(Originally published on 2026-03-04; last reviewed on 2026-03-04; last updated on 2026-03-04)

This article contains twenty rules questions featuring cards from Magic‘s newest set Magic: The Gathering | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

The first couple of questions focus on the set’s new and returning mechanics, similar to the update quizzes of several judge organizations; the rest focus on individual cards.

I recommend reading up on the Comprehensive Rules (CR) changes for this set before taking the quiz; the diff found on Academy Ruins does nicely.

Quiz style

This quiz follows the style most judge organizations use for rules questions on their update and certification tests.

• Each question lists multiple possible answers, usually five.
• For most questions, only one of those answers is correct.
• If more than one answer can be correct, the question will end with the phrase “Select all that apply.”
  • The number of correct answers can vary from one to all of them.
  • For the final score, such a question is all-or-nothing: selecting only some of the correct answers, but not all of them, or selecting an incorrect answer in addition to the correct ones, means that the question is failed.
• The name of the active player always starts with an “A” and the name of the nonactive player always starts with an “N.” In scenarios describing Two-Headed Giant games, the names of the two players on the active team start with an “A” and the names of the two players on the nonactive team start with an “N.”
• Each player has all the resources needed to perform the described actions, such as mana, cards in hand, or permanents to sacrifice. Usually, those resources are not described in detail unless they matter for the scenario.
• The scenario description contains all the relevant information about the game state. If something is not mentioned, then it’s not part of the game state or it doesn’t influence the correct answer.
• All game actions taken by the players are legal. The only exception are questions where one or more of the potential answers claim the opposite; usually, those answers start with “This can’t happen as described.” In such cases, a game action may have been illegal. Determining whether that’s the case is key to that question.
• Each question provides Oracle text for all cards mentioned in the scenario. You can click on the text to show or hide card images. Italicized card names in the scenario description should also have a tooltip displaying the card’s rules text for quick reference.

Judge organizations differ in what resources they allow for different kinds of tests. Update quizzes are generally open-internet, while certification tests are open-book or closed-book. Pick whatever works best for you.

The questions

Question 1

In a Two-Headed Giant game, Anna and Andrew play against Nina and Nolan. Anna attacks Nina, who controls a tapped Archangel of Tithes, with Turtle-Duck. After Nina and Nolan declare no blockers, Anna casts Michelangelo, Improviser using its sneak ability and returns Turtle-Duck to her hand. Nina responds and casts Shore Up, targeting Archangel of Tithes. Which answer best describes what happens when Michelangelo enters the battlefield?

1. Anna gets instructed to pay {1}. If she does, Michelangelo enters the battlefield tapped and attacking Nina; if Anna does not, Michelangelo enters the battlefield tapped and attacking Nolan.
2. Anna gets instructed to pay {1}. If she does, Michelangelo enters the battlefield tapped and attacking Nina; if Anna does not, Michelangelo enters the battlefield tapped but not attacking.
3. Anna does not get instructed to pay {1}. Michelangelo enters the battlefield tapped and attacking her choice of Nina or Nolan.
4. Anna does not get instructed to pay {1}. Michelangelo enters the battlefield tapped and attacking Nina.
5. Anna gets instructed to pay {1}. If she does, Michelangelo enters the battlefield tapped and attacking her choice of Nina or Nolan; if Anna does not, Michelangelo enters the battlefield tapped and attacking Nolan.

Click to reveal the correct answer.

Answer D is correct.

The effect of Archangel of Tithes’s ability imposes a restriction on attacking. Attack restrictions and requirements only apply during the turn-based action of declaring attackers, at the start of the declare attackers step [CR 508.1c+d+h]. If a creature enters the battlefield attacking or if a creature becomes an attacking creature outside that turn-based action, restrictions and requirements do not apply to it [CR 508.4c].

By default, if a creature enters the battlefield attacking, the attacking player chooses the player or permanent it is attacking [CR 508.4]. In the case of sneak, however, a creature cast for a sneak cost enters the battlefield attacking the same player or permanent that the returned creature was attacking [CR 702.190b]. In this scenario, Michelangelo enters the battlefield attacking Nina.

Question 2

Ashley controls April O’Neil, Hacktivist, Don & Leo, Problem Solvers, and Krang & Shredder. Earlier this turn, Krang & Shredder’s first ability resolved and Noah exiled Donatello’s Technique. Which of the following statements regarding the three end step abilities are correct, assuming that Ashley chooses Krang & Shredder as the target of Don & Leo’s ability? Select all that apply.

1. April O’Neil’s ability triggers only if Ashley cast a spell this turn prior to the end step.
2. Krang & Shredder’s disappear ability triggers even if no permanent left the battlefield under Ashley’s control this turn prior to the end step. It resolves if a permanent leaves the battlefield under Ashley’s control in response.
3. If Krang & Shredder’s disappear ability resolves before April O’Neil’s ability, and if Ashley casts Donatello’s Technique and it’s the first sorcery spell she casts this turn, Ashley draws an additional card when April O’Neil’s ability resolves.
4. If Don & Leo’s ability resolves before Krang & Shredder’s disappear ability, Krang & Shredder’s enters-the-battlefield ability triggers and resolves before the disappear ability. When the disappear ability resolves, Ashley may only cast Donatello’s Technique; she may not cast a card exiled with the newly resolved enters-the-battlefield ability.
5. If Don & Leo’s ability resolves before Krang & Shredder’s disappear ability, it exiles Krang & Shredder and returns it to the battlefield; when the disappear ability resolves, Ashley may still cast Donatello’s Technique.

Click to reveal the correct answer.

Answers C, D, and E are correct.

The ability of April O’Neil triggers at the beginning of Ashley’s end step. Its trigger event has no further conditions, so it triggers even if Ashley didn’t cast any spells this turn [CR 603.2]. If an ability’s effect requires information from the game, it determines that information only during the ability’s resolution [CR 608.2h]. In this scenario, April O’Neil’s ability determines the number of card types only when it resolves; spells cast between the beginning of the end step and the ability’s resolution count toward that number.

