Today, we’re heading over to the Modern side of the pond, with a look at the Merfolk deck that put up respectable performances at the last Pro Tour. Kira, Great Glass-Spinner, though not a Merfolk itself, has a great ability to protect its fishy friends from any spot removal. Friends like Mutavault, who gains all creature types — including Merfolk — when it animates into a creature, and likewise gains Kira’s bonus.

What an opponent can do, however, is destroy Mutavault before it gets a chance to animate by playing Tectonic Edge. Since playing a land doesn’t use the stack or pass priority, its controller can activate it right away (assuming the condition of 4 lands is met) and target Mutavault. In this case, animating Mutavault won’t save it even if Kira is on the battlefield, because the targeted permanent has to be a creature at the time of targeting; even though Mutavault gains Kira’s ability after the fact, it’s too late to counter the ability of Tectonic Edge and save it. Likewise, a player can respond to Mutavault’s animation by targeting it with Tectonic Edge, to the same end result. Mutavault is destroyed. The only way Tec Edge would be stopped is if the controller waits for Mutavault’s animation effect to resolve, THEN activates Tec Edge, which seems unlikely!

Today’s Rules Tip written by Jen Wong