{"id":2481,"date":"2026-08-20T15:40:51","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T15:40:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/?p=2481"},"modified":"2026-08-20T15:40:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T15:40:53","slug":"pra-sos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/pra-sos\/","title":{"rendered":"Potential Amendments to the Rules Update for Secrets of Strixhaven"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><em>(Originally published on 2026-08-20; last reviewed on 2026-08-20; last updated on 2026-08-20)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With each new set release, Wizards of the Coast update the Comprehensive Rules (CR) and the Oracle text of any number of cards. These updates include support for new mechanics, error fixes, and improvements to the wording of rules and cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In my <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/uub-sos\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">unofficial update bulletin<\/a>, I list the changes made by the <em>Secrets of Strixhaven<\/em> update and point out issues I perceive as inelegant, unintuitive, or even incomplete. Which gives the bulletin a rather negative outline, even when I factor in the things I point out as laudable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This shouldn\u2019t be seen as a slight against Wizards of the Coast or their rules team though; we just have different visions for <em>Magic<\/em>\u2019s rules system. In my mind, the rules system should strive for intuitiveness, consistency, and completeness; and while the system has never truly met these lofty goals, this vision was once shared by Wizards of the Coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a few years now, Wizards of the Coast\u2019s design goal for the rules system is . . . something different. I don\u2019t know what it is; I only know that it isn\u2019t intuitiveness, consistency, or completeness anymore, as evidenced by their rules updates. While this may seem like a dangerous course of action for the game\u2019s long-term success, I trust that <a href=\"https:\/\/markrosewater.tumblr.com\/post\/793533314216722432\/magic-needs-to-make-money-to-keep-being-a-thing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Wizards of the Coast don\u2019t undermine their game in this way<\/a> and I remain content in the knowledge that I simply lack the intelligence and insight to recognize their grand vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Until they reveal their plans in an appropriately dramatic fashion, I continue to cling to my old-fashioned goal of an elegant rules system. But complaining is cheap and gets old very fast, so at some point, I started to wonder what the rules might look like had they been written with the three classic goals in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The results of my musings are the Potential Rules Amendments, a counterpoint to the <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/category\/unofficial-update-bulletins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Unofficial Update Bulletins<\/a>. What I criticize in my bulletins, I reenvision in the amendments. Where the bulletins only ask questions, the amendments give an answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each section briefly recounts issues presented in my bulletin, as well as older and somewhat related issues, and what the outcome for those issues should be; I then discuss what the Comprehensive Rules and Oracle would need to consider to achieve the desired outcomes; finally, I present a sample implementation based on that discussion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#copies-of-noncard-objects\">Copies of noncard objects<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#preparation-cards\">Preparation cards<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#paradigm\">Paradigm<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#hybrid-mana-symbols-with-colorless-components\">Hybrid mana symbols with colorless components<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#sagas-and-initial-lore-counters\">Sagas and initial lore counters<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#spry-and-mighty\">Spry and Mighty<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"copies-of-noncard-objects\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Copies of noncard objects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In my update bulletin, I identified an issue with both <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/uub-sos\/#rules-support-for-preparation-cards\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">preparation cards<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/uub-sos\/#rules-support-for-paradigm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">paradigm keyword ability<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With very few exceptions, the current Comprehensive Rules cover only copies of cards, but not copies of objects that are not represented by cards. In the case of preparation cards, a copy of a prepared permanent is created, and that permanent might be represented by a token, not a card. In the case of paradigm, the delayed triggered ability creates a copy of a spell, and that spell might not have been represented by a card if it was itself a copy of another spell (or card).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Without those rules, the copies of prepared permanents and of paradigm spells have an undefined owner and do not cease to exist as a state-based action, among other things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To resolve this issue, all mentions of copies of \u201ca card\u201d should be generalized to copies of \u201can object.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Rules<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1091\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">109.1<\/a> lists copies of cards as a kind of object.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">109.1. An object is an ability on the stack, a card, <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">a copy of a card,<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> a token, a spell, a permanent, <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">or<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> an emblem<strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">, or a copy of another object<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1121b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">112.1b<\/a> states that a copy of a card becomes a spell if cast. The amendment from the <a href=\"#preparation-cards\">preparation cards<\/a> section is included here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">112.1b Some <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">rules and<\/mark><\/strong> effects allow a player to cast a copy of <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">a card<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">an object<\/mark><\/strong>; if the player does, that copy is a spell as well. See rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R70712\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">707.12<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1122\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">112.2<\/a> and its subrule define the ownership of spells, copies of spells, and copies of cards that are cast as spells. This amendment incorporates a slight restructuring and an amendment from the <a href=\"#preparation-cards\">preparation cards<\/a> section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Currently, rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1122\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">112.2<\/a> defines the owner of a spell and the owner of a copy of a spell that is created on the stack; as in other places, this rule\u2019s text could make a clearer distinction between that kind of copy and a copy of an object that is cast as a spell. To clarify this difference, part of rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1122\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">112.2<\/a> moves to a new subrule 112.2a and the current subrule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1122a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">112.2a<\/a> becomes subrule 112.2b; this new structure mirrors that of rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1121\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">112.1<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">112.2. A spell\u2019s owner is the same as the owner of the card that represents it<s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">, unless it\u2019s a copy. In that case, the owner of the spell is the player under whose control it was put on the stack<\/mark><\/strong><\/s>. A spell\u2019s controller is, by default, the player who put it on the stack. Every spell has a controller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c188f2465f23f75656028ff4e832d543 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#006400\">112.2a If a spell is copied, the owner of that copy is the player under whose control it was put on the stack. See rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R70710\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">707.10<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1122a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">112.2a<\/a> becomes 112.2b and includes the amendment for preparation cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">112.2b Some <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">rules and<\/mark><\/strong> effects instruct a player to create a copy of <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">a card<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">an object<\/mark><\/strong> and <s><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><strong>say they may cast it<\/strong><\/mark><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">give a player permission to cast it<\/mark><\/strong>. In that case, the owner of that copy is the player who is instructed to create it<s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\"> and given permission to cast it<\/mark><\/strong><\/s><strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">, even if another player casts the copy<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new version for ease of reading:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">112.2b Some rules and effects instruct a player to create a copy of an object and give a player permission to cast it. In that case, the owner of that copy is the player who is instructed to create it, even if another player casts the copy.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rules <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R6012a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">601.2a<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R6013e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">601.3e<\/a> mention copies of cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">601.2a To propose the casting of a spell, a player first moves that card (or that copy of <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">a card<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">an object<\/mark><\/strong>) from where it is to the stack. It becomes the topmost object on the stack. It has all the characteristics of the card (or the copy of <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">a card<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">an object<\/mark><\/strong>) associated with it, and that player becomes its controller. Any continuous effects that modify the characteristics of the spell as you start casting it begin as it is put on the stack (see rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R6112f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">611.2f<\/a>). Any one-shot effects that cause the spell to gain abilities as you cast it apply as it is put on the stack (see rule 610.5). The spell remains on the stack until it resolves, it\u2019s countered, or a rule or effect moves it elsewhere.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">601.3e Some rules and effects state that an alternative set of characteristics or a subset of characteristics are considered to determine if a card or <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">copy of a card<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">a copy of an object<\/mark><\/strong> is legal to cast. These alternative characteristics replace the object\u2019s characteristics for this determination. Continuous effects that would apply to that object once it has those characteristics are also considered.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R6131\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">613.1<\/a> mentions copies of \u201ca spell or card\u201d for a change; while this covers the copies created by paradigm (even if the \u201cspell\u201d part really means copies created on the stack), copies of prepared tokens are still left out, so the rule needs to be amended. There is also another amendment for <a href=\"#preparation-cards\">preparation cards<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">613.1. The values of an object\u2019s characteristics are determined by starting with the actual object. For a card, that means the values of the characteristics printed on that card. For a token or a copy of <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">a spell or card<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">an object<\/mark><\/strong>, that means the values of the characteristics defined by the <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">rule or<\/mark><\/strong> effect that created it. Then all applicable continuous effects are applied in a series of layers in the following order:<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7045e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">704.5e<\/a> defines the state-based action that cleans up copies of spells and copies of cards. One quirk of this rule is that copies of cards may continue to exist on the battlefield. Why the rule says this, I have never been able to fathom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Mirrodin<\/em> update introduced both that part of the rule and the first cards to create copies of cards (unless there was an older card that lost that capacity with a later Oracle text update). And while the imprint keyword\u2019s definition, combined with copy effects, allowed a permanent to end up with an \u201catypical\u201d imprinted card, each card\u2019s text included safeguards against copying permanent cards or putting nonpermanent cards onto the battlefield, so I fail to see how a copy of a card might ever end up on the battlefield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since the <em>Mirrodin<\/em> release, not a single card has been printed that, on its own, copies a card and puts that copy onto the battlefield, so why this clause in rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7045e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">704.5e<\/a> still exists is beyond me. (There are two cards\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/FUT\/en-us\/59\/spellweaver-volute\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Spellweaver Volute<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/FIN\/en-us\/185\/esper-origins\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Esper Origins<\/a>\u2014that may be combined with other cards to achieve this feat, but for those interactions, the better outcome would be to convert the copy into a token.) As such, this is an excellent opportunity to streamline this rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">704.5e If a copy of a spell <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">or other kind of object<\/mark><\/strong> is in a zone other than the stack, it ceases to exist. <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">If a copy of a card is in any zone other than the stack or the battlefield, it ceases to exist.<\/mark><\/strong><\/s><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R70710a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">707.10a<\/a> mirrors rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7045e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">704.5e<\/a> and gets the same treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">707.10a If a copy of a spell <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">or other kind of object<\/mark><\/strong> is in a zone other than the stack, it ceases to exist. <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">If a copy of a card is in any zone other than the stack or the battlefield, it ceases to exist.<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">These are<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">This is a<\/mark><\/strong> state-based action<s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">s<\/mark><\/strong><\/s>. See rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">704<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R70712\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">707.12<\/a> already mentions copies of \u201can object.\u201d The part about the zone the copy is created in can be made more accurate though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">707.12. An effect that instructs a player to cast a copy of an object (and not just copy a spell) follows the rules for casting spells, except that the copy is created in the same zone the object is in <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">(unless the effect states otherwise)<\/mark><\/strong> and then cast while another spell or ability is resolving. Casting a copy of an object follows steps <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R6012a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">601.2a\u2013h<\/a> of rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R601\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">601<\/a>, \u201cCasting Spells,\u201d and then the copy becomes cast. Once cast, the copy is a spell on the stack, and just like any other spell it can resolve or be countered.