2) The fact that Ixidron's ability is worded "as Ixidron enters the battlefield" and not "when Ixidron enters the battlefield" denotes that it is not a triggered ability, but a replacement effect. Such effects do happen in the middle of the resolution of a spell such as Hypergenesis. Since the creatures don't enter the battlefield at the same time, any creatures that enter before Ixidron will be turned face down, and any creatures that enter after Ixidron will not. So for...
3) the answer is yes.
Bonus example : A Clone that enters the battlefield during the resolution of Hypergenesis cannot copy anything that enters play after it with that same Hypergenesis.
Do note that, as you seem to know, when genuine triggered abilities ("When ~~ enters the battlefield") trigger during Hypergenesis' resolution, they do wait until the spell is done resolving before going into the stack, and that's only then that their order is determined if there are several and that their targets are chosen.
Yes, nothing forbids it. When a spell or an ability resolving tells you to play a spell, you can ignore normal timing restrictions for that type of spell. Think of this : even if it's your turn and your main phase when you cascade, you're necessarily playing the Oblivion Ring while there is an other spell on the stack (the Bituminous Blast) and even the Cascade ability itself is still on the stack while resolving and making you play the spell. You can't normally play enchantment spells when the stack is not empty, so obviously Cascade and other such effects allows you to "cheat" on the timing aspect.
Hostility specifically states "If a spell you control would deal damage to an opponent, prevent that damage". So only that part of the damage dealt by Volcanic Fallout or Lavalanche would be prevented, and the creatures would still die.
Yes, and if all cards of one type leave the graveyard afterwards, Duplicant will shrink, just as if it was Tarmogoyf itself. That's what I mean by "dynamic".
Once it imprints a creature card, Duplicant's p/t becomes "dynamic"; it knows what is the current p/t of the creature card it exiled. That means that if the p/t of the imprinted creature card is also dynamic even though it's not in play, which is the case with creatures like Tarmogoyf which p/t is determined by a characteristic-setting ability that functions in every zone, the p/t of the Duplicant will be the same (current number of card types in all graveyards +1 thoughness) and is subject to change along with the p/t of the imprinted card. Same with something like Lord of Extinction.
An interesting read with good advice to retain from. However, as most of your previous articles, I think it was a tad unfocused. Also, altough this doesn't hurt the article in-and-of itself, your column's initial goal (if I understood it correctly, and it's quite possible I didn't) was to link topics outside of Magic with some aspects of the game, and it's begun to be more and more "on topic", aka exclusively about Magic. Your recent articles made me think "Off Topic" could be more appropriately named "Topic Pot-Pourri". Not a very bad thing, it just shows that what you have to work the most on as a writer IMO (and I'm pretty sure you're aware of it), is streamlining, both inside single pieces of writing and over the course of the multiple articles of a regular column.
Only spells and abitlities that actually target. The only things that target in Magic are those with the word "target" in their rules text (which includes keywords like Equip which full rules meaning imply the word target, check the rulebook to verify these) and auras spells on the stack.
Yes, triggered abilities that trigger off of something leaving play do trigger if the permanent with them leaves play at the same time. So Prince of Thrall's ability will trigger for every of your opponents' creatures that go the graveyard at the same time as him.
In this case, the Hydra first becomes a 2/2, as the damage it takes makes it lose all of its (1) counters and it ends up as a 0/0 with a +2/+2 constant effect on it.
No matter how much damage was dealt to the Hydra, the ability that adds new counters at end of turn counts the number of counters that were actually removed, and in your example, that's only one, so the Hydra will get two counters, becoming a 4/4 total.
Your example is correct, except that you don't "assign the one without trample to block", you assign its combat damage to the 1/1 blocker, which is lethal and thus allows the other three 2/2's, which do have trample, to assign their combat damage to the defending player.
The different creatures in a band do not "share" combat-related abilities (or any abilities for that matter). This has different results depending on what kind of ability we're talking about :
"Evasion abilities" (flying, shadow, etc.) : if a creature in a band gets blocked, the entire band gets blocked.
Trample : only the damage assigned by the actual creatures with Trample can be assigned to the defending player; however, the damage assigned by all the other creatures in the band can help reaching lethal damage for the purpose of the trampler(s) hitting the player.
First strike, Double Strike : only the creatures with First Strike or Double Strike will assign their combat damage in the first combat damage step. Note that if your opponent has any creatures with first strike or double strike blocking or blocked by your "band", you get to assign their damage in the first combat damage step as you wish.
Lifelink, Deathtouch, Wither : obviously, only the damage dealt by the creature which does have the abillity will have the additional effect.
Any more examples guys ?
I'm a little unclear on the ordering of damage here as well, If I attack with a 2/2 normal, a 1/1 first strike, a 3/3 flying and a 2/2 poison (all banded) and the defender has a 1/1 and a 2/2 as blockers, do I get to assign what creatures they block? Or do they block the "band" and I assign which of my creatures deal damage to their creatures?