The disappear ability of Krang & Shredder has an intervening “if” clause, so it triggers only if that condition is met at the beginning of the end step [CR 603.4]. If no permanent left the battlefield under Ashley’s control prior to the end step, the ability does not trigger as the end step begins, and it does not trigger if a permanent leaves the battlefield during the end step.

If the ability of Don & Leo resolves before Krang & Shredder’s disappear ability, Krang & Shredder becomes a new object with no connection to its previous existence on the battlefield [CR 400.7]. The disappear ability resolves regardless, since it is independent of its source [CR 113.7a]. When it resolves, that source does not exist anymore, but any cards in the exile zone that were put there as a result of the source’s other ability are still cards exiled with Krang & Shredder [CR 607.2a]. Ashley may cast Donatello’s Technique without paying its mana cost.

When the ability of Don & Leo returns Krang & Shredder to the battlefield, its enters-the-battlefield ability triggers and Noah exiles one or more cards from the top of his library. These cards are exiled with the new Krang & Shredder and have no connection to the Krang & Shredder whose disappear ability triggered. When that ability resolves, Ashley may cast only cards exiled with the old Krang & Shredder, which means Donatello’s Technique.

Question 3

Adam controls Doran, Besieged by Time and Vizier of the Menagerie, and has Raphael, the Nightwatcher in his hand. Naomi controls no creatures. Adam attacks Naomi with both creatures and during the declare blockers step, he casts Raphael using its sneak ability. Which answer best describes what happens during the casting process and when Raphael enters the battlefield?

1. Raphael costs {R}{R} to cast. If Adam chooses to return Doran to his hand, he can spend mana of any type to cast Raphael. If Adam chooses to return Vizier of the Menagerie instead, he can spend only red mana to pay Raphael’s cost. In both cases, Doran’s ability does not trigger when Raphael enters the battlefield.
2. If Adam chooses to return Doran to his hand, Raphael costs {1}{R}{R} to cast and Adam can spend mana of any type to cast it. If Adam chooses to return Vizier of the Menagerie instead, Raphael costs {R}{R} to cast and Adam can spend only red mana to pay its cost. In both cases, Doran’s ability does not trigger when Raphael enters the battlefield.
3. Raphael costs {R}{R} to cast and Adam can spend mana of any type to cast it. Doran’s ability does not trigger when Raphael enters the battlefield.
4. Raphael costs {R}{R} to cast. If Adam chooses to return Doran to his hand, he can spend mana of any type to cast Raphael, and Doran’s ability does not trigger when Raphael enters the battlefield. If Adam chooses to return Vizier of the Menagerie instead, he can spend only red mana to pay Raphael’s cost, and Doran’s ability triggers when Raphael enters the battlefield.
5. If Adam chooses to return Doran to his hand, Raphael costs {1}{R}{R} to cast, Adam can spend mana of any type to cast it, and Doran’s ability does not trigger when Raphael enters the battlefield. If Adam chooses to return Vizier of the Menagerie instead, Raphael costs {R}{R} to cast, Adam can spend only red mana to pay its cost, and Doran’s ability triggers when Raphael enters the battlefield.

Click to reveal the correct answer.

Answer C is correct.

During the process of casting a spell, the spell’s controller first determines the spell’s total cost before paying any part of that cost [CR 601.2f]. In this scenario, Adam determines Raphael’s total cost, including the cost reduction from Doran’s ability, before returning an attacking creature to his hand. Even if Adam chooses to return Doran to his hand, the effect of its ability still applies and Raphael costs {R}{R} to cast.

While paying a spell’s total cost, the spell’s controller may pay the individual costs in any order [CR 601.2h]. In this scenario, Adam may pay the mana component first before returning an attacking creature to its owner’s hand. If he does, Vizier of the Menagerie is still on the battlefield while Adam spends mana to pay that cost and he can spend mana of any type. Once the mana component is paid, it does not matter if Vizier of the Menagerie leaves the battlefield directly after.

Abilities that trigger when a creature attacks trigger when a creature becomes an attacking creature during the turn-based action of declaring attackers [CR 508.3a]. They do not trigger if a creature enters the battlefield attacking. In this scenario, Doran’s ability does not trigger if Raphael enters the battlefield attacking, even if Doran is on the battlefield at that time.

Question 4

During previous turns, Abigail resolved Relive the Past and put Leader’s Talent onto the battlefield, activated and resolved its first activated ability, and put some +1/+1 counters on it. During her current turn, Abigail activates the second activated ability and Nestor responds with Heartless Act, targeting Leader’s Talent. Which answer best describes what happens when those objects resolve?

1. When Heartless Act resolves, Nestor chooses up to three counters from among Leader’s Talent’s single level counter and its +1/+1 counters and removes the chosen counters. When the activated ability resolves, Abigail puts a level counter on Leader’s Talent.
2. When Heartless Act resolves, Nestor chooses up to three counters from among Leader’s Talent’s single level counter and its +1/+1 counters and removes the chosen counters. When the activated ability resolves, if the number of level counters on Leader’s Talent is less than three, Abigail puts a number of level counters on it equal to the difference.
3. When Heartless Act resolves, Nestor chooses up to three counters from among Leader’s Talent’s single level counter and its +1/+1 counters and removes the chosen counters. When the activated ability resolves, if Nestor removed the level counter, nothing happens.
4. When Heartless Act resolves, Nestor chooses a number between 0 and 3, then Abigail chooses that many counters from among Leader’s Talent’s single level counter and its +1/+1 counters and removes the chosen counters. When the activated ability resolves, Abigail puts a level counter on Leader’s Talent.
5. When Heartless Act resolves, Nestor removes up to three +1/+1 counters from Leader’s Talent. When the activated ability resolves, the level of Leader’s Talent becomes 3.

Click to reveal the correct answer.

Answer E is correct.

