In a Legacy GP match that you are observing, Apollo is at 3 life while playing against Neptune, who is at 5 life. Apollo casts , tapping one of his two , targeting Neptune, who has several red mana available. Neptune says “it resolves” and marks herself down to 2. Apollo looks at you, waits […]
Category: Tournament Errors
Mutually Beneficial Assistance
Aidan is playing against Naaraa in the top 8 of a large Competitive REL tournament that has video and text coverage. Both players were given access to each other’s decklist prior to the start of the match, as they had been previously posted online. During Game 2, you turn around from watching another match and […]
It’s Time to Drain the _________
You are the Head Judge of your local Standard PPTQ. You have collected all the decklists and round 1 has begun. While ensuring that all of the lists are present, you notice that one player has a blank line with a number next to it on his decklist. He is playing Black/White control, and has […]
Making the Cut
You are judging at a standard PPTQ. While performing a beginning of round deck check, you see that Osiris is playing with 59 cards in his main deck and 16 in his sideboard. Upon counting his decklist, you read there are actually 59 main deck and 16 sideboard registered. His sideboard lists the following: 3 […]
Ajani By Any Other Name
You’re the Head Judge of a Standard PPTQ. While verifying that you have all the lists, you notice that Percy’s list has “2x Ajani” on it. You go to Percy’s match and notice that he has one Ajani Unyielding in his graveyard, and another in his hand. What do you do? Judges feel free […]
Why did it have to be snakes?
Anna is playing against Nigel at a Sealed PPTQ and round four has just begun. Anna asks to speak to you away from the table, shows you her hand, which contains 3 copies of . Anna explains that she is only playing 2 copies of in her main deck, and has one more which she […]
Always double-check
At the beginning of round three at a standard Grand Prix Trial, you deck check table 5. Elspeth’s decklist says “4 Jace, Vryn’s Prodigy”, along with a variety of other blue and black spells and lands. Her deck, however, contains 56 cards and 4 unmarked Magic Origins Checklist Cards. Her box also contains 4 Jace, […]
On Second Thought…
Albert is playing against Nora in PPTQ. Albert has lost game 1, and they are moving to game 2. Albert swaps some cards in from his sideboard, presents, then draws his opening 7. There’s only one land, so he decides to mulligan. He puts his hand back on top, says “Hmm, actually…” and swaps one […]
D’oh-main
You are the only judge at a local Modern GPT. Nat calls you over and explains that Addison just cast a on his , saying “5 to your rhino.” Nat responded by activating his targeting Addison’s . The players had then both recalculated for Tribal Flames, and realized that Addison had only controlled 4 basic […]
Ambidecksterity
Alfonso is playing in a sealed GPT. He sits down for game 1 of his match, grabs a pile of roughly 40 sleeved cards out of his deck box, shuffles, and presents to his opponent. Upon drawing his opening hand, he immediately calls a judge and explains that this is his sideboard. He has several […]