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the rules for Grand Melee, rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R8075b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">807.5b<\/a> uses the phrase \u201ccreate a copy of a spell\u201d; with paradigm creating a copy of a spell in exile, this rule should say exactly what it means to say: \u201ccopy a spell.\u201d (Casting copies of objects should probably be covered by this rule too, but the Grand Melee rules are not high enough on my list to justify a closer look at this point.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">807.5b If a player has priority for multiple stacks and casts a spell, activates an ability, or a triggered ability they control triggers, the player must specify which one of those stacks the spell or ability is put on. If an object on one of those stacks caused the triggered ability to trigger, the player must put it on that stack. If a resolving spell or ability on one of those stacks causes a player to cast <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">or copy<\/mark><\/strong> a spell <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">or create a copy of a spell<\/mark><\/strong><\/s>, the new spell must be put on the same stack. If a spell or ability targets an object on one of those stacks, it must be put on the same stack as its target; it can\u2019t target objects on multiple stacks.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, there is the glossary entry for <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#object\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">objects<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Object<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An ability on the stack, a card, <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">a copy of a card,<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> an emblem, a token, a spell, <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">or<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> a permanent<strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">, or a copy of another object<\/mark><\/strong>. See rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R109\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">109<\/a>, \u201cObjects.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"preparation-cards\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Preparation cards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In my update bulletin, I identified several issues with the new rules for <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/uub-sos\/#rules-support-for-preparation-cards\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">preparation cards<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Correcting the punctuation error in rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7223a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">722.3a<\/a> is trivial. Adding rules for choosing card names of Omens and prepare spells is also easy, and there is an opportunity to correct some related issues:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, many of the rules that cover choosing a card name restrict themselves to <em>effects<\/em> that have a player choose a card name. This excludes a couple of cards, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/259\/petrified-hamlet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Petrified Hamlet<\/a>, where a player may get instructed to choose a card name as part of a special action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Second, the existing rule for Adventures says that the alternative characteristics <em>modify<\/em> the normal characteristics when checking if the name is a valid choice; this is incorrect insofar that the alternative characteristics should completely replace the normal characteristics, as they do in every other case involving an adventurer card. (At a guess, the text of rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R2014f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">201.4f<\/a> was copied from rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R2014c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">201.4c<\/a> and did not receive the attention it should have.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next issue are a couple of rules that talk about casting a preparation card with its alternative characteristics, which is not possible for that kind of card, or that talk about copying a prepare spell on the stack, which is meaningless. These rules or parts of rules should be corrected or removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next is the issue where the copy of a prepared permanent leaves exile but the permanent retains the prepared designation. This ties into the issue of ownership of the copy, because rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1122a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">112.2a<\/a> defines the owner of a copy of a card only if an <em>effect<\/em> creates that copy. I discuss these issues in the next section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1122a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">112.2a<\/a> and others have the issue that they apply only to copies of a card, but the prepared permanent may be a token, so the copy created in exile would not be a copy of \u201ca card.\u201d The same issue exists for the paradigm keyword ability; I discuss the combined issue in <a href=\"#copies-of-noncard-objects\">Copies of noncard objects<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, there are all the issues surrounding the copy process: the first sentence of rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7223c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">722.3c<\/a> is nigh incomprehensible, the rules do not account for all rules and effects that manipulate copiable values, and some of these rules should also apply to adventurer cards and omen cards. I discuss these issues in the next section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Resolving the issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ownership<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Currently, if the permanent is prepared and its copy is in exile, the permanent becomes unprepared only if the copy is cast; it stays prepared if the copy leaves exile for any other reason. I see two likely amendments: the permanent becomes unprepared if the copy leaves exile for any reason other than being cast; or the permanent becomes unprepared as the copy leaves exile for any reason, including being cast. Currently, if the copy gets cast, the permanent remains prepared until the casting process is complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In practice, nothing cares that the permanent remains prepared throughout the casting process, so having it become unprepared as soon as the copy is put on the stack would be the simpler rule and not change any existing interactions. Or the existing behavior is kept\u2014the extra text is negligible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of course, this presumes that the copy\u2019s owner can be different from the permanent\u2019s owner. I see a couple of likely options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The copy is owned by the permanent\u2019s owner.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The copy is owned by the player who creates it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The copy is created by the permanent\u2019s owner rather than its controller, and the copy is owned by the permanent\u2019s owner.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The copy is owned by the player who casts it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The copy is not created in advance but only when it\u2019s actually cast.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The advantage of option 1 is that permanent and copy are owned by the same player: if another player creates the copy and then leaves the game, the copy remains unaffected, so the situation where the copy leaves the game yet the permanent remains prepared can never occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The disadvantage is that the copy is still somewhat tied to the permanent\u2019s existence after it has been cast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Suppose Alex and Nona play against each other in a four-player Commander game. Alex controls <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/23\/joined-researchers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Joined Researchers<\/a>. Nona gains control of it and it becomes prepared. If Nona casts the copy and Alex leaves the game in response, both the permanent and the copy on the stack leave the game; the copy does not resolve. If, instead of Alex leaving the game, <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/23\/joined-researchers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Joined Researchers<\/a> left the battlefield, the copy would still resolve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It seems unintuitive that the \u201cprepared\u201d spell, once cast, should in some cases be independent of the permanent, and in other cases still be dependent. While the copy is in exile, its continued existence is consistently tied to the prepared permanent, which matches the flavor of preparation cards. Once the copy is cast, however, it should become independent, not unlike an ability that, once activated or triggered, exists independently of its source. (The behavior is entirely logical since the dependency is not actually between the permanent and the spell, but rather between them and their owner, but it is still unintuitive.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With option 2 (the creator is the owner), the permanent and the copy are not necessarily owned by the same player, and the disadvantage of option 1 is avoided. In the example, Nona would own the copy and if Alex leaves the game while the copy is on the stack under Nona\u2019s control, the copy would remain in the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The flipside is that the copy now leaves the game if Nona leaves the game. Suppose Alex or another player gains control of the prepared <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/23\/joined-researchers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Joined Researchers<\/a> from Nona and they cast the copy. If Nona leaves the game in response, the copy leaves the game as well. This does not seem intuitive if one thinks of the permanent as preparing the spell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It becomes quite intuitive though if one thinks of the player as preparing the spell. <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/23\/joined-researchers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Joined Researchers<\/a> was under Nona\u2019s control when it became prepared, so it was Nona who prepared the spell. Furthermore, this is the option most consistent with existing rules: the player who creates a token is its owner <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1112\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">[CR 111.2]<\/a>; the player who copies a spell is the copy\u2019s owner <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1122\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">[CR 112.2]<\/a>; the player who copies any other card is the copy\u2019s owner <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1122a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">[CR 112.2a]<\/a>; the player who creates an emblem is its owner <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1142\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">[CR 114.2]<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This holds true even if the created object immediately goes to another player, so to speak: if Nona has resolved <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/RIX\/en-us\/33\/crafty-cutpurse\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Crafty Cutpurse<\/a>\u2019s triggered ability earlier in the turn and Alex creates a token, Alex is that token\u2019s owner, although she never controls it. Nona is the token\u2019s controller and even its default controller, but not its owner <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1102\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">[CR 110.2]<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Option 2 is also consistent with any card whose text allows a player to play or cast another player\u2019s cards, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/KLD\/en-us\/84\/gonti-lord-of-luxury\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Gonti, Lord of Luxury<\/a>. If the exiled card\u2019s owner leaves the game, that card also leaves the game, whether it is still face down in exile or a spell on the stack or a permanent on the battlefield. The \u201cstealing\u201d player cannot claim the card based on the fact that the owner themself never \u201cused\u201d the card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Option 3 (the permanent\u2019s owner creates the copy and owns it) offers the advantages of options 1 and 2. The copy\u2019s creator is its owner, so this option offers the consistency of option 2. By changing the creator, permanent and copy are always owned by the same player and this option avoids scenarios where the copy leaves exile without being cast, just like option 1. But it has also the disadvantage of option 1 regarding the copy\u2019s fate after being cast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Suppose Nona gains control of a permanent from Alex; while under Nona\u2019s control, that permanent becomes prepared and Nona casts the copy directly after. If Alex leaves the game in response, the spell on the stack ceases to exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Intuitively, Alex didn\u2019t take an active part in what happened: the permanent was under Nona\u2019s control when it became prepared and remained under her control until it left the game, and Nona was the one who cast the copy. Alex created the copy, so the outcome is logical, but it feels unintuitive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The appeal of option 4 (the caster is the owner) is that the copy, once cast, is independent of both the permanent and any other player. Suppose a third player, Clarissa, gains control of the prepared <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/23\/joined-researchers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Joined Researchers<\/a> from Nona and casts the copy. In response, both Alex and Nona leave the game. The copy would remain in the game and resolve under Clarissa\u2019s control; it would leave the game only if Clarissa left the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The problem with option 4 is that it does not define an owner for the copy\u2019s stay in exile: the owner becomes clear only once the copy is cast. Until then, the copy would be owned by the permanent\u2019s owner (option 1 or 3), the creator (option 2), or by no one at all. In each case, casting the copy could result in a new owner, and I don\u2019t particularly like spreading ownership changes from ante games (and Planechase games) to regular games. (The dev teams for <em>Magic<\/em> Arena and <em>Magic<\/em> Online wouldn\u2019t be happy either, I imagine.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Option 5 (the copy is created ad hoc) represents an interesting departure from the actual rules without changing any of the gameplay: if a permanent becomes prepared, nothing else happens; no copy is created. As a special action, the controller of a prepared permanent can create the copy in exile and cast it immediately; doing so unprepares the permanent as usual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With this approach, the copy doesn\u2019t exist until it actually gets cast. There is no rule or card, however, that cares about noncard objects in exile (apart from the state-based actions that erase those objects), so this change has no impact on gameplay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With this option, the same person creates, owns, and casts the copy, which is an improvement over option 4. The text of rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7223c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">722.3c<\/a> becomes simpler, as the copy doesn\u2019t need an exception from rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7045e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">704.5e<\/a> anymore and it doesn\u2019t need to be recreated if the permanent phases out and in again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The drawbacks are a couple of extra details the rules need to account for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the actual rules, the characteristic values of the copy become locked in at the time the permanent becomes prepared; if something like a copy effect causes that permanent to gain a different prepare spell after that point, or to lose its prepare spell entirely, the copy remains unaffected. To retain that behavior, the rules for option 5 would need to specify that the copy uses the permanent\u2019s values from the time it became prepared, rather than its current values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second issue is the timing of the special action. Depending on the card type of the prepare spell, the action could be done as a sorcery or an instant; but it should also account for rules or effects that expand or restrict the timing. Under the actual rules, the copy is a preexisting object and thus fully integrated into the timing rules for casting spells; for option 5, the timing would be determined by the characteristic values of an object that only gets created once the special action has begun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Third, the copy is now created by a special action rather than a rule or an effect, so special actions need to be added to a number of rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Due to time constraints, I haven\u2019t