The next turn, you’re called to the table by Niko. Adam has cast Mizzium Mortars targeting the Restoration Angel, and Niko just realized he didn’t choose a creature type when the Automaton was blinked.
How do you handle this call?
Judges, feel free to discuss this scenario on Judge Apps!
View AnswerAs many of you noticed, the infraction here is a Game Play Error – Game Rule Violation for Niko and the accompanying Failure to Maintain Game State penalty for Adam. The Failure to Maintain Game State penalty can help remind us that it is both players responsibility to keep the game state correct, and because of that, we should not consider which player would gain an advantage in determining how to fix a problem.
As for the resolution, the IPG has a partial fix already listed for a situation like this, in the event that you decide a rewind isn’t possible. “If a player made an illegal choice or failed to make a required choice for a permanent on the battlefield, that player makes a legal choice.” Adam did not chose a creature type when his Automation returned to play, so he chooses one right now.