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Title: Copying a copy wrong ..
Questions: 19 1.28.05
Error correction time,
courtesy of Chris Richter, StarCityGames.com
Judge....
---
C: There is an error in
your most recent article (Tuesday, 25 January). You
wrote:
>>>Q: Can I clone a
Doppelganger? Or would I just clone whatever
Doppelganger is ganging?
-Michael
A: When you Clone a
Doppelganger, you copy the base Doppelganger card,
not whatever the Doppelganger is copying right
then.<<<
Here is the relevant
rule:
503.2. When copying an
object, the copy acquires the copiable values of the
original object’s characteristics (name, mana cost,
color, type, supertype, subtype, expansion symbol,
rules text, power, and toughness) and, for an object
on the stack, choices made when playing it (mode,
targets, the value of X, whether a kicker cost was
paid, how it will affect multiple targets, and so
on). The “copiable values” are the values that are
printed on the object, as modified by other
copy effects, plus any values set for
face-down spells or permanents. Other effects
(including type-changing effects) and counters are
not copied.
So this Clone will be
whatever the Doppelganger is copying at that moment
and have the Doppelganger ability.
-Chris
A: Yep. I had the rule
stuck in my head that it was the original form of
the thing that was being copied. Doesn't quite work
when you copy a copy. Thanks.
---
And a clarification from
last column ..
Q: I'd like to just
check if this situation is correct.
I play a casual Zubera
Reanimator deck. It focuses on using Iname, Death
Aspect to get a ton of Zuberas in the grave, then
Patriarch's Bidding brings them all onto the field
to be sacrificed to a Blasting Station for lethal
damage from Blasting effects and Ember-fist Zubera.
So, say I have 4
Ember-fist Zubera in the graveyard and I cast
Patriarch's Bidding, naming 'zubera'. I have an
untapped Blasting Station in play, that gets 4 untap
triggers. I respond to the first to sacrifice one
Ember-fist Zubera for one damage (presumably to my
opponent, or one of his/her creatures). Now, would
the Zubera trigger go on top of the untap triggers
(meaning I can't sacrifice other Zuberas with the
same Blasting Station to increase the effect)? (In
this case, if I am right I would deal 14 damage: 4
from four Blasting Station effects, 1 from the first
Zubera trigger, 2 from the second, 3 from the third,
and 4 from the last.)
Also, what would happen
if I was using Spawning Pit to sacrifice the Zubera?
Since the sacrifice is part of the cost for its
effect, could I use it multiple times before the
Zubera trigger resolves to increase its effect? (In
this case, if I'm right, I would deal 16 damage, 4
from each Zubera trigger, and get 4 charge counters
for Spawning Pit.)
-The Artificer
A: You've got it all
correct.
---
Moving on ...
Q: I was playing a
Rochester tournament with some friends at my
friend's house, and while we were a playing a
problem came up concerning spells being spliced onto
arcane. I had attacked with the Soratami Mirror
Guard and my opponent played Shining Shoal targeting
my Mirror Guard, splicing Dampen Thought and Psychic
Puppetry onto Shining Shoal. I had Veil of Secrecy
in my hand and I cast it in response to Shining
Shoal. My question is that now that the Mirror
Guard has become an illegal target, do the spliced
effects still go off?
-Ryan
A: Yes. A spell is
countered only if ALL of its targets are illegal.
Since the Shining Shoal (with the Dampen Thoughts
and Psychic Puppetry spliced on) reads:
"The next X damage that
a source of your choice would deal to you or a
creature you control this turn is dealt to target
creature or player instead. Target player puts the
top four cards of his or her library into his or her
graveyard. Tap or untap target permanent."
it has 3 separate
targets, only one of which is illegal (or maybe two,
if he chose to also target the Mirror Guard with the
Puppetry portion). Since there are still legal
targets (the player for Dampen Thought, and the
permanent for Psychic Puppetry, assuming Puppetry
didn't target the Mirror Guard), the spell will mill
4 and tap or untap the chosen permanent.
---
Q: If I put regeneration
on Eternal Witness, when I trigger regeneration,
would "it" come back as a new creature and use it's
ability?
-Joe C.
A: No. When a creature
regenerates, it does not leave play. So it would
never "come into play again" off of a regeneration
event.
---
Q: Say you play Hecatomb
and after paying its mana cost you have 4 untapped
swamps but 0-3 creatures in play, can you tap those
swamps to deal 1 damage 4 times to another player or
a creature?
A: (Oracle wording:)
Hecatomb 1BB Enchantment When Hecatomb comes into play, sacrifice Hecatomb unless you sacrifice four creatures. Tap an untapped Swamp you control: Hecatomb deals 1 damage to target creature or player.
Hecatomb's comes into
play ability is a normal triggered ability, and it
can be responded to before you have to sacrifice the
creatures. So yes, you can have Hecatomb come into
play, put the trigger on the stack, activate the
ability on the Swamps that Hecatomb grants, and then
when Hecatomb's trigger resolves, sacrifice it
instead of sacrificing 4 creatures.
---
Q: Suppose you were
using Hecatomb from Ice Age, which has tapping a
swamp as part of the effect, not the cost, as well
as R&D's Secret Lair in play...
A: I wondered when
someone would put that card into a question.
*groans*
(Ice Age wording:)
Hecatomb 1BB Enchantment When Hecatomb comes into play, sacrifice four creatures. 0: Tap target swamp you control to have Hecatomb deal 1 damage to target creature or player.