There is no ordering involved when Banding is in the picture. Your opponent chooses what he'll attack or block with as usual, it's just that if he chooses to block a band or if you choose to block an attacker with a banding creature, as the combat damage step begins, you're gonna choose how every creature involved in the fight with the banding creature(s) divides its damage, at the same time. If First Strike or Double Strike is involded, you simply do it in two combat damage steps.
Yes, it is true. Once blockers are declared, theyattackers that get blocked are considered blocked for the rest of combat, which means their damage will not get can't be assigned to intented targetthe attacked player or planeswalker, unless the attackers have trample, in which case they can assign all their combat damage to the attacked player or planeswalker if their blocker(s) aren't in play when damage is assigned.
Fixed. It's nitpicking and the OP probably got it anyway, but it can't hurt to use the right terminology and add relevant precisions.
Puca's Mischief is in play under my control. I play Xathrid Demon. During my next upkeep do I have to sac a creature or take 7 life or does it get passed to my opponent before then?
All abilities that trigger "at the beginning of your upkeep" do so at the same time, and even if you lose control of their sources before they resolve, you still control those abilities. So even if you stack your triggers for Puca's Mischief to resolve first and you give away the Demon, its ability triggered under your control, so you'll have to either sacrifice a creature (and make your opponents lose life) or lose 7 life and tap the Demon on the opponent's side of the board.
Also, can I play a flash creature during this time and sacrifice it for Xathrid Demon?
Yes, you can, nothing for the Demon's ability is chosen until its resolution.
Yes, it does, because the enchant 'something' clause constantly checks for the legality of the permanent to which the aura is attached. Since Spreading Algae says 'Enchant Swamp', it's placed in the graveyard as a state-based action as soon as what's it's attached to stops being a Swamp.
Thank you. I was thinking counters when I shouldn't have. I apologize for the terminology mistake.
So, the Llanowar is a 2/2 when it takes 1 pt of damage, reverts to a 1/1 still with 1 pt of damage when the Archdruid leaves the battlefield. Then it too leaves the battlefield.
2) The fact that Ixidron's ability is worded "as Ixidron enters the battlefield" and not "when Ixidron enters the battlefield" denotes that it is not a triggered ability, but a replacement effect. Such effects do happen in the middle of the resolution of a spell such as Hypergenesis. Since the creatures don't enter the battlefield at the same time, any creatures that enter before Ixidron will be turned face down, and any creatures that enter after Ixidron will not. So for...
3) the answer is yes.
Bonus example : A Clone that enters the battlefield during the resolution of Hypergenesis cannot copy anything that enters play after it with that same Hypergenesis.
Do note that, as you seem to know, when genuine triggered abilities ("When ~~ enters the battlefield") trigger during Hypergenesis' resolution, they do wait until the spell is done resolving before going into the stack, and that's only then that their order is determined if there are several and that their targets are chosen.
No matter how much damage was dealt to the Hydra, the ability that adds new counters at end of turn counts the number of counters that were actually removed, and in your example, that's only one, so the Hydra will get two counters, becoming a 4/4 total.
"Evasion abilities" (flying, shadow, etc.) : if a creature in a band gets blocked, the entire band gets blocked.
Trample : only the damage assigned by the actual creatures with Trample can be assigned to the defending player; however, the damage assigned by all the other creatures in the band can help reaching lethal damage for the purpose of the trampler(s) hitting the player.
First strike, Double Strike : only the creatures with First Strike or Double Strike will assign their combat damage in the first combat damage step. Note that if your opponent has any creatures with first strike or double strike blocking or blocked by your "band", you get to assign their damage in the first combat damage step as you wish.
Lifelink, Deathtouch, Wither : obviously, only the damage dealt by the creature which does have the abillity will have the additional effect.
Any more examples guys ?
There is no ordering involved when Banding is in the picture. Your opponent chooses what he'll attack or block with as usual, it's just that if he chooses to block a band or if you choose to block an attacker with a banding creature, as the combat damage step begins, you're gonna choose how every creature involved in the fight with the banding creature(s) divides its damage, at the same time. If First Strike or Double Strike is involded, you simply do it in two combat damage steps.
Fixed. It's nitpicking and the OP probably got it anyway, but it can't hurt to use the right terminology and add relevant precisions.
All abilities that trigger "at the beginning of your upkeep" do so at the same time, and even if you lose control of their sources before they resolve, you still control those abilities. So even if you stack your triggers for Puca's Mischief to resolve first and you give away the Demon, its ability triggered under your control, so you'll have to either sacrifice a creature (and make your opponents lose life) or lose 7 life and tap the Demon on the opponent's side of the board.
Yes, you can, nothing for the Demon's ability is chosen until its resolution.
Correct, as explained by Woapalanne.