The level of a (Class) permanent is a designation of that permanent [CR 716.2b]. It is not tracked with counters of any kind, so in this scenario, Nestor cannot change the level of Leader’s Talent with Heartless Act’s second mode. When the activated ability resolves, the level of Leader’s Talent becomes 3.

Question 5

Aaron controls two Storm Fleet Spies and has April O’Neil, Hacktivist in his graveyard. Nora controls Karai, Future of the Foot and Meathook Massacre II. Aaron attacks with the two Storm Fleet Spies and Nora blocks one with Karai. Aaron casts Donatello, Gadget Master using its sneak ability. After Donatello has entered the battlefield, Aaron casts Fleeting Reflection and chooses Donatello and Karai as the targets. Which answer best describes what happens during the combat damage step when Donatello’s copied ability triggers?

1. Aaron can target April O’Neil or Storm Fleet Spy with the ability. The ability of Meathook Massacre II resolves first. If the target of Donatello’s copied ability is still in the graveyard when that ability resolves, Aaron returns it to the battlefield.
2. Aaron can target April O’Neil or Storm Fleet Spy with the ability. It resolves before the ability of Meathook Massacre II and Aaron returns the target to his hand. If Storm Fleet Spy is returned to Aaron’s hand, he can still pay 3 life when Meathook Massacre II’s ability resolves, but nothing happens if he doesn’t.
3. Aaron can target only April O’Neil with the ability. When it resolves, he returns April O’Neil to the battlefield.
4. Aaron can target only April O’Neil with the ability. When it resolves, he returns April O’Neil to his hand.
5. Aaron can target April O’Neil or Storm Fleet Spy with the ability. The ability of Meathook Massacre II resolves first. If the target of Donatello’s copied ability is still in the graveyard when that ability resolves, Aaron returns it to his hand.

Click to reveal the correct answer.

Answer A is correct.

When combat damage is dealt, it causes appropriate abilities to trigger. Then, the game checks and performs state-based actions; this may also cause abilities to trigger. Next, all those abilities are put onto the stack in APNAP order [CR 510.3a]. In this scenario, Aaron puts the ability granted to Donatello onto the stack after state-based actions have destroyed the blocked Storm Fleet Spy [CR 704.5g]. As part of putting the ability onto the stack, Aaron chooses a target for it [CR 603.3d]; since Storm Fleet Spy is in Aaron’s graveyard at this point, it is a legal target for the ability.

After that, Nora puts Meathook Massacre II’s ability onto the stack. It resolves first and Aaron may pay 3 life [CR 405.5]. If he doesn’t, Nora puts Storm Fleet Spy onto the battlefield. If Aaron pays 3 life or if he chooses April O’Neil as the target of Donatello’s copied ability, that ability resolves next.

The copied ability checks whether Donatello’s sneak cost was paid this turn. Aaron cast Donatello this combat phase using a sneak ability, so its sneak cost was paid. That sneak cost is different from any sneak cost Donatello currently has, but this doesn’t matter for the triggered ability: unlike additional costs, alternative costs have no default rule that says that a check for an alternative cost looks only for one specific instance of that cost. The rules for sneak contain no statement to the contrary, so the check for a paid sneak cost is satisfied by any sneak cost [CR 702.190]. Aaron returns the target creature card to the battlefield.

Question 6

Alex controls Gangly Stompling and Ninja Teen. Lizard, Connors’s Curse enters the battlefield under Alex’s control and they choose Gangly Stompling as the enters-the-battlefield ability’s target. After that ability has resolved, Alex activates Ninja Teen’s first activated ability. Which answer best describes Gangly Stompling after Ninja Teen’s ability has resolved and its level has become 2?

1. Gangly Stompling is a 5/4 Lizard creature with menace.
2. Gangly Stompling is a 5/4 creature with menace that is every creature type.
3. Gangly Stompling is a 4/4 Lizard creature.
4. Gangly Stompling is a 5/4 Lizard creature.
5. Gangly Stompling is a 5/4 creature that is every creature type.

Click to reveal the correct answer.

Answer D is correct.

A class level bar of a Class card is a keyword that represents two abilities. One of these abilities is a static ability that reads “As long as this Class is level N or greater, it has [abilities]” [CR 716.2a]. The abilities associated with a specific level are granted to a Class by this static ability rather than by the resolving ability that increases the Class’s level; as a consequence, the timestamp of the ability-granting effect is the timestamp of the Class itself rather than the timestamp of the resolving ability’s effect [CR 613.7a].

In this scenario, the effect that grants Ninja Teen the ability “Creatures you control get +1/+0 and have menace” and the effect of that granted ability both have the timestamp of Ninja Teen. The timestamp of the effect created by Lizard’s ability is the moment of its creation [CR 613.7b]. Therefore, that effect has the later timestamp and its ability-changing part applies after that of the effect of Ninja Teen’s ability.

Three continuous effects apply to Gangly Stompling. The effect of its changeling ability applies first, regardless of timestamps, and grants it every creature type [CR 613.3]. Then the type-changing part of the effect created by Lizard’s ability applies and replaces all of Gangly Stompling’s creature types with the Lizard creature type [CR 205.1a].

The ability-changing parts of the effects apply in timestamp order. Ninja Teen has the earlier timestamp, so Gangly Stompling gains menace before the other effect removes all its abilities.

Effects that set an object’s base power and/or toughness always apply before effects that increase or decrease those values [CR 613.4]. Gangly Stompling’s power and toughness become 4/4, then its power increases to 5.

With all effects applied, Gangly Stompling is a Lizard with no other creature types, has no abilities, and is 5/4.

Question 7

Ada controls Leonardo, Cutting Edge, which has two +1/+1 counters on it, and Raphael, Ninja Destroyer. Nando controls Uneasy Alliance, which enchants Leonardo, and a 2/2 red Mutant creature token. Ada casts Go Ninja Go and chooses Leonardo as the first mode’s target and the Mutant creature token as the second mode’s target. Nando responds with Make Your Move and chooses Raphael as its target. Which answer best describes what happens when Go Ninja Go resolves?

