I love counters on my creatures. I love them even more when they are given to my creatures and I get to gain life. That’s why so many players might get excited when they see this cool combo. There is a catch, however! Casting Pridemate while having a Staff of the Sun Magus will give you the extra life, but it won’t get the counter in response to itself hitting the battlefield. The staff’s triggered ability triggers from *casting* a spell, so it resolves before the Pridemate enters the battlefield as a creature.

Let’s break this down:

• You cast Ajani’s Pridemate
• The Staff triggers and the ability goes on the stack
• The stack resolves top down (last on the stack happens first); you gain one life
• Ajani’s Pridemate resolves without a counter

But hey! Just cause it didn’t work this time doesn’t mean it’s not going to work when you cast your next white spell! Talk about 3 for 1 – your spell, life and a counter! That’s a combo that wins games, especially in limited formats!

Today’s Rules Tip written by Daniel Clarke