When casting a spell with X in the mana cost, X will equal what was chosen when the spell was cast. (Usually this means that this was what was mana paid for as well, but effects that raise or lower costs can alter this.) For example, if you cast a targeting a , in order […]
Author: krizriktr
What Outside Assistance is.
Outside Assistance is when a player, spectator or anyone involved in a tournament either either attempts to get information that is normally hidden, asks others for strategy advice, gives strategy advice or uses notes from outside a match during a game in a match. This is obviously a serious infraction and a match loss is […]
Mana abilities do not use the stack
Mana is how the vast majority of spells are paid for and played. Mana abilities are those activated abilities that add mana to your mana pool. These abilities do not use the stack. Simple huh? As with so many other things in Magic, there are a few things to add to the above statements. Triggered […]
When a card moves from one zone to another it is a new object.
Many effects in Magic will cause a card or permanent to go from one zone to another. One of the most common way this happens is when a permanent in play is destroyed or a card is discarded and it goes to the graveyard. When a card goes from one zone to another it is […]
How Double Strike works
One of the easiest ways to explain double strike to newer players is that a creature with double strike has first strike and deals combat damage when other creatures do too. And for the most part, this is an accurate description. It will deal combat damage twice, in the first strike combat damage step and […]
Once an ability is activated or triggered it is independent of its source.
A common misconception in Magic is that you can prevent an activated or triggered ability from being resolving by destroying the source of the ability. This is not true and has never been the way that Magic works. Once an ability is played or triggered and put on the stack it is independent of its […]
When a permanent regenerates the only thing it leaves is combat.
Regeneration is a keyword action that is applied when a regeneration shield is used. When a permanent regenerates, it has all damage removed from it, it becomes tapped and remains in play. It is important to remember that this regenerated permanent is the same object. It does not leave the battlefield and then reenter. Because […]
Check your cards for markings
One of the more common penalties given out at competitive and professional events is Tournament Error – Marked Cards. This penalty covers when a judge notices markings of any kind in a players deck. We train judges to not be overly picky when looking for markings, as virtually all cards and sleeves are marked in […]
Arbalest Elite’s ability only prevents it from untapping at the beginning of a turn.
‘s activated ability deals three damage to an attacking or blocking creature. This ability has an additional effect that keeps the Elite tapped for a bit. This effect only applies to the Elite as long as it is the same permanent and it only prevents the Elite from untapping as normal in the untap step […]