1. Ada exiles Leonardo and returns it to the battlefield. Go Ninja Go deals 3 damage to the Mutant creature token.
2. Ada exiles Leonardo and returns it to the battlefield. Go Ninja Go deals 4 damage to the Mutant creature token.
3. Ada chooses the order in which the two modes of Go Ninja Go resolve. The spell deals 3 damage to the Mutant creature token.
4. Ada chooses the order in which the two modes of Go Ninja Go resolve. The spell deals either 1 damage or 3 damage to the Mutant creature token.
5. Ada exiles Leonardo and returns it to the battlefield. Go Ninja Go deals 1 damage to the Mutant creature token.

Click to reveal the correct answer.

Answer E is correct.

When a spell resolves, its controller follows its instructions in order [CR 608.2c]. In this scenario, Ada exiles Leonardo and returns it to the battlefield before Go Ninja Go deals damage.

If a spell’s effect requires information from the game, it determines that information only during the spell’s resolution, when that effect is created or applied [CR 608.2h]. In this scenario, Go Ninja Go determines the greatest power among Ada’s creatures only when Go Ninja Go is supposed to deal damage to the Mutant creature token. At that point, Ada controls only Leonardo, which has no counters on it due to leaving and returning to the battlefield [CR 122.2]. Leonardo’s power is 1 and Go Ninja Go deals 1 damage.

Question 8

Abel controls Raphael, Most Attitude. Casey Jones, Jury-Rig Justiciar enters the battlefield under Abel’s control and he exiles Swab Goblin with Raphael’s ability. Abel then attacks Nadine with Raphael and Casey Jones. Nadine does not declare any blockers and Abel casts The Last Ronin’s Technique using its sneak ability and returns Casey Jones to his hand. After the tokens enter the battlefield and Raphael’s ability triggers three times, Nadine responds to these abilities with Conduct Electricity and chooses Raphael and one of the tokens as its targets. Which answer best describes the remainder of the turn?

1. Abel does not choose beforehand which card he wants to play. Until end of turn, Abel may play Swab Goblin or one of the up to three cards he chooses to exile during the declare blockers step.
2. Abel may play any card exiled before Raphael leaves the battlefield. Until end of turn, Abel may cast Swab Goblin, but not any of the cards he chooses to exile during the declare blockers step.
3. Abel had to choose a card when Raphael’s attack ability resolved. Until end of turn, Abel may cast Swab Goblin, but not any of the cards he chooses to exile during the declare blockers step.
4. After Raphael leaves the battlefield, Abel may not play an exiled card anymore. Abel may not play Swab Goblin or any of the cards he chooses to exile during the declare blockers step.
5. The three abilities do not resolve and Abel does not get to exile any more cards. Until end of turn, Abel may cast Swab Goblin.

Click to reveal the correct answer.

Answer A is correct.

The effect of Raphael’s third ability grants Abel permission to play a card for a certain duration. This effect modifies the rules of the game and does not lock in a specific card or set of cards to which it applies [CR 611.2c]. The ability also does not instruct Abel to choose a specific card when it resolves, so at any given moment, Abel may play any one card currently exiled with Raphael.

The ability’s text does not state that the effect’s duration is tied to Raphael’s existence on the battlefield, so it simply lasts until end of turn, even if Raphael leaves the battlefield in the meantime.

Once an ability has triggered, it is independent of its source [CR 113.7a]. If Raphael leaves the battlefield before the triggered abilities resolve, they still resolve and Abel may exile up to three cards from the top of his library. As stated before, those cards are among the cards from which Abel may play a card.

Question 9

In a Two-Headed Giant game, Amelia and Anthony play against Nancy and Nelson. Amelia controls Transdimensional Bovine and has a card in her graveyard; Anthony controls a 2/2 red Mutant creature token and has no cards in his hand or graveyard. Nancy controls Henchbots, whose enters-the-battlefield ability exiled Amelia’s Attuned Hunter; Nelson controls no creatures and has no cards in his hand or graveyard. Amelia casts Turtles in Time. Which answer best describes what happens when Turtles in Time resolves, after Amelia returns all three creatures to their owners’ hands?

1. Attuned Hunter enters the battlefield. Amelia, Anthony, and Nancy may shuffle their hand and graveyard into their library; each player who chooses to do so draws seven cards. If Amelia does, Attuned Hunter’s ability triggers.
2. Amelia, Anthony, and Nancy may shuffle their hand and graveyard into their library; each player who chooses to do so draws seven cards. Amelia exiles Turtles in Time. Attuned Hunter enters the battlefield.
3. Each of the four players may shuffle their hand and graveyard into their library; each player who chooses to do so draws seven cards. Amelia exiles Turtles in Time. Attuned Hunter enters the battlefield.
4. Attuned Hunter enters the battlefield. Each of the four players may shuffle their hand and graveyard into their library; each player who chooses to do so draws seven cards. If Amelia does, Attuned Hunter’s ability triggers.
5. Attuned Hunter enters the battlefield. Amelia and Nancy may shuffle their hand and graveyard into their library; each player who chooses to do so draws seven cards. If Amelia does, Attuned Hunter’s ability triggers.

Click to reveal the correct answer.

Answer D is correct.

As soon as Henchbots leaves the battlefield, a one-shot effect is created which returns Attuned Hunter to the battlefield [CR 610.3]. This one-shot effect occurs directly after Henchbots leaves the battlefield and before the next instruction of Turtles in Time is carried out.

To perform an action on a zone, that action is performed on each card in that zone [CR 400.12]. In this scenario, each player chooses whether to shuffle each card that happens to be in their hand or graveyard into their library. This is possible even if the number of cards is zero. Therefore, each of the four players may shuffle their hand and graveyard into their library and draw seven cards.

Question 10

Ariana controls Don & Leo, Problem Solvers and Henchbots, whose enters-the-battlefield ability exiled Napoleon’s Piranha Fly. At the beginning of Ariana’s end step, Don & Leo’s ability triggers and she chooses Henchbots for both targets. Napoleon responds with Eaten by Piranhas, targeting Henchbots. Which answer best describes what happens when Don & Leo’s ability resolves?