---
Q: Would Hecatomb
basically read "0: Deal 1 damage to target creature
or player" because you can tap a tapped card if it
is for part of the effect right, just not if it is
part of the cost?
-rja
A: We are in silver
bordered land, so remember the silver bordered judge
rule: you are at the whim of the judge you are
asking. Different judges may rule differently.
Since the tapping of the
swamp occurs as an effect, you can do this just
fine.
---
Q: Can you use spells to
redirect damage from mana burn?
A: No, because mana burn
is loss of life, not damage.
---
Q: If I tap a land that
is enchanted with a Squirrel Nest, does it produce
mana as well as a squirrel?
A: No. You can only pay
the cost of either of the effects once. Once you
have tapped the land to pay the cost of either
making a squirrel or to get mana, you can't pay the
cost of tapping the land to get the other effect.
See
Mantras 1 and 11.
---
Q: If I have a Thrashing
Wumpus out as well as a creature with protection
from black, will the other creature take damage from
the Wumpus's ability if used?
-J
A: No. Damage dealt by a
black source to a creature with protection from
black is prevented. See
Mantra 4.
---
Q: I have another 8.5
tails question:
It is my turn, I have a
Lumengrid Sentinel and my opponent has 8.5 tails in
play with tons of available mana. If I play an
artifact and try to tap 8.5 tails with the triggered
ability on the Sentinel, can my opponent respond by
turning the Sentinel white and then giving 8.5 tails
pro. white so the effect fizzles?
-Robert H.
A: Even though the
Sentinel say that you tap the permanent, the source
of the ability is the Sentinel. So when the ability
resolves, a white Sentinel is trying to have you do
something to a creature with protection from white.
Therefore, the ability will be countered.
---
Q: I have a Kitsune
Mystic in play and five mana to spare. My opponent
has four creatures (any creature, Grizzly Gears for
example) in play. I play Lingering Death on one of
the Grizzlies on my turn. The enchanted creature
needs to be sacrificed at end of his/her turn. I
then use Mystic's ability on his turn to move the
enchantment on each of the other bears (leaving me
tapped out). Does my opponent have to sac all bears,
or only the one enchanted at end of turn?
-William
A: Note the "At end of
turn" clause. "At end of turn" effects trigger only
once, and that is when the end step starts. The
creature that the Lingering Death was on when the
end step started will be sacrificed, but the others
will not.
(You can make him
sacrifice one creature per turn this way, though.)
Lingering Death
Enchant Creature 1B At the end of enchanted creature’s controller’s turn, that player sacrifices that creature.
---
Q: If a Pit Spawn
damages a Darksteel Colossus, would the Pit Spawn be
destroyed or would the Colossus be removed before it
could strike back?
-John
A: Since the Pit Spawn
has first strike, that means it deals its damage
first. Indestructible will also not save the
Colossus from being removed from the game. So your
Pit Spawn will survive.
---
Q: My fiance and I both
play with several land cards that have a Tap
ability. i.e. "Tap: Add Red mana to your mana pool."
Does this mean when this card is tapped it generates
two mana?
A: No. It just produces
one mana.
(Even if it did have 2
instances of the ability, you could only play one of
the abilities, as you can only pay the costs once.
Mantras 1 and 11, just like above.)
---
Q: We are unclear on
exactly when the stack resolves. It seems like it
doesn't just resolve at the end of the turn, but at
other times during the 5 phases.
A: Any time both players
decline to play a spell or ability, the top item on
the stack resolves.
(If there are no items
on the stack, the current phase or step ends.)
This will happen at
least 8 times per turn (upkeep, draw, first main,
beginning of combat, declare attackers, end of
combat, second main, and end step). (However, most
players don't play that strictly, and simply pass
over points where none of them wish to do anything.)
---
Q: If I have a creature
that has 1/1 and a tap ability of say "Tap: Do 1
damage to target creature or player," does this mean
when I attack with that creature it becomes tapped
and the ability goes on the stack?
A: No. Tapping an
attacking creature is a special game action. To play
the ability, you have to specifically play the
ability and pay the cost of tapping the creature.
Simply having the creature become tapped does not
activate any abilities on that creature.
---
Q: Can I tap it without
attacking?
A: Yes. This is the only
way it will deal damage with its ability.
---
Q: If a spell causes the
creature to become tapped does the ability get
triggered and go on the stack?
A: No. It is not a
triggered ability, it is an activated ability. You
have to very specifically play activated abilities
for them to do their thing.
---
Q: Do you have any
suggestions for keeping track of the stack?
Currently we are actually "stacking" the applicable
cards, one after the other, which has led to a card
ending up in the others deck later.
A: This is the best way
to illustrate the stack, and I even do this
sometimes.
One way to prevent a
card from ending up in the other person's deck is to
put them on the stack just like you would put a card
in play on the field. That way, when you take the
top card off the stack, the way the card is facing
tells you who's card it is.
Alternatively, you could
just use different colored sleeves :).
---
Q: If +1/+1 counters are
on a creature that is sent to the graveyard, I
believe I read that the counters stay.
-JM
A: This is incorrect.
The counters are removed from the creature as the
creature leaves play. (Certain abilities, like
modular, allow you to transfer the counters. But if
the card doesn't say to move them, simply take them
off as the creature leaves play.)
See you Tuesday.
Bill Guerin
DCI Level 2 Judge |
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