analyzed this option as thoroughly as I\u2019d like, so I have to discard it for the final selection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All things considered, keeping the permanent\u2019s controller as the creator and making that creator the copy\u2019s owner seems the best option. It provides a single, well-defined owner; it is consistent with the rules for creating other noncard objects, and with the rules and consequences for casting objects owned by other players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a consequence, the rules for preparation cards need to account for scenarios where the copy leaves the game along with its creator, as discussed at the start of this section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Copying the prepared permanent<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The general idea behind rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7223c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">722.3c<\/a> is that the copy\u2019s characteristic values should always match the prepared permanent\u2019s unmodified alternative values; nothing that modifies the permanent\u2019s values should affect the alternative values. In layperson\u2019s terms, the copy should always look like the text in the smaller card frame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rule addresses only exceptions and modifications made by copy effects though, and not any modifications from a \u201cmutate effect,\u201d from <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/TSR\/en-us\/80\/primal-plasma\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Primal Plasma<\/a>-style effects, and from the permanent\u2019s face-down status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A general model how such modifications affect objects with multiple sets of characteristic values is beyond the scope of this article; I have to restrict myself to some basic considerations regarding preparation cards. The resulting rules set is likely to see further amendments if I ever get to that general model, but it should be an improvement over the current version found in the Comprehensive Rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s start by categorizing the different kinds of modifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A copy effect can cause a permanent to have a prepare spell <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7222b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">[CR 722.2b]<\/a>. For example, if <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/AFR\/en-us\/80\/true-polymorph\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">True Polymorph<\/a> causes <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/FDN\/en-us\/552\/bear-cub\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Bear Cub<\/a> to become a copy of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/23\/joined-researchers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Joined Researchers<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/FDN\/en-us\/552\/bear-cub\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Bear Cub<\/a> has the exact same characteristic values as <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/23\/joined-researchers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Joined Researchers<\/a>, and it has the same alternative set of values. <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/FDN\/en-us\/552\/bear-cub\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Bear Cub<\/a> has a prepare spell and can become prepared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A copy effect can also cause a permanent to lose its prepare spell. If <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/AFR\/en-us\/80\/true-polymorph\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">True Polymorph<\/a> causes <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/23\/joined-researchers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Joined Researchers<\/a> to become a copy of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/FDN\/en-us\/552\/bear-cub\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Bear Cub<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/23\/joined-researchers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Joined Researchers<\/a> has only a single set of characteristic values; it does not have an alternative set anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The intent of rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7223c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">722.3c<\/a> is that copy effects with exceptions or modifications apply those only to the normal set of characteristic values; the alternative set remains unchanged from the original. In other words, a copy effect always makes a \u201cclean\u201d copy of the prepare spell; it can set or remove an object\u2019s prepare spell as a whole, but it can\u2019t modify individual values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next are \u201cmutate effects.\u201d In my bulletin, I use the example of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/IKO\/en-us\/66\/sea-dasher-octopus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Sea-Dasher Octopus<\/a> merging with <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/80\/emeritus-of-woe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Emeritus of Woe<\/a>. If <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/IKO\/en-us\/66\/sea-dasher-octopus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Sea-Dasher Octopus<\/a> becomes the topmost component, the resulting permanent feels much more like a <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/IKO\/en-us\/66\/sea-dasher-octopus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Sea-Dasher Octopus<\/a> with a couple of extra abilities, rather than an <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/80\/emeritus-of-woe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Emeritus of Woe<\/a> whose name, mana cost, color, card types, subtypes, rules text, power, and toughness have all been changed. Thus, the permanent should not have an alternative set of values anymore; the \u201cmutate effect\u201d removes the permanent\u2019s prepare spell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/IKO\/en-us\/66\/sea-dasher-octopus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Sea-Dasher Octopus<\/a> becomes the bottommost component, it contributes just its abilities to the permanent; the permanent still feels like <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/80\/emeritus-of-woe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Emeritus of Woe<\/a> and should still have a prepare spell. Should <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/IKO\/en-us\/66\/sea-dasher-octopus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Sea-Dasher Octopus<\/a>\u2019s abilities be added to the prepare spell? Going by the example set by rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7223c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">722.3c<\/a>, the answer is no: the prepare spell\u2019s values remain unchanged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, a \u201cmutate effect\u201d either removes the whole prepare spell, or it tries to add abilities but that attempt is ignored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next are <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/TSR\/en-us\/80\/primal-plasma\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Primal Plasma<\/a>-style effects. These effects can change the values of multiple characteristics, but they don\u2019t set or remove whole sets of values. As such, they can neither add nor remove a permanent\u2019s prepare spell, and keeping with the principle thus far, their modifications affect only the normal set of values, not the alternative set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, there are modifications from a permanent\u2019s face-down status. It seems pretty clear to me that these modifications remove a permanent\u2019s alternative set of values: they affect the whole range of characteristics and make the permanent a radically different one; rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7082\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">708.2<\/a> states that face-down permanents have no other characteristic values (which implies not having alternative values); and the idea behind face-down permanents is that the permanent is an unknowable blob and not an <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/80\/emeritus-of-woe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Emeritus of Woe<\/a> with a different name, mana cost, color, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, a permanent can have a prepare spell due to<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Having a prepare spell as part of its printed\/defined values.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A copy effect that includes a prepare spell.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A permanent can lose its prepare spell due to<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A copy effect that doesn\u2019t include a prepare spell.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A \u201cmutate effect\u201d from a new topmost component.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Being face down.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A permanent\u2019s prepare spell should not be modified by<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A \u201cmutate effect\u201d from a new bottommost component.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/TSR\/en-us\/80\/primal-plasma\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Primal Plasma<\/a>-style effect.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The items on the first two lists can be unified as things that set\/remove the prepare spell as a whole, whereas the items on the third list only modify individual values of the prepare spell. This distinction can form the basis of an amendment: when copying the prepared permanent, use only the alternative values and consider only modifications from the first group. This results in a \u201cclean\u201d copy of the prepare spell while accounting for everything that modifies copiable values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now it\u2019s time for everyone\u2019s favorite copy-effect-except-it\u2019s-not: <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ST\/en-us\/0\/volraths-shapeshifter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Volrath\u2019s Shapeshifter<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Suppose <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ST\/en-us\/0\/volraths-shapeshifter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Volrath\u2019s Shapeshifter<\/a> enters the battlefield under Alex\u2019s control while the top card of her graveyard is <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/80\/emeritus-of-woe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Emeritus of Woe<\/a>. Does <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ST\/en-us\/0\/volraths-shapeshifter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Volrath\u2019s Shapeshifter<\/a> enter the battlefield prepared? Does Alex create a copy of Demonic Tutor in exile?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Intuitively, the answer to both questions should be yes. The printed text of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ST\/en-us\/0\/volraths-shapeshifter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Volrath\u2019s Shapeshifter<\/a> uses the word \u201ccopy,\u201d the ability\u2019s effect was a copy effect for several years, and the only reason it was changed to a text-changing effect is due to the architecture of the layer system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even the Oracle text suggests a positive answer: <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ST\/en-us\/0\/volraths-shapeshifter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Volrath\u2019s Shapeshifter<\/a> has the \u201cfull text\u201d of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/80\/emeritus-of-woe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Emeritus of Woe<\/a>, and the prepare spell certainly looks like text printed on <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/80\/emeritus-of-woe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Emeritus of Woe<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ST\/en-us\/0\/volraths-shapeshifter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Volrath\u2019s Shapeshifter<\/a> acquires <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/80\/emeritus-of-woe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Emeritus of Woe<\/a>\u2019s alternative characteristic values, its prepare spell. (The added rules text should go only to the normal characteristics, similar to exceptions from copy effects.) Which means that it is a permanent with a prepare spell; which means it can gain the prepared designation. Thus, <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ST\/en-us\/0\/volraths-shapeshifter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Volrath\u2019s Shapeshifter<\/a> enters the battlefield prepared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As it does, Alex creates a copy of it, except that only the alternative values are copied, and that those values become the copy\u2019s normal values. What are the copiable values of that permanent\u2019s prepare spell?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Well, copiable values take into account only the printed\/defined values plus any copiable modifications, so the answer is: there are no copiable values. After layer 1, <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ST\/en-us\/0\/volraths-shapeshifter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Volrath\u2019s Shapeshifter<\/a> has no prepare spell. It acquires its prepare spell only in layer 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Which means that Alex creates an object with no characteristic values. Without a card type, casting that object will be rather difficult, but maybe Alex finds a way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also consider this variation: Alex controls <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/80\/emeritus-of-woe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Emeritus of Woe<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ST\/en-us\/0\/volraths-shapeshifter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Volrath\u2019s Shapeshifter<\/a>, and the top card of her graveyard is not a creature card. Alex resolves the triggered ability of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/UNF\/en-us\/45\/exchange-of-words\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Exchange of Words<\/a> which targets the two creatures. The text-changing effect created by that ability effectively replaces <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/80\/emeritus-of-woe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Emeritus of Woe<\/a>\u2019s rules text with that of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ST\/en-us\/0\/volraths-shapeshifter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Volrath\u2019s Shapeshifter<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/80\/emeritus-of-woe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Emeritus of Woe<\/a>\u2019s new rules text defines an ability that generates another text-changing effect: if the top card of Alex\u2019s graveyard is a creature card, <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/80\/emeritus-of-woe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Emeritus of Woe<\/a> has the full text of that card. Later, <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/23\/joined-researchers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Joined Researchers<\/a> becomes the top card of Alex\u2019s graveyard and <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/80\/emeritus-of-woe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Emeritus of Woe<\/a>\u2019s normal prepare spell, Demonic Tutor, is effectively replaced by Secret Rendezvous. If <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/80\/emeritus-of-woe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Emeritus of Woe<\/a> becomes prepared, what does the copy look like?