1. The ability resolves but nothing happens.
2. Ariana exiles Henchbots. Piranha Fly remains in exile. Ariana returns Henchbots to the battlefield and its enters-the-battlefield ability triggers.
3. The ability does not resolve. Nothing happens.
4. This can’t happen as described. Ariana cannot choose the same permanent for both targets of Don & Leo’s ability.
5. Ariana exiles Henchbots. Piranha Fly enters the battlefield tapped. Ariana returns Henchbots to the battlefield and its enters-the-battlefield ability triggers.

Click to reveal the correct answer.

Answer E is correct.

If a spell or ability has multiple targets and its text contains the word “target” multiple times, the same object may be chosen as a target multiple times, once for each occurrence of “target” and provided that it meets the targeting criteria for each target [CR 115.3]. In this scenario, Ariana may choose Henchbots for both targets of Don & Leo’s ability since it is both an artifact and a creature.

When that ability resolves, Henchbots is just a creature and not an artifact. As such, it is an illegal choice for the ability’s first target. Henchbots is still a legal choice for the second target, so the ability resolves and does as much as possible [CR 608.2b]. The parts for which Henchbots is a legal target affect it normally, so Ariana exiles Henchbots and returns it to the battlefield.

After Ariana exiles Henchbots but before she returns it to the battlefield, a one-shot effect is created which returns Piranha Fly to the battlefield [CR 610.3]. The one-shot effect’s creation was set up when Henchbots’s enters-the-battlefield ability exiled Piranha Fly, so it does not matter that Henchbots has no abilities as it leaves the battlefield.

As Henchbots leaves and enters the battlefield, it becomes a new object with no relation to the permanent it previously was [CR 400.7]. Thus, it is not enchanted by Eaten by Piranhas anymore and its enters-the-battlefield ability triggers.

Question 11

Alex controls Vnwxt, Verbose Host and Quantum Riddler. Alex’s speed is 4 and they have no cards in hand. Krang, Master Mind enters the battlefield under Alex’s control and its ability triggers. What are the possible numbers of cards that Alex can draw when that ability resolves? Select all that apply.

1. Alex can draw ten cards.
2. Alex can draw four cards.
3. Alex can draw nine cards.
4. Alex can draw five cards.
5. Alex can draw eight cards.

Click to reveal the correct answer.

Answer A is correct.

The text of Krang’s ability contains one instruction to draw cards, so its effect determines the difference between 4 and the number of cards in Alex’s hand, and then instructs Alex to draw that many cards [CR 608.2c]. In this scenario, the instruction is to draw four cards.

There are two replacement effects that modify card draws performed by Alex: one generated by Vnwxt’s ability and one generated by Quantum Riddler’s ability. The latter refers to the number of cards drawn, while the former refers to individual card draws, so the latter is applied first [CR 121.2a]. The replacement effect of Quantum Riddler’s ability modifies the event to “Alex draws five cards,” then the replacement effect of Vnwxt’s ability modifies each individual card draw as it occurs. Alex draws a total of ten cards.

Since there is no choice involved, there is only one possible number of cards drawn.

Question 12

Ambrose controls Fear of the Dark and a 2/2 black Horror enchantment creature token, and has Shredder’s Technique in his hand. Natasha controls Ureni, the Song Unending. Ambrose attacks with Fear of the Dark. During the declare blockers step, Natasha declares no blockers and then casts Piercing Exhale; she chooses Ureni and Fear of the Dark as the targets and beholds Ureni for the additional cost. Ambrose responds with Shredder’s Technique. Which answer best describes the remainder of the declare blockers step?

1. Ambrose potentially loses 2 life, depending on how he casts Shredder’s Technique. Natasha surveils 2 only if Ambrose loses 2 life.
2. Ambrose potentially loses 2 life, depending on how he casts Shredder’s Technique. Natasha surveils 2.
3. Ambrose potentially loses 2 life, depending on how he casts Shredder’s Technique. Natasha does not surveil 2.
4. Ambrose loses 2 life. Natasha surveils 2.
5. Ambrose loses 2 life. Natasha does not surveil 2.

Click to reveal the correct answer.

Answer B is correct.

During the process of casting a spell, the spell’s controller chooses targets, then the proposed spell’s legality is checked, then the player determines and pays the spell’s total cost [CR 601.2]. In this scenario, Ambrose first chooses a target creature or enchantment, which can be Fear of the Dark or the Horror enchantment creature token. Then the game checks whether the spell is legal to cast; at this point, Ambrose has not returned an attacking creature yet, so even if he chooses Fear of the Dark as the target, the spell is legal. Next, Ambrose pays the spell’s total cost and returns Fear of the Dark to its owner’s hand. This may change the target’s legality, but this change has no consequences for casting the spell [CR 601.5].

If Ambrose chooses Fear of the Dark as the target of Shredder’s Technique, that target is illegal when Shredder’s Technique is supposed to resolve. Since that is the spell’s only target, it does not resolve and none of its effects happen; Ambrose doesn’t lose 2 life [CR 608.2b]. If Ambrose instead chooses the Horror enchantment creature token as the target, Shredder’s Technique resolves and destroys that token; Ambrose loses 2 life.

Piercing Exhale has two targets and the first of those targets is still legal when Piercing Exhale resolves, regardless of Ambrose’s actions. Thus, Piercing Exhale resolves and does as much as possible [CR 608.2b]. The instruction to surveil 2 is not dependent on both targets being legal or on damage being dealt to the second target, so Natasha surveils 2.

Question 13

Andrea has 20 life, while Ned has 6 life. Andrea is enchanted by Ned’s Grievous Wound. Andrea activates Taii Wakeen, Perfect Shot’s ability with X = 2. After it resolves, she casts Spicy Oatmeal Pizza. Ned responds and casts Dawn’s Truce. Which answer best describes Andrea’s life total or possible life totals when the turn ends?

