It is PTQ time. Andrea and Norman have presented their decks to each other for Game 1. Norman does a pile shuffle of Andrea’s deck and asks afterwards, ‘So you are playing with 61 cards?’ Andrea replies, ‘What?! No…’ and quickly checks her sideboard: There are 15 cards. They call you over as a judge […]
Category: Difficulty Rating
I am the Mouth of Saur…err, Ronom!
In a Modern Grand Prix Trial where you are the head (and only) judge, Alex calls you over to his match. He explains that during his turn, he had attacked with a . Nathan responded by activating a targeting the Celestial Colonnade. Alex responded by casting a for 4. He gains 4 life and draws […]
I need a Hero(ic Trigger)
Andrew and Nigel are playing in a PTQ. Andrew has a 4/4 and Nigel controls a tapped 2/2 . Andrew moves to his combat phase and attacks with his Polis Crusher. During the Declare Attackers Step, Nigel casts targetting his Staunch-Hearted Warrior, to which Andrew says ‘OK’. Nigel then untaps his creature, pushes it toward […]
Blame the Shuffler
During a deck check in round 4 of a PTQ, you do a quick ‘fan’ of the player’s deck, face down. You notice that ten of the cards seem to be in sleeves that are a millimeter or two smaller than the rest. Those ten cards are 3 , 3 , and 4 . You […]
The Animated Feature
Alan and Nathan are playing in a Standard GPT. Alan has a and a in play. Alan says “Move to combat.” Nathan surveys his hand and then says, “Sure, go ahead.” Alan taps a swamp and moves his Mutavault forward, saying, “Attack with Mutavault and Specter.” Nathan says, “You can’t attack with the Mutavault,” and […]
Slaughtering Spherical Demons
It’s PTQ time, and Adam casts targeting Nate, naming . While searching through Nate’s deck, Adam finds one of his own s. After investigation, you learn that in game 1, Nate used a Detention Sphere on a demon, and accidentally shuffled it into his deck because they are using the same sleeves. What do you […]
BLEEP BLEEP in the BLEEP and BLEEP BLEEP BLEEEEEEP
****WARNING: POTENTIAL TRAUMA TRIGGER LANGUAGE**** You’re Head Judge of a PTQ. One of the players – who also happens to be a judge that you know – comes up to you and says, “Hey, Freddy is over there telling everyone how he ‘bent over and raped’ his last opponent. I don’t know about you, but […]
The Zombies Are Coming!
In a Legacy GPT, Nathan is playing Dredge and has a , , and in his graveyard. Alex is playing Sneak and Show and has a in play. Alex uses Sneak Attack to put into play and attacks with it. Nathan sacrifices the rest of his permanents (3 lands) and takes 15 damage. Alex passes […]
Stacked and Pact
Arthur and Neil are playing in a Modern GPT. At the end of Arthur’s turn, Neil taps out to cast . Arthur responds with . Neil responds with . Arthur thinks for a moment, then casts . Neil pauses, says “Ah, nuts…” then puts his spells in his graveyard. Arthur does the same. Neil untaps […]
Chronicler of Uh-Ohs
Apple and Nectarine are playing at a PTQ. Apple controls a with a +1/+1 counter on it. He casts and says “Trigger both guys.” Nectarine replies, “Before she evolves, kill her with .” “Sure. Take 3. Draw for the Chronicler?” “Sure.” Apple draws his card, then looks down and realizes that the doesn’t have a creature with a […]