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this case, the prepared permanent has a prepare spell after layer 1 and those copiable values are used. Since the new text is added only in layer 3, the copy in exile is Demonic Tutor, not Secret Rendezvous. Which doesn\u2019t look like the intuitive outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple solution for these issues would be to ignore <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ST\/en-us\/0\/volraths-shapeshifter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Volrath\u2019s Shapeshifter<\/a>. It already has unsolvable issues with <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/EX\/en-us\/30\/dominating-licid\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Dominating Licid<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/JOU\/en-us\/42\/hypnotic-siren\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Hypnotic Siren<\/a>, so adding another class of issues is not that big of a deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new and the old issues aren\u2019t in the same league though. The intuitive result for combining <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ST\/en-us\/0\/volraths-shapeshifter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Volrath\u2019s Shapeshifter<\/a> with <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/EX\/en-us\/30\/dominating-licid\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Dominating Licid<\/a> conflicts with the intuitive outcome for <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ST\/en-us\/0\/volraths-shapeshifter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Volrath\u2019s Shapeshifter<\/a> affected by any control-changing effect. Without a fundamental change to the layer system, only one outcome is achievable and <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/EX\/en-us\/30\/dominating-licid\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Dominating Licid<\/a> rightfully draws the short straw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The intuitive outcome of combining <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ST\/en-us\/0\/volraths-shapeshifter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Volrath\u2019s Shapeshifter<\/a> with a preparation card, on the other hand, conflicts merely with the rule for creating the copy in exile. If that copy were not actually a copy, <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ST\/en-us\/0\/volraths-shapeshifter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Volrath\u2019s Shapeshifter<\/a> would interact just fine with preparation cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Not copying the prepared permanent<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Upon first reading the rules for preparation cards, one thing that struck me as odd was that the permanent was copied. Odd because the copy does not really feel like a copy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A normal copy looks identical to the original (or at least to its copiable values). In the case of copying the prepared permanent tough, only the alternative values are copied. And those values do not become the copy\u2019s alternative values; rather, they become the copy\u2019s normal values. And the copy doesn\u2019t have any alternative values. (And arguably, modifications that are usually copiable are ignored.) As a whole, the \u201ccopy\u201d is more of a \u201cmirrored half-copy\u201d than a proper copy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(The word \u201ccopy\u201d still makes sense in the colloquial way, as an \u201cinstance\u201d of the prepare spell, so its use in the cards\u2019 reminder text is perfectly fine. It just doesn\u2019t agree with the rules term.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prior to the <em>Secrets of Strixhaven<\/em> update, I made a sketch of what I expected the rules to look like, and I simply wrote down \u201cobject\u201d for the, well, object in exile. What kind of object? No idea; it would simply be an object not represented by a card. It certainly wasn\u2019t created as a copy; instead, its values were defined as the permanent\u2019s alternative values, which I unconsciously assumed could not be modified by ordinary effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I think this kind of object is a suitable answer to the <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ST\/en-us\/0\/volraths-shapeshifter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Volrath\u2019s Shapeshifter<\/a> issue: if a permanent becomes prepared, its controller does not create a copy of it; rather, they create an object in exile whose characteristic values are defined as the prepared permanent\u2019s alternative values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two questions arise from this concept. First, if this not-a-copy uses the actual alternative values, rather than the copiable values, how are characteristic-modifying effects handled? Second, what is the exact nature of the not-a-copy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the first question, I think the previously developed concept of separating modifications into those that set\/remove the whole alternative set of values and those that would modify only individual characteristics can be expanded to cover all seven layers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Effects that set the \u201cfull text\u201d of an object would then be in the first group; like copy effects, they can cause an object to gain a prepare spell or to lose its prepare spell. All other effects would be put into the second group, so that other text-changing effects, any type-changing effects, and so on would not modify the alternative values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maybe there should be one exception: effects that change an object\u2019s text by <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/MI\/en-us\/0\/mind-bend\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">replacing all instances of one subtype or color word with another<\/a>. Similar to the \u201cfull text\u201d effect, these effects apply to an object\u2019s \u201ctext,\u201d and a preparation card\u2019s prepare spell certainly looks like text printed on that card. Under the actual rules, such effects can\u2019t be considered for the copy because they don\u2019t affect the copiable values of the prepare spell; under an amended rules set, they could be taken into account, if one desires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now for the second question: what kind of object is the not-a-copy in exile?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is not a copy of an object, but should be treated identical to one by the Comprehensive Rules. And I fear that is the best answer I can give at this point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a longer answer, this all ties into the universal model for objects with multiple sets of characteristic values. Such a model needs to clearly differentiate between objects and the . . . things they are represented by. I say \u201cthings\u201d because the Comprehensive Rules don\u2019t provide a term; in general, the Comprehensive Rules make a poor job of keeping the two concepts distinct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To illustrate: the term \u201ccard\u201d can mean a rectangular piece of cardboard, and it can also mean an object in the library, hand, graveyard, etc. represented by that cardboard piece. On the stack, the cardboard piece represents a spell; on the battlefield, the cardboard piece represents a permanent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Similarly, a token is a piece of cardboard or paper, or a glass bead, or a die, or whatever else is at hand. On the battlefield, that piece of whatever represents a permanent; in any other zone, it briefly represents a token before it ceases to exist as a state-based action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The same holds true for emblems, abilities, and copies of objects, although the latter two are seldom represented physically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For tabletop <em>Magic<\/em>, one could call the cardboard pieces \u201cphysical objects,\u201d which represent the \u201clogical objects\u201d the Comprehensive Rules talk about. Digital clients don\u2019t use physical objects of course, but should make the same distinction in their object models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The obvious drawback of this nomenclature is that both entities are called \u201cobjects,\u201d which will not help in making the distinction clearer. (The fact that most \u201clogical objects\u201d are called the same as \u201cphysical objects\u201d doesn\u2019t help either: a card often represents a card, emblems and abilities always represent emblems and abilities, and so on. The only zones where the names differ are the stack and the battlefield.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLogical objects\u201d have been called objects for decades, so renaming them now is not the best idea. Introducing a term for \u201cphysical objects\u201d is better. The Comprehensive Rules use the word \u201ccomponent\u201d when talking about the individual cards and tokens of a merged permanent, so this might be a good candidate; I would prepend \u201cgame\u201d as I think that \u201cgame component\u201d sounds more like a physical thing. My first and currently preferred candidate is \u201cgame piece,\u201d which I will use for the rest of this article. (I suspect that simple inertia will make me settle on this term eventually.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, cards, tokens, emblems, and abilities are \u201cgame pieces.\u201d They represent objects called cards, tokens, emblems, abilities, permanents, or spells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This leaves: \u201ccopies of cards\u201d (or \u201ccopies of objects\u201d as per my amendments), which are created in zones other than the stack; \u201ccopies of spells,\u201d which are created on the stack; and the new thing for preparation cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I believe that all three can be modeled with a single game piece and a single object that share a name: outside the stack, such a game piece would represent that object; on the stack, the game piece would represent a spell; when moving from the stack to the battlefield, it would become a token. The name is yet to be decided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And this is pretty much what I got so far. It\u2019s far from finished, but to finally get this article out the door, I will resort to a hack: the amended rules for preparation cards will use the term \u201cobject\u201d to describe the not-a-copy but simultaneously declare that such objects are treated like copies of cards. This way, I don\u2019t have to amend anything else and can postpone developing and naming the new game piece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Copying adventurer cards and omen cards<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now that the nature of preparation cards has become clearer, which of these ideas should also become part of the rules for adventurer cards and omen cards? Those kinds of cards don\u2019t create not-a-copies of themselves, so the whole <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ST\/en-us\/0\/volraths-shapeshifter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Volrath\u2019s Shapeshifter<\/a> arc is not relevant. The part about copy effects not applying their modifications looks useful though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In my bulletin, I described a scenario with <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/BRO\/en-us\/222\/tawnos-the-toymaker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Tawnos, the Toymaker<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/LRW\/en-us\/69\/guile\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Guile<\/a>, and an adventurer card that resulted in an artifact sorcery spell. If the copy effect of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/BRO\/en-us\/222\/tawnos-the-toymaker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Tawnos<\/a>\u2019s ability did not apply its exception to the alternative values of an adventurer card, such combinations of card types would be avoided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With all issues considered, it\u2019s time to put the amendments into actual rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Rules<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Choosing card names<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R2014\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">201.4<\/a> and the rules in specific sections do not restrict themselves to effects anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">201.4. If <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">an effect instructs<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> a player <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">is instructed<\/mark><\/strong> to choose a card name, the player must choose the name of a card in the Oracle card reference. (See rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1081\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">108.1<\/a>.) A player may not choose the name of a token unless it\u2019s also the name of a card.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">709.4a Each split card has two names. If <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">an effect instructs<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> a player <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">is instructed<\/mark><\/strong> to choose a card name and the player wants to choose a split card\u2019s name, the player must choose one of those names and not both. An object has the chosen name if one of its names is the chosen name.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">710.5. If <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">an effect instructs<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> a player <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">is instructed<\/mark><\/strong> to choose a card name and the player wants to choose a flip card\u2019s alternative name, the player may do so.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">712.19. If <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">an effect instructs<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> a player <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">is instructed<\/mark><\/strong> to choose a card name, the player may choose the name of either face of a double-faced card but not both. The player may choose the name of the combined back face of a meld pair.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">715.5. If <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">an effect instructs<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> a player <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">is instructed<\/mark><\/strong> to choose a card name and the player wants to choose an adventurer card\u2019s alternative name, the player may do so.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">720.5. If <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">an effect instructs<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> a player <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">is instructed<\/mark><\/strong> to choose a card name and the player wants to choose an omen card\u2019s alternative name, the player may do so.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">722.5. If <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">an effect instructs<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> a player <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">is instructed<\/mark><\/strong> to choose a card name and the player wants to choose a preparation card\u2019s alternative name, the player may do so.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R2014f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">201.4f<\/a> simply uses the alternative characteristics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">201.4f If a player wants to choose an adventurer card\u2019s alternative name, the player may do so. (See rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R715\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">715<\/a>.) If a player is instructed to choose a card name with certain characteristics, use <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">the card\u2019s characteristics as modified by its<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">only the<\/mark><\/strong> alternative characteristics to determine if this name can be chosen.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, two new rules 201.4g and 201.4h for omen cards and preparation cards; the existing rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R2014g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">201.4g<\/a> becomes rule 201.4i.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-84cb62cef0b2909418ac8d648b0d72e8 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#006400\">201.4g If a player wants to choose an omen card\u2019s alternative name, the player may do so. (See rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R720\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">720<\/a>.) If a player is instructed to choose a card name with certain characteristics, use only the alternative characteristics to determine if this name can be chosen.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-41f58eb6ad0e7d29d57e15a55d76007c wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#006400\">201.4h If a player wants to choose a preparation card\u2019s alternative name, the player may do so. (See rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R722\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">722<\/a>.) If a player is instructed to choose a card name with certain characteristics, use only the alternative characteristics to determine if this name can be chosen.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ownership<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The text of rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1122a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">112.2a<\/a> gets generalized to cover both rules and effects, and becomes less strict about the timing of casting the copy. The amendments for <a href=\"#copies-of-noncard-objects\">copies of noncard objects<\/a> are included here, so the rule is numbered 112.2b.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">112.2b Some <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">rules and<\/mark><\/strong> effects instruct a player to create a copy of <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">a card<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">an object<\/mark><\/strong> and <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">say they may cast it<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">give a player permission to cast it<\/mark><\/strong>. In that case, the owner of that copy is the player who is instructed to create it<s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\"> and given permission to cast it<\/mark><\/strong><\/s><strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">, even if another player casts the copy<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new version for ease of reading:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">112.2b Some rules and effects instruct a player to create a copy of an object and give a player permission to cast it. In that case, the owner of that copy is the player who is instructed to create it, even if another player casts the copy.