So what happens when you copy something with , or , or ? Does it copy counters? Does it copy abilities the card gained? Whenever you use something to get a copy of something else, what it copies are the copiable values. These things, and only these things, are what get copied. The copiable values […]
How the Two-Headed Giant format works (two teams, but four players).
In the multiplayer variant called two-headed giant (2HG), two players comprise a team. While two players on a team attack and defend as a team and share a life total, they are still considered individual players. Any spells or abilities which reference an individual player only refer to one player on a team. Any spells […]
When you copy a double-faced card, you get the side that is showing at that moment.
When you copy a double-faced card with a clone effect, you get an exact copy of the currently showing side. Anything that isn’t a double-faced card can’t transform. So if you copy a with a , you end up with an exact copy of the Chalice of Death. The game doesn’t acknowledge or care that […]
What a bye means for you.
If you’re playing FNM (or any Swiss-pairing tournament) and there is an odd number of players for any round, you may receive what’s called a “Bye.” This means you don’t have to play against anybody in that round. Lucky for you, it also means you automatically win that round! It counts the same as any […]
How you handle two Knowledge Pools.
If both players control a (“KP1” for active player and “KP2” for non-active player), you must keep track of which cards have been exiled by which Knowledge Pool, since the exiled cards are linked to that specific KP. For example, if I cast a spell from my hand on my turn, KP1 and KP2 will […]
The extra mana you pay because of Thalia, Guardian of Thraben doesn’t count for anything else.
Simple enough: Does increase the converted mana cost (“CMC”) of your spells because she makes them cost more? Easy answer: No! CMC -never- changes. The sum of all the symbols in the top right corner of a card is the CMC. The only time CMC can change is with X spells. Everywhere except the stack, […]
Snapcaster Mage doesn’t give a spell flashback until after its triggered ability resolves.
When your opponent casts a to give something flashback, you get a window of opportunity to do something before that spell can be flashed back. The targeted spell doesn’t immediately have flashback as soon as the Snapcaster hits the field. Once the Snapcaster resolves, its triggered ability goes on the stack and the controller chooses […]
You choose something new to copy when your Phantasmal Image comes back from undying.
When a copy of a creature with the undying ability dies, the undying ability will trigger and return it to play. This is due to the last known information when the card was in play, which is what leaves-the-battlefield abilities (like undying) look for to determine whether they should trigger. When it returns to the […]
Intentional draws are always recorded as 0-0-3.
When you and your opponent choose to intentionally draw (“ID”) a match during a tournament—say to make the top eight cut of your FNM event—the match result is reported as 0-0-3 (zero wins, zero losses and three draws), in accordance with tournament policy outlined in the Magic Tournament Rules. This will affect your second and […]