think you are right. as it reads equipped creature has..... BLAZING TORCH DEALS 2 DAMAGE TO TARGET CREATURE OR PLAYER.
You check whether a spell is illegal not before casting it, but at the beginning of it. And the very first step of casting a spell is putting it on the stack (probably from your hand). Now you select targets. If that's not possible, the game backs up. But in this case, it IS possible, because the Specter is already 5/5 because the Reprisal isn't in your hand anymore.
The Torch is dealing the damage, but the ability is from the equipped creature, so the creature is doing the targeting.
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So you dont gain life, main thats like double disapointing... Ohwell ill get over it
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(And the real irony is, it did kill my creature, for reasons I am not permitted to discuss here!)
(I'm on on this site much anymore. If you want to get in touch it's probably best to email me: dom@heffalumps.org)
Forum Awards: Best Writer 2005, Best Limited Strategist 2005-2012
5CB PotM - June 2005, November 2005, February 2006, April 2008, May 2008, Feb 2009
MTGSalvation Articles: 1-20, plus guest appearance on MTGCast #86!
<Limited Clan>
My opponent has a Jace out, i have a vampire hexmage. He casts path on the hexmage and i respond by saccing and removing jace counters. Do i still get to search for a basic?
Also I have a bloodchief ascension with 3 counters on it in play and my opponent casts esper charm choosing kill enchantment. Doesn't his card resolving hit the graveyard and trigger the ascension before its destroyed? I'm honestly not sure about this one.
No, because when the Path to Exile wants to resolve, it finds its target missing and will therefor be countered by the rules.
No. The Ascencion is destroyed, and then the Esper Charm is put into the graveyard. The Ascension is already gone, so it won't trigger.
It has nothing to do with SBA's For example, the Maro example you pointed out. It DOES have 0 toughness half way the resolving of the spell, only it gets back to 7 before SBA's are checked. Same with the Specter. The moment the card leaves your hand, the Specter becomes 5/5. Therefor it's a legal target, because you choose targets AFTER you put it on the stack.
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You're only taking 2 damage from volcanic fallout, right? not 5?
Yes, I think it was a simple matter of confusing where the damage in question was coming from as Unstable Footing deals 5 damage.
I think this is confusing for some people since just because a resolving spell is out of your hand doesn't mean it's in the graveyard immediately.
And bateleur - why aren't you permitted to say why it died?
You are It's too bad most people's intuition says otherwise. Bad design The Torch gives the creature an ability. If you activate it, the ability is targeting, and that ability belongs to the creature, not the Torch. It's the Torch that's dealing the damage, but the ability that's doing the targeting. And since that ability is from the creature, that's what the game will look at.
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I think this is a very good, intuitive design actually. It's only because we've played Magic for so long and have become used to the unintuitive way of doing things that makes the interaction seem strange at first.
Think of all the players in the past that didn't understand why a creature with protection from red would still take damage from a blue creature enchanted with a Fire Whip, even though the same creature would be protected from the whip's sacrifice ability.
Look at it from a flavor perspective. A creature is holding a torch. When the creature wants to damage something, the creature must target that thing. But when the creature throws the torch, it is the torch that ends up doing the damage.
Here's a new question though. How does a creature holding the torch (and a +1/+1 counter) interact with Experiment Kraj? Can Kraj sacrifice the torch even if it isn't carrying it? Or does the ability not even get copied?
Perhaps it is a tongue in cheek joke that he played it wrong on this occassion before reading CI :p. I see no reason why you couldn't discuss on a magic forum why your creature died
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Are you sure about this? Is it considered as life gain? I've read the card, my understanding leads me to believe your life is SET to a specific value, I do not think it is classified as life gain. Yet if I am mistaken, this would be obscene when used in conjunction with Sanguine bond
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