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three additional rules mention effects that create copies of cards (or objects in general). These rules are generalized to objects created by rules or effects. Rules <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1121b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">112.1b<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R6131\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">613.1<\/a> include amendments for <a href=\"#copies-of-noncard-objects\">copies of noncard objects<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">112.1b Some <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">rules and<\/mark><\/strong> effects allow a player to cast a copy of <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">a card<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">an object<\/mark><\/strong>; if the player does, that copy is a spell as well. See rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R70712\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">707.12<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">113.1a An ability can be a characteristic an object has that lets it affect the game. An object\u2019s abilities are defined by its rules text or by the <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">rule or<\/mark><\/strong> effect that created it. Abilities can also be granted to objects by rules or effects. (Effects that grant abilities usually use the words \u201chas,\u201d \u201chave,\u201d \u201cgains,\u201d or \u201cgain.\u201d) Abilities generate effects. (See rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R609\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">609<\/a>, \u201cEffects.\u201d)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">613.1. The values of an object\u2019s characteristics are determined by starting with the actual object. For a card, that means the values of the characteristics printed on that card. For a token or a copy of <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">a spell or card<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">an object<\/mark><\/strong>, that means the values of the characteristics defined by the <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">rule or<\/mark><\/strong> effect that created it. Then all applicable continuous effects are applied in a series of layers in the following order:<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rule 722<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7221\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">722.1<\/a> remains unchanged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7222\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">722.2<\/a> correctly states how a preparation card\u2019s alternative characteristics are used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">722.2. The text that appears in the inset frame on the right defines alternative characteristics that <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">the object may have while it\u2019s a spell<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">are used when creating a related object in exile as described in rule 722.3<\/mark><\/strong>. The card\u2019s normal characteristics appear as usual, although with a smaller text box on the left.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rules <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7222a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">722.2a\u2013b<\/a> remain unchanged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A new rule 722.2c describes how to handle copy effects with exceptions in an understandable manner. <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ST\/en-us\/0\/volraths-shapeshifter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Volrath\u2019s Shapeshifter<\/a> and the effect of its ability are handled the same way. The example for rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7223c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">722.3c<\/a> moves here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-702a1f27b5fd75303fada6db64508f96 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#006400\">722.2c Some copy effects include modifications or exceptions to the copying process (see rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7079\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">707.9<\/a>). If an object with a prepare spell is copied by such an effect, the modifications and\/or exceptions apply only to the normal characteristics; the copy&#8217;s alternative characteristics will be identical to those of the object being copied. The same is true for effects that grant an object the \u201cfull text\u201d of an object with a prepare spell and that also grant the first object additional rules text; the additional rules text modifies only the normal rules text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Example:<\/em><\/strong><em> A player casts <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/MID\/en-us\/215\/croaking-counterpart\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Croaking Counterpart<\/a> targeting an <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/46\/encouraging-aviator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Encouraging Aviator<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/MID\/en-us\/215\/croaking-counterpart\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Croaking Counterpart<\/a> is an instant that says, in part, \u201cCreate a token that\u2019s a copy of target non-Frog creature, except it\u2019s a 1\/1 green Frog.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/46\/encouraging-aviator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Encouraging Aviator<\/a> is a <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">blue<\/mark><\/strong> preparation creature card <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">which says, in part, \u201cWhenever this creature attacks, it becomes prepared.\u201d Its<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">and its<\/mark><\/strong> prepare spell is <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">an<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">a blue<\/mark><\/strong> instant named Jump<s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\"> which says \u201cTarget creature gains flying until end of turn.\u201d The player then attacks with the token copy of Encouraging Aviator. As the token copy of Encouraging Aviator becomes prepared, the copy created in exile is a blue instant named Jump that says \u201cTarget creature gains flying until end of turn.\u201d<\/mark><\/strong><\/s><strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">.<\/mark><\/strong> The token copy of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/46\/encouraging-aviator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Encouraging Aviator<\/a> is a 1\/1 green Frog and its prepare spell is a blue instant named Jump. <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">It<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">The prepare spell<\/mark><\/strong> is not green, nor does it have power and toughness 1\/1 or the Frog creature type.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A new rule 722.2d covers modifications to the characteristic values of the prepare spell. It allows the group that includes copy effects to set or remove the prepare spell but prevents any modifications from the other group. This version makes an exception for text-changing effects that replace words, which can be removed easily if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-83e150fe41c7ef1aff044a86521ac61b wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#006400\">722.2d Rules and effects that modify characteristics apply only to the normal characteristics of an object with a prepare spell; that object\u2019s alternative characteristics remain unchanged. There are two exceptions. Rules and effects that set or remove the alternative characteristics as a whole, such as copy effects and changes from a permanent\u2019s face-down status, can set or remove the alternative characteristics. Text-changing effects that change the text of an object by replacing all instances of one color word with another or one subtype with another can replace instances in the text of the alternative characteristics.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The current rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7222c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">722.2c<\/a> becomes 722.2e. Its content remains unchanged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7223\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">722.3<\/a> refers to objects rather than copies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">722.3. Preparation cards can\u2019t be cast using the alternative characteristics found within their inset frames. Rather, these characteristics are used to define characteristics of <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">copies<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">related objects<\/mark><\/strong> which may be cast.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The typo in rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7223a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">722.3a<\/a> gets corrected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">722.3a Some spells and abilities cause a permanent with a prepare spell to become prepared or state that a permanent enters prepared. If that permanent has the alternative characteristics of a prepare spell, this gives the permanent the \u201cprepared\u201d designation. Prepared is a designation that acts as a marker which rules and effects can identify. A permanent can\u2019t gain this designation unless it has a prepare spell<s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">,<\/mark><\/strong><\/s><strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">.<\/mark><\/strong> Additionally, a permanent can\u2019t gain this designation if the permanent already has it.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7223b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">722.3b<\/a> remains unchanged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7223c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">722.3c<\/a> drops the now unnecessary mention of copy effects with exceptions, as well as the example. The created object is no longer a copy, which makes the description of its characteristic values a bit easier. How do determine these values is explained in the new rule 722.2d. The object is treated like a copy of a card to ensure it has an owner and it ceases to exist at the right moment. (This should eventually be replaced with the new kind of game piece.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, the permanent becomes unprepared if the not-a-copy leaves exile for any reason. (If the prepared permanent phases out, the not-a-copy doesn\u2019t leave its zone but ceases to exist, so the phased-out permanent retains its designation. Also, this rule couldn\u2019t find the permanent while it\u2019s phased out even if it wanted to <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R70226b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">[CR 702.26b]<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">722.3c As a permanent with a prepare spell gains the prepared designation or phases in prepared, its controller creates <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">a copy of that object<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">an object with the characteristics of the prepare spell<\/mark><\/strong> in exile<s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">, except that copy has only the characteristics of that permanent\u2019s prepare spell, ignoring other exceptions to the copying process that apply to that permanent. Those characteristics become the copy\u2019s normal characteristics<\/mark><\/strong><\/s>. <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">For all game purposes, this object is considered a copy of a card.<\/mark><\/strong> This <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">copy<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">object<\/mark><\/strong> remains in exile for as long as the prepared permanent remains on the battlefield and has the prepared designation. This is an exception to rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7045e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">704.5e<\/a>. For as long as the <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">copy<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">object<\/mark><\/strong> remains in exile, the prepared permanent\u2019s controller may cast the <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">copy<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">object<\/mark><\/strong>. That permanent loses the prepared designation <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">at the time the spell becomes cast (see rule 601.2i)<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">as the object leaves exile for any reason<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7223d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">722.3d<\/a> describes impossible or meaningless things and is removed entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">722.3d If a prepare spell is copied, the copy is also a prepare spell. Any rule or effect that refers to a spell cast as a prepare spell refers to the copy as well.<\/mark><\/strong><\/s><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7224\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">722.4<\/a> remains unchanged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7225\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">722.5<\/a> is not restricted to effects anymore (see Choosing card names).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">722.5. If <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">an effect instructs<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> a player <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">is instructed<\/mark><\/strong> to choose a card name and the player wants to choose a preparation card\u2019s alternative name, the player may do so.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new version of the rules for ease of reading:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">722. Preparation Cards<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">722.1. Preparation cards have a two-part card frame, with a smaller frame inset within their text box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">722.2. The text that appears in the inset frame on the right defines alternative characteristics that are used when creating a related object in exile as described in rule 722.3. The card\u2019s normal characteristics appear as usual, although with a smaller text box on the left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">722.2a The inset frame of a preparation card is called a \u201cprepare spell.\u201d If a rule or effect refers to a card, spell, or permanent that has a prepare spell, it refers to an object for which these alternative characteristics exist, even if the object currently doesn\u2019t use them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">722.2b The existence and values of these alternative characteristics are part of the object\u2019s copiable values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">722.2c Some copy effects include modifications or exceptions to the copying process (see rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7079\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">707.9<\/a>). If an object with a prepare spell is copied by such an effect, the modifications and\/or exceptions apply only to the normal characteristics; the copy&#8217;s alternative characteristics will be identical to those of the object being copied. The same is true for effects that grant an object the \u201cfull text\u201d of an object with a prepare spell and that also grant the first object additional rules text; the additional rules text modifies only the normal rules text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Example:<\/em><\/strong><em> A player casts <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/MID\/en-us\/215\/croaking-counterpart\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Croaking Counterpart<\/a> targeting an <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/46\/encouraging-aviator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Encouraging Aviator<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/MID\/en-us\/215\/croaking-counterpart\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Croaking Counterpart<\/a> is an instant that says, in part, \u201cCreate a token that\u2019s a copy of target non-Frog creature, except it\u2019s a 1\/1 green Frog.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/46\/encouraging-aviator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Encouraging Aviator<\/a> is a blue preparation creature card and its prepare spell is a blue instant named Jump. The token copy of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/SOS\/en-us\/46\/encouraging-aviator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Encouraging Aviator<\/a> is a 1\/1 green Frog and its prepare spell is a blue instant named Jump. The prepare spell is not green, nor does it have power and toughness 1\/1 or the Frog creature type.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">722.2d Rules and effects that modify characteristics apply only to the normal characteristics of an object with a prepare spell; that object\u2019s alternative characteristics remain unchanged. There are two exceptions. Rules and effects that set or remove the alternative characteristics as a whole, such as copy effects and changes from a permanent\u2019s face-down status, can set or remove the alternative characteristics. Text-changing effects that change the text of an object by replacing all instances of one color word with another or one subtype with another can replace instances in the text of the alternative characteristics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">722.2e Although preparation cards are printed with multiple sets of characteristics, each preparation card is only one card. For example, a player who has drawn or discarded a preparation card has drawn or discarded one card, not two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">722.3. Preparation cards can\u2019t be cast using the alternative characteristics found within their inset frames. Rather, these characteristics are used to define characteristics of related objects which may be cast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">722.3a Some spells and abilities cause a permanent with a prepare spell to become prepared or state that a permanent enters prepared. If that permanent has the alternative characteristics of a prepare spell, this gives the permanent the \u201cprepared\u201d designation. Prepared is a designation that acts as a marker which rules and effects can identify. A permanent can\u2019t gain this designation unless it has a prepare spell. Additionally, a permanent can\u2019t gain this designation if the permanent already has it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">722.3b A rule or effect may cause a permanent to become \u201cunprepared.