Yesterday, the rules tip looked at what happens when you play a spell and the card representing the spell goes on the stack as the first thing that happens. The inverse of that is when a spell resolves, the very last thing that happens is that the spell will leave the stack and (most often) […]
Category: Resolving spells and abilities
You gain life when and if Maw of the Mire resolves.
When resolves, the targeted land is destroyed and the controller of Maw of the Mire will gain four life. If for any reason Maw of the Mire does not resolve, no life is gained. This can happen if some other spell or ability specifically counters Maw of the Mire, or if it becomes countered on […]
When Solemn Simulacrum comes and goes at virtually the same time.
First seen in Mirrodin, is an invitational card based on a designed submitted by Jens Thorén. It was recently reprinted in the Magic 2012 Core Set. It has two different triggered abilities: one that triggers when it enters the battlefield, and one that triggers when it dies. In most cases, it will enter the battlefield […]
Balefire Dragon’s ability counts damage that is actually dealt.
has an ability that triggers when it deals combat damage to a player. When the ability resolves, the Balefire Dragon itself will deal damage equal to the amount of damage it dealt to the defending player to each creature that player controls. In most cases, this is pretty simple; but as always, this can change […]
Smite the Monstrous checks on resolution.
destroys a targeted creature with a power of four or greater. In order for this spell to be cast, a legal target must be chosen. In other words, the creature must have a power of four or greater when Smite the Monstrous is cast. Somewhat similarly, the targeted creature’s power must be four or greater […]
How Liliana of the Veil’s first ability works.
There are many effects in Magic that cause multiple players to perform actions at the same time. ‘s first planeswalker ability is an example of this. When this ability resolves, each player in the game will discard a card. At first glance it seems simple, but many players are confused on the order that the […]
Elder of Laurels’ ability counts on resolution
has an ability that can give a creature you control +X/+X until end of turn, where X is the number of creatures you control. This ability checks the number of creatures you control and determines how much of a bonus to give to the targeted creature only when it resolves. As this ability uses the […]
Brimstone Volley’s Morbid ability checks on resolution
The game will check to see if a creature has died that turn when resolves. This is because this specific morbid ability is a static ability that generates a replacement effect. This replacement effect is applied as Brimstone Volley resolves. (You can tell this is a replacement effect as it uses the word ‘instead’.) It […]
With Curse of Oblivion, the enchanted player chooses which cards to exile.
is one of a cycle of new cards in Innistrad that enchants a player. This curse causes the enchanted player to exile two cards from their graveyard at the beginning of each of their upkeep steps. The choice of which cards in this players’s graveyard to exile is made by the enchanted player. It does […]