1. Andrea has 4 life or 7 life.
2. Andrea has 2 life or 7 life.
3. Andrea has 5 life or 7 life.
4. Andrea has 5 life, 7 life, 8 life, or 10 life.
5. Andrea has 1 life or 7 life.

Click to reveal the correct answer.

Answer C is correct.

Andrea is enchanted by Grievous Wound, so she cannot gain life; even if she activates Spicy Oatmeal Pizza’s ability, she does not gain life when that ability resolves.

When Spicy Oatmeal Pizza enters the battlefield, its ability triggers and Andrea has to choose a legal target for it. Ned has hexproof, so the only legal choices are Andrea and Taii Wakeen [CR 702.11c].

If Andrea targets Taii Wakeen, Spicy Oatmeal Pizza deals 4 damage to it and 3 damage to Andrea. The replacement effect created by Taii Wakeen’s ability treats this as two separate events and applies to both [CR 700.1]; Andrea is dealt 5 damage, which causes Grievous Wound’s ability to trigger. When that ability resolves, Andrea loses half her life, rounded up. At that point, she has 15 life, so she loses 8 life and ends up at 7 life. The replacement effect of Taii Wakeen’s ability does not apply to this event since no damage is dealt [CR 119.3].

If Andrea targets herself, Spicy Oatmeal Pizza simultaneously deals 4 damage and 3 damage to Andrea, for a combined total of 7 damage [CR 608.2f]. The replacement effect of Taii Wakeen’s ability treats this as one event and applies once; Andrea is dealt 9 damage, which causes Grievous Wound’s ability to trigger. When that ability resolves, Andrea loses half her life, rounded up. At that point, she has 11 life, so she loses 6 life and ends up at 5 life.

Depending on the target Andrea chooses for Spicy Oatmeal Pizza’s ability, she ends up at 5 life or at 7 life.

Question 14

Alvin controls Michelangelo, Improviser and Nadia controls Drogskol Reaver. Novel Nunchaku enters the battlefield under Alvin’s control. When its enters-the-battlefield ability resolves, Alvin attaches it to Michelangelo and he chooses Drogskol Reaver as the target of the reflexive triggered ability. Nadia responds with Stolen Uniform and chooses Drogskol Reaver and Novel Nunchaku as its targets. Which answer best describes what happens when the reflexive triggered ability resolves?

1. Drogskol Reaver deals 4 damage to itself. Its ability triggers once.
2. Drogskol Reaver deals 8 damage to itself. Its ability triggers once.
3. Drogskol Reaver deals 8 damage to itself. Its ability triggers twice.
4. The reflexive triggered ability does not resolve. Nothing happens.
5. Michelangelo and Drogskol Reaver fight each other. Each deals 4 damage to the other. Drogskol Reaver’s ability triggers once.

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Answer B is correct.

When Stolen Uniform resolves, Nadia gains controls of Novel Nunchaku and attaches it to Drogskol Reaver; she does not gain control of the reflexive triggered ability. When that ability resolves, its single target (Drogskol Reaver) is legal, so it resolves as normal.

The equipped creature is only determined when the ability resolves and at that point, Novel Nunchaku equips Drogskol Reaver. Thus, the ability instructs Drogskol Reaver to fight itself [CR 608.2h]. A creature that fights itself deals damage to itself equal to twice its power, so Drogskol Reaver deals 8 damage to itself [CR 701.14c]. The damage is dealt all at once by a single source, so Nadia gains 8 life via a single source and Drogskol Reaver’s ability triggers once [CR 119.9].

Question 15

Amanda controls Narset, Parter of Veils and casts her only card in hand, Raphael’s Technique. Nate has Wilt-Leaf Liege in his hand. Which answer best describes what happens when Raphael’s Technique resolves?

1. Amanda may not discard her hand and draw cards. Nate may discard his hand, put Wilt-Leaf Liege onto the battlefield, and draw one card.
2. Amanda may discard her hand and draw cards. Nate may discard his hand and draw one card, but he does not put Wilt-Leaf Liege onto the battlefield.
3. Amanda may discard her hand and draw cards. Nate may discard his hand and put Wilt-Leaf Liege onto the battlefield, but he does not draw any cards.
4. Amanda may discard her hand and draw cards. Nate may not discard his hand and draw cards.
5. Amanda may discard her hand and draw cards. Nate may discard his hand, put Wilt-Leaf Liege onto the battlefield, and draw one card.

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Answer D is correct.

The effect of Raphael’s Technique makes each player choose whether to discard their hand and draw seven cards. A player can choose to do so only if they can choose both parts [CR 608.2d].

To perform an action on a zone, that action is performed on each card in that zone [CR 400.12]. In this scenario, Amanda chooses whether to discard each card that happens to be in her hand and then draw seven cards. This is possible even if the number of cards in her hand is zero. Therefore, Amanda may discard her hand and draw seven cards.

Nate is affected by the effect of Narset’s ability and thus cannot choose to draw seven cards [CR 121.2b]. As a consequence, he cannot choose to discard his hand and draw seven cards.

(Without Narset on the battlefield, Nate could choose to discard and draw, and the replacement effect of Wilt-Leaf Liege’s ability would apply and Nate would put it onto the battlefield instead of putting it into his graveyard. While Nate would make the decision to discard, that choice is still offered by a spell Amanda controls, so a spell controlled by an opponent would cause Nate to discard Wilt-Leaf Liege. Nate would also draw seven cards, since that is part of the choice and not contingent on the discarded cards being put into his graveyard.)

Question 16

Arthur controls Mechan Navigator and has Sculpting Steel in his graveyard. Nicole controls Spider-Woman, Stunning Savior. Arthur casts Brilliance Unleashed with both modes and chooses Spider-Woman and Sculpting Steel as its targets. Which answer best describes what happens if Arthur chooses to have Sculpting Steel enter the battlefield as a copy of Mechan Navigator when Brilliance Unleashed resolves?