\u201d This removes the prepared designation from that permanent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">722.3c As a permanent with a prepare spell gains the prepared designation or phases in prepared, its controller creates an object with the characteristics of the prepare spell in exile. For all game purposes, this object is considered a copy of a card. This object remains in exile for as long as the prepared permanent remains on the battlefield and has the prepared designation. This is an exception to rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7045e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">704.5e<\/a>. For as long as the object remains in exile, the prepared permanent\u2019s controller may cast the object. That permanent loses the prepared designation as the object leaves exile for any reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">722.4. In every zone, a preparation card has only its normal characteristics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">722.5. If a player is instructed to choose a card name and the player wants to choose a preparation card\u2019s alternative name, the player may do so.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Copying adventurer cards and omen cards<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A new rule 715.2c prevents copy effects from applying their exceptions to the alternative values. Text-changing effects can be ignored in this context. The existing rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7152c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">715.2c<\/a> is renumbered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7a6ac3c9947dc656f594869d30d913f5 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#006400\">715.2c Some copy effects include modifications or exceptions to the copying process (see rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7079\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">707.9<\/a>). If an object with an Adventure is copied by such an effect, the modifications and\/or exceptions apply only to the normal characteristics; the copy&#8217;s alternative characteristics will be identical to those of the object being copied.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A new rule 720.2c prevents copy effects from applying their exceptions to the alternative values. Text-changing effects can be ignored in this context. The existing rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7202c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">720.2c<\/a> is renumbered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-56a398433d18e142cfb1f09d6cc81d6b wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#006400\">720.2c Some copy effects include modifications or exceptions to the copying process (see rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7079\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">707.9<\/a>). If an object with an Omen is copied by such an effect, the modifications and\/or exceptions apply only to the normal characteristics; the copy&#8217;s alternative characteristics will be identical to those of the object being copied.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"paradigm\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Paradigm<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In my <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/uub-sos\/#rules-support-for-paradigm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">update bulletin<\/a>, I identified an issue with the use of the term \u201cprecombat main phase,\u201d a reference to the wrong rule, and an issue regarding the applicability of existing rules to the copies created by paradigm\u2019s delayed triggered ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the first two issues, correcting the respective parts of rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R702192a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">702.192a<\/a> is enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">702.192a Paradigm represents two spell abilities, one of which creates a delayed triggered ability. Paradigm means \u201cIf this is the first time a spell you control with this spell\u2019s name has resolved this game, at the beginning of each of your <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">precombat<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">first<\/mark><\/strong> main phases for the rest of the game, create a copy of this object in exile. You may cast the copy without paying its mana cost\u201d and \u201cExile this spell.\u201d See rule <strong><s><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">707.10<\/mark><\/s><\/strong> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">707.12<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the second issue, see <a href=\"#copies-of-noncard-objects\">Copies of noncard objects<\/a>, above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"hybrid-mana-symbols-with-colorless-components\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hybrid mana symbols with colorless components<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In my <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/uub-sos\/#additional-rules-support-for-hybrid-mana-symbols\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">update bulletin<\/a>, I identified an issue with effects that add mana to a player\u2019s mana pool based on a hybrid mana symbol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Namely, rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1068\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">106.8<\/a> accounts only for colored components and generic components of hybrid mana symbols, but not for colorless components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Adding colorless components to that rule is easy enough, but what other rules concerning hybrid mana symbols might benefit from a rewrite?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Duskmourn: House of Horror<\/em> update introduced hybrid mana symbols with a colorless component and expanded rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1074e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">107.4e<\/a> to mention colorless components of hybrid mana symbols. Without the context of that update or the other rules, this occurrence of \u201ccolorless\u201d could be misconstrued as \u201ccomponents without a color\u201d (i.e. colorless and generic components), particularly since the mana symbols used later in that rule feature only a generic component.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(I also wonder about the necessity of updating that rule in particular: monocolored hybrid mana symbols with generic components had existed for sixteen years, and nobody seemed confused about their colors. Does a colorless component make the symbols appear that much \u201cmore colorless\u201d? Especially if <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/M3C\/en-us\/4\/ulalek-fused-atrocity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">the card using these symbols<\/a> has devoid, which would hardly be necessary were the symbols actually colorless?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apart from that, I noticed some general inconsistencies surrounding the usage of \u201csymbol\u201d versus \u201cmana symbol\u201d; almost twenty years after the <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20160118014209\/http:\/\/archive.wizards.com\/Magic\/magazine\/article.aspx?x=mtgcom\/feature\/424a1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><em>Lorwyn<\/em> update<\/a> removed {Y} and {Z} from today\u2019s rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1074\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">107.4<\/a>, some rules still imply that such mana symbol exist; and the glossary entry for the generic Phyrexian symbol mentions only five Phyrexian mana symbols, not fifteen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This results in the following amendments:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">106.8. If an effect would add mana represented by a hybrid mana symbol to a player\u2019s mana pool, that player chooses one half of that symbol. If a colored <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">or colorless<\/mark><\/strong> half is chosen, one mana of that <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">color<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">type<\/mark><\/strong> is added to that player\u2019s mana pool. If a generic half is chosen, an amount of colorless mana represented by that half\u2019s number is added to that player\u2019s mana pool.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">107.4. The mana symbols are {W}, {U}, {B}, {R}, {G}, and {C}; the numerical <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">mana<\/mark><\/strong> symbols {0}, {1}, {2}, {3}, {4}, and so on; the variable <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">mana<\/mark><\/strong> symbol {X}; the hybrid <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">mana<\/mark><\/strong> symbols {W\/U}, {W\/B}, {U\/B}, {U\/R}, {B\/R}, {B\/G}, {R\/G}, {R\/W}, {G\/W}, and {G\/U}; the monocolored hybrid <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">mana<\/mark><\/strong> symbols {2\/W}, {2\/U}, {2\/B}, {2\/R}, {2\/G}, {C\/W}, {C\/U}, {C\/B}, {C\/R}, and {C\/G}; the Phyrexian mana symbols {W\/P}, {U\/P}, {B\/P}, {R\/P}, and {G\/P}; the hybrid Phyrexian <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">mana<\/mark><\/strong> symbols {W\/U\/P}, {W\/B\/P}, {U\/B\/P}, {U\/R\/P}, {B\/R\/P}, {B\/G\/P}, {R\/G\/P}, {R\/W\/P}, {G\/W\/P}, and {G\/U\/P}; and the snow mana symbol {S}.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">107.4b Numerical <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">mana<\/mark><\/strong> symbols (such as {1}) and <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">the<\/mark><\/strong> variable <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">mana<\/mark><\/strong> symbol<s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">s (such as<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> {X}<s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">)<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> represent generic mana in costs. Generic mana in costs can be paid with any type of mana. For more information about {X}, see rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1073\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">107.3<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">107.4e A hybrid mana symbol is also a colored mana symbol, even if one of its components is colorless <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">or generic<\/mark><\/strong>. Each one represents a cost that can be paid in one of two ways, as represented by the two halves of the symbol. A hybrid <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">mana<\/mark><\/strong> symbol such as {W\/U} can be paid with either white or blue mana, and a monocolored hybrid <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">mana<\/mark><\/strong> symbol such as {2\/B} can be paid with either one black mana or two mana of any type. A hybrid mana symbol is all of its component colors.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">202.3f When calculating the mana value of an object with a hybrid mana symbol in its mana cost, use the largest component of each hybrid <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">mana<\/mark><\/strong> symbol.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">709.4b The mana cost of a split card is the combined mana costs of its two halves. A split card\u2019s colors and mana value are determined from its combined mana cost. An effect that refers specifically to the <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">mana<\/mark><\/strong> symbols in a split card\u2019s mana cost sees the separate symbols rather than the whole mana cost.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Generic Mana<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mana in a cost represented by numerical <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">mana<\/mark><\/strong> symbols (such as {1}) or <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">the<\/mark><\/strong> variable <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">mana<\/mark><\/strong> symbol<s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">s (such as<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> {X}<s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">)<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> that can be paid with mana of any type. See rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1074\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">107.4<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Phyrexian Symbol<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A symbol used in rules text to represent any of the <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">five<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">fifteen<\/mark><\/strong> Phyrexian mana symbols. See rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1074g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">107.4g<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"sagas-and-initial-lore-counters\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sagas and initial lore counters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In my update bulletin, I identified two issues with the <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/uub-sos\/#sagas-and-initial-lore-counters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">new intrinsic abilities for Sagas<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The major one is that type-changing effects like that of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/2XM\/en-us\/118\/blood-moon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Blood Moon<\/a>\u2019s ability do not affect intrinsic abilities other than the five intrinsic mana abilities <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R3057\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">[CR 305.7]<\/a>. As a result, with <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/2XM\/en-us\/118\/blood-moon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Blood Moon<\/a> on the battlefield, <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/MH2\/en-us\/259\/urzas-saga\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Urza\u2019s Saga<\/a> still enters the battlefield with a lore counter on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In their <a href=\"https:\/\/magic.wizards.com\/en\/news\/announcements\/secrets-of-strixhaven-update-bulletin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">official update bulletin<\/a>, Wizards of the Coast claim a different outcome where <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/MH2\/en-us\/259\/urzas-saga\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Urza\u2019s Saga<\/a> enters the battlefield with no lore counters on it. This claim is evidently incorrect and the article acknowledges that the actual rules take precedence. I do like this alternative outcome though; it seems much more intuitive than the actual, unambiguous outcome, so I will look into ways to achieve it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second issue concerns Sagas with read ahead. The <em>Secrets of Strixhaven<\/em> update splits the replacement effect into two distinct effects generated by two distinct intrinsic abilities. As a result, a Saga\u2019s controller can choose to have the Saga enter the battlefield with no lore counters on it, simply by applying the two replacement effects in the \u201cwrong\u201d order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While this issue is unlikely to come up in practice, it does not strike me as intuitive, so I shall consider a more elegant implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An older, similar issue concerns Sagas with read ahead but with no chapter abilities. For example, if Alex controls <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/2XM\/en-us\/118\/blood-moon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Blood Moon<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/WHO\/en-us\/14\/barbara-wright\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Barbara Wright<\/a> and she plays <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/MH2\/en-us\/259\/urzas-saga\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Urza\u2019s Saga<\/a>, the combined effects of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/2XM\/en-us\/118\/blood-moon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Blood Moon<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/WHO\/en-us\/14\/barbara-wright\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Barbara Wright<\/a>\u2019s abilities replace the chapter abilities and the normal intrinsic ability with read ahead and the other two intrinsic abilities. Alex is then instructed to choose a number between 1 and the final chapter number of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/MH2\/en-us\/259\/urzas-saga\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Urza\u2019s Saga<\/a>; without any chapter abilities, this means that Alex is instructed to choose a number between 1 and 0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a mathematical layperson, I would expect that \u201cchoose a number between 1 and 0\u201d means the same as \u201cchoose a number between 0 and 1,\u201d and the Comprehensive Rules support this notion by being not particularly rigorous about their mathematics. Add the far more informed opinion of Aaron M\u00fcnch on the <a href=\"https:\/\/discord.com\/channels\/217290378901061632\/217290378901061632\/1527342764877021295\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">DE\/AT Judgeserver Discord server<\/a>,  and everything points toward Alex being able to have <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/MH2\/en-us\/259\/urzas-saga\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Urza\u2019s Saga<\/a> enter the battlefield with a lore counter on it. (And should that be an incorrect interpretation, the question remains what it means to \u201cchoose a number between 1 and 0.