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Category: Abilities

Static Abilities

Most tapped artifacts do not ‘turn off.’

December 2, 2010February 5, 2015 | krizriktr

When Magic was first created, tapped artifacts ‘turned off’ and their static abilities did not apply. This was obviously changed a long time ago when the 6th Edition were released.  Now there are only a few artifacts whose effects ‘turn off’ when they are tapped, but they explicitly say so in their rules text.  Some […]

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Tagged Howling Mine, Trinisphere, Winter Orb
Triggered Abilities

Creature spells never target.

November 28, 2010February 5, 2015 | krizriktr

Many creature cards have triggered abilities that do something when the creature enters the battlefield.  And many of these abilities do target.  However you do not choose a target when you cast the creature spell.  The target(s) for these types of triggered abilities are chosen when the creature enters the battlefield and the triggered ability […]

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Triggered Abilities

Horizon Spellbomb – Draw BEFORE you search!

November 27, 2010February 5, 2015 | krizriktr

When activating a , the triggered ability to draw a card goes on the stack on top of the activated ability to search; this means you pay to draw BEFORE searching for a land!

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Tagged Horizon Spellbomb
State-Based Actions, Triggered Abilities

Turn to Slag stops a Sylvok Lifestaff from Gaining Life

November 26, 2010February 5, 2015 | krizriktr

If you have a creature equipped with a , and I cast a lethal on it, you won’t gain any life. While the damage is dealt first, the creature doesn’t actually get destroyed until the spell finishes resolving – when State Based Actions are checked.  By this time, the is no longer around.

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Tagged Sylvok Lifestaff, Turn to Slag

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Tip Categories

  • Abilities (874)
    • Activated Abilities (217)
    • Mana Abilities (27)
    • Static Abilities (244)
    • Triggered Abilities (513)
  • Casting / playing a spell or ability (378)
  • Characteristics (168)
  • Combat Phase (132)
  • Control / Controller (48)
  • Copies (48)
  • Costs (87)
  • Effects (245)
    • Continuous Effects (79)
    • Interaction of Continuous Effects (14)
    • One-Shot Effects (23)
    • Prevention and Replacement Effects (143)
  • Keywords (102)
  • Multiplayer (40)
  • Planeswalkers (30)
  • Priority (43)
  • Resolving spells and abilities (441)
  • Source (11)
  • State-Based Actions (47)
  • Tournament Rules (244)
    • Communication Policy (20)
    • Missed Triggers (16)
    • Shortcuts (27)
  • Turn Structure (43)
  • Type & Subtypes (44)
  • Type Changing (27)
  • Uncategorized (112)
  • Zones (43)

Keep in Touch

  • Twitter
  • RSS

Hot Tips!

  • What Protection really means.
  • Deflecting Palm and Dictate of the Twin Gods
  • Trinisphere vs. Delve
  • Courser of Kruphix and Dig Through Time
  • Courser of Kruphix and Scrying

Tip Categories

  • Abilities (874)
    • Activated Abilities (217)
    • Mana Abilities (27)
    • Static Abilities (244)
    • Triggered Abilities (513)
  • Casting / playing a spell or ability (378)
  • Characteristics (168)
  • Combat Phase (132)
  • Control / Controller (48)
  • Copies (48)
  • Costs (87)
  • Effects (245)
    • Continuous Effects (79)
    • Interaction of Continuous Effects (14)
    • One-Shot Effects (23)
    • Prevention and Replacement Effects (143)
  • Keywords (102)
  • Multiplayer (40)
  • Planeswalkers (30)
  • Priority (43)
  • Resolving spells and abilities (441)
  • Source (11)
  • State-Based Actions (47)
  • Tournament Rules (244)
    • Communication Policy (20)
    • Missed Triggers (16)
    • Shortcuts (27)
  • Turn Structure (43)
  • Type & Subtypes (44)
  • Type Changing (27)
  • Uncategorized (112)
  • Zones (43)
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