1. Sculpting Steel enters the battlefield tapped as a 2/1 Robot Pilot artifact creature. Its copied ability does not trigger.
2. Sculpting Steel enters the battlefield tapped as a 3/3 Robot artifact creature with flying. Its copied ability does not trigger.
3. Sculpting Steel enters the battlefield tapped as a 2/1 Robot Pilot artifact creature. Its copied ability triggers.
4. Sculpting Steel enters the battlefield untapped as a 3/3 Robot Pilot artifact creature with flying. Its copied ability does not trigger.
5. Sculpting Steel enters the battlefield tapped as a 3/3 Robot Pilot artifact creature with flying. Its copied ability does not trigger.

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Answer B is correct.

When Brilliance Unleashed resolves, it deals 5 damage to Spider-Woman. Spider-Woman is only destroyed when state-based actions are performed after Brilliance Unleashed finished resolving, so it continues to be on the battlefield for the remainder of Brilliance Unleashed’s resolution [CR 704.4]. Sculpting Steel enters the battlefield tapped, but its copied ability does not trigger because its status does not change from untapped to tapped [CR 603.2e].

The text of Brilliance Unleashed checks the target card’s characteristics in the graveyard, so it does not consider any effects that will apply to that object once it is on the battlefield. In this scenario, Brilliance Unleashed returns Sculpting Steel to the battlefield and creates an effect that makes it a 3/3 Robot artifact creature with flying, even if Arthur chooses to have Sculpting Steel enter the battlefield as a copy of an artifact creature.

On the battlefield, two effects apply to Sculpting Steel: a copy effect and the effect created by Brilliance Unleashed. The two effects are associated with different layers, which determine the order in which they apply [CR 613.1]. The copy effect applies first and changes Sculpting Steel’s characteristic values to a 2/1 Robot Pilot artifact creature. The effect of Brilliance Unleashed applies after that and overwrites the two creature types with a single creature type [CR 205.1b]; it also grants Sculpting Steel flying and sets its power and toughness to 3/3.

Question 17

Alex controls Mikey & Don, Party Planners, Splinter, Radical Rat, and Mikey & Leo, Chaos & Order. Alex casts Michelangelo, Weirdness to 11 from the top of their library using the effect of Mikey & Don’s ability. How many +1/+1 counters does Alex put on Michelangelo and how many cards do they draw?

1. Alex puts a total of two +1/+1 counters on Michelangelo and draws one card.
2. Alex puts one +1/+1 counter on Michelangelo and draws one card.
3. Alex puts a total of two +1/+1 counters on Michelangelo and draws two cards.
4. Alex puts a total of three +1/+1 counters on Michelangelo and draws two cards.
5. Alex puts a total of four +1/+1 counters on Michelangelo and draws four cards.

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Answer B is correct.

As Michelangelo, Weirdness to 11 resolves and enters the battlefield, Alex gets instructed to put one +1/+1 counter on it. That instruction is part of Mikey & Don’s static ability, so the effect of Splinter’s ability does not interact with it [CR 604.1][CR 603.1].

Likewise, the replacement effect generated by Michelangelo, Weirdness to 11’s ability does not modify that instruction; Michelangelo, Weirdness to 11 is still on the stack when that replacement effect would need to apply, and the effect does not apply to Michelangelo, Weirdness to 11 in particular, but to all creatures Alex controls [CR 614.12]. Therefore, Michelangelo, Weirdness to 11 enters the battlefield with exactly one +1/+1 counter on it.

The ability of Mikey & Leo triggers once. Mikey & Leo is a Ninja creature, but the ability can still trigger only once each turn, so the effect of Splinter’s ability does not cause it to trigger an additional time [CR 101.2].

Question 18

Alice controls Donatello, Turtle Techie and Conspiracy Unraveler and she has Waves of Aggression in her graveyard. Alice attacks Norman with both creatures. Norman does not declare any blockers and Alice casts Leonardo, Cutting Edge using its sneak ability and returns Donatello to her hand. During Alice’s postcombat main phase, she casts Waves of Aggression from her graveyard. Which answer best describes Alice’s options while casting the spell, the spell’s resolution, and the rest of the turn?

1. Alice may cast Waves of Aggression by collecting evidence 10 and discarding a land card. When the spell resolves, Alice untaps Conspiracy Unraveler and Leonardo. Leonardo cannot attack during the additional combat phase.
2. Alice may cast Waves of Aggression by collecting evidence 10 and discarding a land card. When the spell resolves, Alice untaps Conspiracy Unraveler.
3. Alice cannot collect evidence 10 rather than pay Waves of Aggression’s mana cost. When the spell resolves, Alice untaps Conspiracy Unraveler and Leonardo. Leonardo cannot attack during the additional combat phase.
4. Alice may cast Waves of Aggression by collecting evidence 10 and discarding a land card. When the spell resolves, Alice untaps Conspiracy Unraveler and Leonardo. Leonardo can attack during the additional combat phase.
5. Alice cannot collect evidence 10 rather than pay Waves of Aggression’s mana cost. When the spell resolves, Alice untaps Conspiracy Unraveler.

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Answer B is correct.

The effect of a retrace ability does not impose any restrictions on casting the card it is on besides discarding a land card as an additional cost [CR 702.81a]. The effect of Conspiracy Unraveler’s ability applies an alternative cost to Alice’s spells, and an alternative cost may be combined with any number of additional costs [CR 118.8a][CR 118.9a]. Thus, Alice may cast Waves of Aggression using its retrace ability and collect evidence 10 rather than pay its mana cost.

A creature “attacked” if it was declared as an attacker during the turn-based action at the start of the declare attackers step. If a creature becomes an attacking creature in some other way, including by entering the battlefield attacking, it does not count as having attacked [CR 508.4]. In this scenario, Alice does not untap Leonardo when Waves of Aggression resolves.

Question 19

Alex controls Leonardo, Sewer Samurai. Which of the following statements about casting spells using the permission from Leonardo’s ability are correct? Select all that apply.