\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regardless of the mathematical aspects, the outcome of this scenario does not match Wizards of the Coast\u2019s apparent design paradigm for Saga rules, which I would describe as \u201cA Saga without chapter abilities should not do anything Saga-related.\u201d It seems also inconsistent with their intended outcome for just <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/2XM\/en-us\/118\/blood-moon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Blood Moon<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/MH2\/en-us\/259\/urzas-saga\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Urza\u2019s Saga<\/a>, where <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/MH2\/en-us\/259\/urzas-saga\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Urza\u2019s Saga<\/a> should enter the battlefield with no lore counters on it. Adding read ahead to a Saga that lost its chapter abilities should not cause it to enter the battlefield with a lore counter on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last but not least, I wrote that rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R3057\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">305.7<\/a> omits not just intrinsic abilities, but other kinds of abilities as well. Some of them have existed for decades, while others were introduced in recent years, but in each case, I see no good reason to spare them. As such, rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R3057\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">305.7<\/a> should be updated to account for abilities of any kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Resolving the issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The issue with the split intrinsic abilities for Sagas with read ahead is the simplest: combine both intrinsic abilities into one. This way, the order of instructions is prescribed, and a Saga with read ahead (and chapter abilities) always enters the battlefield with at least one lore counter on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the preexisting issue with read ahead, the paradigm \u201cA Saga without chapter abilities should not do anything Saga-related\u201d provides a lead: why not add chapter abilities to the criteria of the intrinsic abilities?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If a Saga needs to have a chapter ability to qualify for either intrinsic ability, the issue with Sagas only having read ahead is solved. Those Sagas don\u2019t gain the intrinsic ability associated with read ahead, so there is no instruction to choose a number between 1 and 0, and the Sagas enter the battlefield with no lore counters on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This solution also helps with the major issue of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/2XM\/en-us\/118\/blood-moon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Blood Moon<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/MH2\/en-us\/259\/urzas-saga\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Urza\u2019s Saga<\/a>. The effect of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/2XM\/en-us\/118\/blood-moon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Blood Moon<\/a>\u2019s ability causes <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/MH2\/en-us\/259\/urzas-saga\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Urza\u2019s Saga<\/a> to lose its chapter abilities, and if the intrinsic ability is tied to those chapter abilities, it is also lost. Two birds with one stone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, let\u2019s take a look at rule 305.7 and its history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-plain is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If an effect sets a land\u2019s subtype to one or more of the basic land types, the land no longer has its old land type. It loses all abilities generated from its rules text, its old land types, and any copiable effects affecting that land, and it gains the appropriate mana ability for each new basic land type. Note that this doesn\u2019t remove any abilities that were granted to the land by other effects. Setting a land\u2019s subtype doesn\u2019t add or remove any card types (such as creature) or supertypes (such as basic, legendary, and snow) the land may have. If a land gains one or more land types in addition to its own, it keeps its land types and rules text, and it gains the new land types and mana abilities.<\/p>\n<cite><a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R3057\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">CR 305.7<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20170701013949\/http:\/\/magic.wizards.com\/en\/articles\/archive\/feature\/eighth-edition-rules-update-2003-07-08\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><em>Eighth Edition<\/em> update<\/a> introduced several aspects of today\u2019s type system: supertypes as a characteristic, the basic supertype, and unified rules for how type-changing effects affect creatures, lands, and all other permanent types. As part of that update, the precursor to rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R3057\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">305.7<\/a> was restructured into today\u2019s form; every update since then has changed only a couple of words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the time, only the five intrinsic mana abilities existed and they were defined as text in a land\u2019s text box, effectively giving the land some rules text. Since the abilities were derived from rules text, the <em>Eighth Edition<\/em> version of the rule simply removed all of the land\u2019s rules text. This automatically took care of the land\u2019s \u201cprinted&#8221; abilities and its intrinsic abilities. The land then gained the rules text matching its new basic land type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/rules-changes\/9ed-rav\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><em>Ravnica: City of Guilds<\/em> update<\/a> changed the rule to instead remove abilities, specifically those derived from rules text, as well as any intrinsic abilities. The land then gained a new intrinsic ability. (The update didn\u2019t change the mention of \u201crules text\u201d in the final sentence, and twenty years later, this oversight is still present in the Comprehensive Rules.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even at that time, the list of abilities was missing two kinds, both given to an object by a copiable effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first kind were abilities granted as an exception to a copy effect. For example, if Alex resolves the activated ability of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/RAV\/en-us\/202\/dimir-doppelganger\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Dimir Doppelganger<\/a>, the copy effect adds the activated ability to the copied values before applying them to <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/RAV\/en-us\/202\/dimir-doppelganger\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Dimir Doppelganger<\/a>. The ability is added as an ability only, not as rules text, so it remained unaffected by the effect of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/2XM\/en-us\/118\/blood-moon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Blood Moon<\/a>\u2019s ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The other kind were abilities granted as part of specific \u201cas this creature enters\u201d replacement effects, as seen on <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/RAV\/en-us\/136\/molten-sentry\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Molten Sentry<\/a>. While the Comprehensive Rules are not explicit about such effects, consistency with other copiable effects and the concept behind rules text both suggest that these effects only grant abilities, not rules text; thus, they too avoided getting removed by the effect of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/2XM\/en-us\/118\/blood-moon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Blood Moon<\/a>\u2019s ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the second kind went undetected until 2021, the issue with copy effects became more prominent with the printing of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/GTC\/en-us\/248\/thespians-stage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Thespian&#8217;s Stage<\/a>. Eventually, the <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20171123215222\/https:\/\/magic.wizards.com\/en\/articles\/archive\/feature\/theros-update-bulletin-2013-09-24\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><em>Theros<\/em> update<\/a> amended rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R3057\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">305.7<\/a> to also remove abilities that come from copy effects. Well, half of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The update did not account for copy effects that create tokens as copies of other objects. Such a copy effect is a one-shot effect, not a continuous effect: it creates the tokens with the copied values as their defined values, and then the effect is done. There is no continuous effect in layer 1 or anywhere else that would set the tokens\u2019 characteristic values to the copied values. Thus, while there is an ability that was ultimately generated by a copy effect, it is not an ability generated by a copy effect \u201caffecting that land.\u201d This constitutes the first\/oldest kind of ability to still escape the effect of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/2XM\/en-us\/118\/blood-moon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Blood Moon<\/a>\u2019s ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(<em>Adventures in the Forgotten Realms<\/em> introduced a variant in the form of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/AFR\/en-us\/91\/the-book-of-vile-darkness\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">The Book of Vile Darkness<\/a>: the Vecna token is created with abilities taken from another object, but not as part of a copy effect. It is similar enough for the topic at hand, so I won\u2019t define it as its own category.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next kind of ability is the one that sparked this whole discussion: intrinsic abilities other than the mana abilities tied to basic land types.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When planeswalkers debuted in <em>Lorwyn<\/em>, the corresponding <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/rules-changes\/med-lrw\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">rules update<\/a> based the rule for the intrinsic planeswalker ability on the rule defining intrinsic mana abilities but omitted the phrase \u201cintrinsic ability\u201d completely. As a result, the initial version of the intrinsic planeswalker ability was just defined as text in the card\u2019s text box. Which made it rules text and thus an ability that could be removed by the effect of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/2XM\/en-us\/118\/blood-moon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Blood Moon<\/a>\u2019s ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20170715010055\/http:\/\/magic.wizards.com\/en\/articles\/archive\/feature\/july-2010-update-bulletin-2010-07-14\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><em>Magic 2011<\/em> update<\/a> cleared up the rule defining the intrinsic mana abilities: rather than being somewhat nebulous text in the land\u2019s text box, they were just abilities, with no more rules text underneath. The intrinsic planeswalker ability was not updated and continued to be text in a text box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many years later, the <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20190704022638\/https:\/\/magic.wizards.com\/en\/articles\/archive\/news\/core-set-2020-comprehensive-rules-changes-2019-07-03\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><em>Core Set 2020<\/em> update<\/a> cleared up the rule defining the intrinsic planeswalker ability in the same way, changing it from text to a \u201cnormal\u201d intrinsic ability. This meant that the ability was no longer affected by rules <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R3057\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">305.7<\/a>, but that rule was never updated to account for this intrinsic ability. Or any of the intrinsic abilities introduced since. This constitutes the second kind of ability to still escape the effect of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/2XM\/en-us\/118\/blood-moon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Blood Moon<\/a>\u2019s ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/academyruins.com\/diff\/cr\/THB-IKO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths<\/a><\/em> introduced the mutate keyword ability and the concept of merged permanents. The \u201cmutate effect\u201d defines a mutated permanent\u2019s abilities as those of all components combined; its rules text, however, is only that of the topmost component. This was yet another kind of copiable effect that can grant an ability to a permanent without affecting its rules text, and initially, it too was not accounted for by rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R3057\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">305.7<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/academyruins.com\/diff\/cr\/STX-MH2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><em>Modern Horizons 2<\/em> update<\/a> changed \u201ccopy effect\u201d to \u201ccopiable effect\u201d in the text of rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R3057\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">305.7<\/a>. As a result, abilities from the \u201cmutate effect\u201d and from cards like <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/RAV\/en-us\/136\/molten-sentry\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Molten Sentry<\/a> were now on the list of abilities that get removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Unfinity<\/em> introduced the third and (so far) last kind of ability: abilities an object gains due to being face down. <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/UNF\/en-us\/171\/magar-of-the-magic-strings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Magar of the Magic Strings<\/a> was the first time that the characteristic values defined for a face-down object included an ability. (As with <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/RAV\/en-us\/136\/molten-sentry\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Molten Sentry<\/a>, the Comprehensive Rules don\u2019t explicitly say that this is an ability rather than rules text, but the same arguments\u2014consistency and the concept behind rules text\u2014apply.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And while this ability is part of the face-down permanent\u2019s copiable values, it is set by a game rule rather than by a copiable effect, as rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R6132\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">613.2<\/a> clearly states. Therefore, the ability is exempted from rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R3057\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">305.7<\/a>. &nbsp;The same applies to the keywords <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R702168\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">disguise<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R70158\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">cloak<\/a>, both introduced in <em>Murders at Karlov Manor<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recounting the rule\u2019s history took some time, but the solution to all these issues is simple: have rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R3057\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">305.7<\/a> remove all abilities, no matter where they come from. The purpose of rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R3057\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">305.7<\/a> is to make an affected land as close to a basic land as possible and I don\u2019t see a reason why this should include keeping some abilities intact. Also, removing all abilities is more future-proof than repeatedly adding new kinds of abilities to the list (or manipulating an ability\u2019s definition like that of the intrinsic Saga abilities so they become tied to abilities that do get removed). Note that abilities from ability-granting effects are still excluded, since those effects are naturally applied after any <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/2XM\/en-us\/118\/blood-moon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Blood Moon<\/a>-style effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With all issues considered, it is time to put the amendments into rules text (not the characteristic).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Rules<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R702155a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">702.155a<\/a>, which defines the read ahead ability, has some nonstandard wording choices that are tidied up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">702.155a Read ahead is a <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">keyword<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">static ability<\/mark><\/strong> found on some Saga cards. \u201cRead ahead\u201d means \u201cChapter abilities of this Saga can\u2019t trigger the turn it entered <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">the battlefield<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> unless it has exactly the number of lore counters on it specified in the chapter symbol of that ability.\u201d See rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R714\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">714<\/a>, \u201cSaga Cards.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The two intrinsic abilities for Sagas with read ahead become one. For reasons detailed in my article on <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/intrinsic-abilities\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">intrinsic abilities<\/a>, I will further combine that ability with the intrinsic ability for Sagas without read ahead. Finally, chapter abilities become a criterion for this single intrinsic ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">702.155b <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Each<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">A<\/mark><\/strong> Saga with <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">read ahead<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">one or more chapter abilities<\/mark><\/strong> has the intrinsic <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">abilities<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">ability<\/mark><\/strong> \u201cAs this Saga enters, <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">if it has read ahead,<\/mark><\/strong> choose a number between one and this Saga\u2019s final chapter number<s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">\u201d and \u201c<\/mark><\/strong><\/s><strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">.<\/mark><\/strong> This Saga enters with the chosen number of lore counters on it. <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">If it doesn\u2019t have read ahead, it enters with a lore counter on it.<\/mark><\/strong>\u201d See rule 714.3<s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">b<\/mark><\/strong><\/s><strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">a<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new version for ease of reading:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">702.155b A Saga with one or more chapter abilities has the intrinsic ability \u201cAs this Saga enters, if it has read ahead, choose a number between one and this Saga\u2019s final chapter number. This Saga enters with the chosen number of lore counters on it. If it doesn\u2019t have read ahead, it enters with a lore counter on it.\u201d See rule 714.3a.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7143a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">714.3a<\/a> changes accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">714.3a <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Each<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">A<\/mark><\/strong> Saga <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">without read ahead<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">with one or more chapter abilities<\/mark><\/strong> has the intrinsic ability \u201c<strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">As this Saga enters, if it has read ahead, choose a number between one and this Saga\u2019s final chapter number. This Saga enters with the chosen number of lore counters on it. If it doesn\u2019t have read ahead, it<\/mark><\/strong> <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">This Saga<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> enters with a lore counter on it.\u201d This ability creates a replacement effect (see rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R6141c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">614.1c<\/a>). <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">See also rule 702.155, \u201cRead Ahead.\u201d<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new version for ease of reading:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">714.3a A Saga with one or more chapter abilities has the intrinsic ability \u201cAs this Saga enters, if it has read ahead, choose a number between one and this Saga\u2019s final chapter number. This Saga enters with the chosen number of lore counters on it. If it doesn\u2019t have read ahead, it enters with a lore counter on it.\u201d This ability creates a replacement effect (see rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R6141c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">614.1c<\/a>). See also rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R702155\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">702.155<\/a>, \u201cRead Ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R7143b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">714.3b<\/a> is obsolete and gets removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">714.3b Each Saga with read ahead has the intrinsic abilities \u201cAs this Saga enters, choose a number between one and this Saga\u2019s final chapter number\u201d and \u201cThis Saga enters with the chosen number of lore counters on it.\u201d (See rule 702.155, \u201cRead Ahead.\u201d) These abilities create replacement effects (see rule 614.1c).<\/mark><\/strong><\/s><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R702155c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">702.155c<\/a> uses a nonspecific \u201cobject\u201d even though read ahead is only ever relevant on Saga permanents. \u201cObject\u201d is replaced with \u201cSaga.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">702.155c Multiple instances of read ahead on the same <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">object<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">Saga<\/mark><\/strong> are redundant.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R3057\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">305.7<\/a> doesn\u2019t restrict itself to specific kinds of abilities. The sentence about abilities from other effects becomes explicit about the effects it covers. In the final sentence, \u201crules text\u201d becomes \u201cabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">305.7 If <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">an<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">a type-changing<\/mark><\/strong> effect sets a land\u2019s subtype to one or more of the basic land types, the land no longer has its old land type. It loses all abilities <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">generated from its rules text, its old land types, and any copiable effects affecting that land,<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> and it gains the appropriate mana ability for each new basic land type. Note that this doesn\u2019t remove any abilities that were granted to the land by <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">other<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">ability-adding<\/mark><\/strong> effects. <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">See rule 613, \u201cInteraction of Continuous Effects.\u201d<\/mark><\/strong> Setting a land\u2019s subtype doesn\u2019t add or remove any card types (such as creature) or supertypes (such as basic, legendary, and snow) the land may have. If a land gains one or more land types in addition to its own, it keeps its land types and <s><strong><mark style=\"color:#8b0000\" class=\"has-inline-color\">rules text<\/mark><\/strong><\/s> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:#006400\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">abilities<\/mark><\/strong>, and it gains the new land types and mana abilities.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new version for ease of reading:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">305.7 If a type-changing effect sets a land\u2019s subtype to one or more of the basic land types, the land no longer has its old land type. It loses all abilities and it gains the appropriate mana ability for each new basic land type. Note that this doesn\u2019t remove any abilities that were granted to the land by ability-adding effects. See rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R613\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">613<\/a>, \u201cInteraction of Continuous Effects.\u201d Setting a land\u2019s subtype doesn\u2019t add or remove any card types (such as creature) or supertypes (such as basic, legendary, and snow) the land may have. If a land gains one or more land types in addition to its own, it keeps its land types and abilities, and it gains the new land types and mana abilities.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"spry-and-mighty\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spry and Mighty<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In my <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/uub-sos\/#oracle-spry-and-mighty\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">update bulletin<\/a>, I discussed how the Oracle text update for <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ECL\/en-us\/195\/spry-and-mighty\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Spry and Mighty<\/a> is a nonfunctional but mightily confusing change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In their <a href=\"https:\/\/magic.wizards.com\/en\/news\/announcements\/secrets-of-strixhaven-update-bulletin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">own bulletin<\/a>, Wizards of the Coast claim that the update instead changes <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ECL\/en-us\/195\/spry-and-mighty\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Spry and Mighty<\/a>\u2019s functionality to that described in the card\u2019s Gatherer ruling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Upon reading this, I had to think of the stereotypical tourist visiting another country. He doesn\u2019t speak the local language, so when he needs to ask a local for information, he addresses her in his own language; likewise, the local doesn\u2019t speak the tourist\u2019s language, and replies in her language that she doesn\u2019t understand what he said. What does the tourist do? Repeat exactly what he said, only Slower and Louder. Surely, this time he will be understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What he actually needs is an interpreter, someone who understands both languages and can facilitate communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the case of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ECL\/en-us\/195\/spry-and-mighty\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Spry and Mighty<\/a>, Wizards of the Coast\u2019s design team could be thought of as the tourist, and the rules system would be the local. The latter speaks only formal rules-ish, while the former speak only everyday English (with the occasional piece of broken rules-ish thrown in). And the design team can repeat their intentions for <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ECL\/en-us\/195\/spry-and-mighty\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Spry and Mighty<\/a> as often as they like\u2014if no one converts their intentions into matching rules text, the rules system and anyone who acts according to it will fail to recognize those intentions and stick to what has actually been written.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Continuing the analogy, the task of interpreting would fall to the rules team, although in their case, \u201ctranslator\u201d would be the better term. They take the design team\u2019s intended functionality and translate it into well-formed rules text that mirrors that functionality, so that anyone who reads the card knows how to play it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Which begs the question \u201cIf the claimed functionality is the intended one and has seemingly always been the intended one, why didn\u2019t the rules team choose a rules text that accurately reflects that functionality right from the start?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It can\u2019t have been an accident, since the discrepancy between the actual rules text and the intended functionality is blatantly obvious to anyone with a passing knowledge of <em>Magic<\/em>&#8216;s rules system, much less the world-class experts comprising the rules team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maybe the rules text was not actually written by the rules team. Maybe the whole team was at a conference that week, so a highly motivated but unskilled intern was tasked with writing the rules text for <em>Lorwyn Eclipsed<\/em>. And the same thing happened with the errata for the <em>Secrets of Strixhaven<\/em> update.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Or maybe it\u2019s all deliberate: the contradictory rulings, the misleading Oracle update, the claims in the official update bulletin\u2014they are all part of a lesson in media literacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not blindly believing everything one reads on the internet, double-checking suspicious statements, and recognizing minotaur droppings for what they are\u2014these skills are more important than ever. Thus, it should not be surprising if Wizards of the Coast, who care deeply about their customers, occasionally issue misleading, contradictory, and obviously incorrect information, solely with the goal of honing their customers\u2019 critical thinking skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Be that as it may. <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ECL\/en-us\/195\/spry-and-mighty\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Spry and Mighty<\/a>\u2019s actual functionality remains clear enough, regardless of anything said in the official update bulletin. But purely as a thought experiment, how would a rules text look like that actually reflected the \u201cintended\u201d functionality?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The crux of the issue is that an effect like \u201cchoose (exactly) two creatures\u201d tries to do as much as possible; in the case of <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ECL\/en-us\/195\/spry-and-mighty\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Spry and Mighty<\/a>, however, we would want it to be all-or-nothing. Given the extent of <em>Magic<\/em>\u2019s rules system, precedents are easily found: costs, for example, can\u2019t be paid partially; they must be paid in full <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1183\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">[CR 118.3]<\/a>. And the description given in rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R1181\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">118.1<\/a> matches <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ECL\/en-us\/195\/spry-and-mighty\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Spry and Mighty<\/a>\u2019s \u201cintended\u201d functionality perfectly: to draw cards and have the creatures gain bonuses, the spell\u2019s controller must first choose two actual creatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How to turn <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ECL\/en-us\/195\/spry-and-mighty\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Spry and Mighty<\/a>\u2019s first instruction into a cost? The same way any effect becomes a cost: by adding an \u201cIf you do.\u201d Thanks to rule <a href=\"https:\/\/yawgatog.com\/resources\/magic-rules\/#R11812\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">118.12<\/a>, the part before that phrase is treated as a cost, and the part after it occurs only if that cost is paid. This is a well-established template used by hundreds of cards and understood by rules-knowledgeable people and laypersons alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, if one were interested in changing <a href=\"https:\/\/gatherer.wizards.com\/ECL\/en-us\/195\/spry-and-mighty\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Spry and Mighty<\/a>\u2019s functionality so that its effect only did something if two creatures can be chosen, the obvious rules text would be this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Choose two creatures you control. If you do, you draw X cards and the chosen creatures get +X\/+X and gain trample until end of turn, where X is the difference between the chosen creatures&#8217; powers.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Compared with its current text, this version is minimally longer (more spaces in \u201cif you do\u201d than in \u201cexactly\u201d), but there is plenty of space left in the text box. Enough to use both &#8220;exactly&#8221; and &#8220;if you do,&#8221; if one absolutely must.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Suggestions for fixing (most of) the shortcomings of the Comprehensive Rules and Oracle updates released for Secrets of Strixhaven.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":479,"featured_media":2291,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"language":[3],"class_list":["post-2481","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-potential-rules-amendments","language-en_us"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2481","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/479"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2481"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2481\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2615,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2481\/revisions\/2615"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2481"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2481"},{"taxonomy":"language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/nametherule\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/language?post=2481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}