1. Alex may not cast Leonardo, Big Brother from their graveyard using its sneak ability.
2. If Alex has Lhurgoyf and exactly one other creature card in their graveyard, they may cast Lhurgoyf from their graveyard.
3. If Alex has Cheeky House-Mouse in their graveyard, they may cast Cheeky House-Mouse from their graveyard, but not Squeak By.
4. Alex may cast Leonardo, Big Brother from their graveyard by paying its mana cost.
5. If Alex casts Clever Impersonator from their graveyard and has it enter the battlefield as a copy of a noncreature permanent, it enters the battlefield with a finality counter on it.

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Answers C, D, and E are correct.

The ability of Leonardo, Big Brother is not a characteristic-defining ability, so it functions only while Leonardo, Big Brother is on the battlefield [CR 113.6][CR 604.3a]. In the graveyard and on the stack, Leonardo, Big Brother is a 1/3 creature, so Alex may cast it from their graveyard.

The effect of Leonardo, Sewer Samurai’s ability does not impose a specific cost on spells cast with it, so Alex may cast Leonardo, Big Brother using its sneak ability during her declare blockers step.

To begin the process of casting Lhurgoyf, Alex needs permission to cast the card in their graveyard [CR 601.3]. Lhurgoyf’s ability is a characteristic-defining ability, so it functions in every zone, including in the graveyard and on the stack [CR 604.3]. In Alex’s graveyard, Lhurgoyf is a 2/3 creature, so Alex does not have permission to begin casting it. On the stack, Lhurgoyf would be a 1/2 creature, but none of the exceptions defined by the Comprehensive Rules apply to it [CR 601.3a–e]. Thus, Alex may not cast Lhurgoyf in this scenario.

If a player casts an Adventure, the Adventure’s alternative characteristic values replace the object’s normal characteristic values both for the permission check and while the Adventure is on the stack [CR 715.3a–b]. Thus, Alex may cast Cheeky House-Mouse from their graveyard, but not Squeak By.

The effect of Leonardo, Sewer Samurai’s ability refers to “that creature”; however, that simply means any permanent that was cast using the effect’s permission, regardless of the permanent’s actual card types [CR 700.7]. Thus, Clever Impersonator enters the battlefield with a finality counter on it, even if it enters the battlefield as a copy of a noncreature permanent.

Question 20

In a private Two-Headed Giant game, Astrid and Arnold play against Natalie and Nicolas. On Nicolas’s last turn, he cast Secret of Bloodbending, paid its additional cost, and chose Astrid as its target. Which of the following statements regarding the current turn are correct? Select all that apply.

1. If Astrid controls Northampton Farm, Nicolas may have Astrid activate its third ability. When that ability resolves, Nicolas cannot have Astrid decline to put any of the exiled creature cards onto the battlefield.
2. If Astrid controls Ray Fillet, Man Ray, Nicolas may have Astrid activate its third ability. Nicolas cannot have Astrid remove a +1/+1 counter from one of Arnold’s creatures to pay the activation cost.
3. Nicolas may look at the cards in Arnold’s hand, in addition to the cards in Astrid’s hand.
4. If Astrid has North Wind Avatar in her hand, Nicolas may have Astrid cast it. When its enters-the-battlefield ability resolves, Nicolas cannot have Astrid put a card she owns from outside the game into her hand.
5. If Astrid controls Escape Tunnel, Nicolas may have Astrid activate its first ability. When that ability resolves, Nicolas must have Astrid find a basic land card if her library contains one.

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Answers A, B, and C are correct.

In games using the shared team turns option, such as Two-Headed Giant games, if a player controls a player, the first player controls each player on the second player’s team [CR 805.8]. In this scenario, Nicolas controls both Astrid and Arnold for the duration of their turn.

The controlling player makes all decisions the controlled player is allowed or required to make [CR 722.5]. In this scenario, Nicolas may have Astrid cast any spell or activate any ability she can legally cast or activate. This includes North Wind Avatar and the abilities of Northampton Farm, Ray Fillet, and Escape Tunnel. However, all decisions must be legal.

The effect of Northampton Farm’s third ability instructs Astrid to put one of the exiled creature cards onto the battlefield. This effect is not optional, so Nicolas cannot force Astrid to skip that instruction; he has to choose one of the cards on her behalf and have her put that card onto the battlefield [CR 608.2c].

The activation cost of Ray Fillet’s ability requires Astrid to remove a +1/+1 counter from a creature she controls. In a Two-Headed Giant game, the players on a team share their life total, their poison counters, and their turns, but all other resources behave as normal [CR 810.5]. Notably, each permanent is still controlled by exactly one player, so Astrid cannot remove a +1/+1 from a creature controlled by Arnold, nor can Nicolas force her to do so.

The effect of Escape Tunnel’s first ability instructs Astrid to search her library for a basic land card. If a player searches a zone for one or more cards with a specific quality, that player is not required to find these cards [CR 701.23b]. In this scenario, Nicolas may decide that Astrid does not find a basic land card.

If the controlled player has access to information about an object in the game, the controlling player also has access to that information; the same does not apply to information about cards outside the game [CR 722.4]. In this scenario, if Astrid had the option to choose a card she owns with specific qualities from outside the game, Nicolas would most likely be unable to make a legal decision on Astrid’s behalf, as he doesn’t know the qualities of the cards Astrid owns outside the game. However, the only restriction the effect of North Wind Avatar’s ability puts on the chosen card is that Astrid owns it. By necessity, Nicolas knows the owner of each card outside the game, so he can always make a legal choice on Astrid’s behalf for the effect of North Wind Avatar’s ability (choosing a random card she owns if necessary).

If this question appeared on a judge quiz instead of a rules quiz, the scenario would likely be changed to happen at a tournament, which would change the correct answer for North Wind Avatar. The Magic Tournament Rules state that cards outside the game are restricted to those in a player’s sideboard (with one undocumented exception not relevant to North Wind Avatar). They also state that the controlling player cannot have the controlled player access their sideboard [MTR 3.16]. In this scenario, Nicolas could not have Astrid choose a card from her sideboard for the effect of North Wind Avatar’s ability.