Published on 07/09/2012
Lucky M13
or, Que Serra Serra
By Eli Shiffrin, Carsten Haese, and James Bennett
This Article from: Eli Shiffrin
Cranial Translation
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Note: This article is over two years old. Information in this article may be out of date due to subsequent Oracle and/or rules changes. Proceed with caution.
When I was just an undrawn card
I asked my owner, "What will I be?
Will I smash face in? Will I get pitched?"
Here's what he said to me.
I asked my owner, "What will I be?
Will I smash face in? Will I get pitched?"
Here's what he said to me.
Oh well, we'll make do. There are plenty of strange old cards returning to cause new problems interacting with new cards. When you hit such a strange interaction and need help, who you gonna call? I hope no one's publishing our phone numbers, so not us. But you can email us at moko@cranialinsertion.com or hit us up on Twitter at @CranialTweet, and depending how busy we are when you do so, that can be just about as fast!
In the meantime, don't forget to read the official M13 FAQ published by Wizards of the Coast. It contains a great many questions not answered in this article and is an invaluable resource if you're running tournaments or answering questions for your friends - or if you just want some light reading.
Q: So the M12 core set rotates right now, right?
A: Nope! For a few months every summer, there's a frightening period where the world is awry and strange, nothing is as it should be, and there's an overall feeling of doom in the air. Here in Arizona, we call it "monsoon season." During this hellishly humid time, there are also two core sets legal at once. Core sets rotate with the preceding block, so M12 won't rotate until Scars of Mirrodin block rotates when Return to Ravnica is released in October.
Monsoon season here has been less interesting and more annoying since the release of M10. Hmm... Coincidence?
Q: If Geist of Saint Traft attacks and I have two creatures with exalted, will they exalt my Geist, or does the Angel stop them? Or can I choose the order?
A: You can choose the order for the three triggers to resolve, but the order won't matter. Exalted cares about how many creatures were declared as attacking creatures, not how many are currently attacking. Only the Geist was declared as an attacker, so exalted triggers and will pump the Geist no matter how many creatures join him later.
Q: I attack with two big creatures, and one dies. Will exalted trigger for the surviving one now?
A: This is very similar to the last question, but players who know the last question well still wonder about this - and vice versa! It's the same thing: Two creatures were declared as attacking creatures, so exalted doesn't trigger. It won't go back in time and trigger later.
Q: For the creatures that get a bonus if I control, say, an Island, will Drowned Catacomb give them that bonus?
A: Alas, Drowned Catacomb is not an Island. There's nothing on the type line other than "Land," so that's all it is. Lands that aren't named Island that happen to be Islands (Underground Sea, for example) say so in their type line. Producing blue mana doesn't make a land an Island anymore than having wings lets poor Whippoorwill fly.
When I was cast, upon turn five
I asked my controller what lies ahead.
"Will we have Auras, counters, exalted?"
Here's what my player said.
I asked my controller what lies ahead.
"Will we have Auras, counters, exalted?"
Here's what my player said.
A: Protection stops exactly four things: Damage, attachment, blocking, and targeting. Exalted pumping a creature is none of those, so your little white exalted dudes can praise your big bad black knight while he remains unmoved, yet pumped, by their devotion.
Q: Can I activate Ajani, Caller of the Pride's first ability without a creature to target?
A: As a general rule of planeswalker card design, you'll always be able to activate one of a planeswalker's plus-loyalty abilities unless something very weird happens. Ajani is no exception: "up to one" includes zero, so you can activate it targeting zero creatures just to raise his loyalty.
Q: Once I've achieved Omniscience, can I cast Ancestral Visions from my hand?
A: You sure can! A null mana cost can't be paid, but luckily for you, you're not paying its mana cost. So you can cast it just fine.
Q: If I cast Comet Storm through Omniscience, can I pick any value I want for X and kick it any number of times?
A: You can have a Comet Storm for any X you like, as long as X is 0. Casting a spell with X but without paying X always makes X 0. You can kick it as much as you'd like, but you'll have to pay for each additional target you'd like to deal 0 damage to; Omniscience only covers the mana cost, not additional costs such as multikicker or the commander tax in a Commander game.
Q: Battle of Wits has me wondering: What is the maximum deck size, anyway?
A: With 12,331 Vintage-legal cards plus 43 Vintage-restricted cards, that's just shy of 50,000 cards with only four-ofs - ignoring Relentless Rats and the ten basic lands. So then we need to look at the theoretical quantities of Relentless Rats and basic lands ever printed... Oh, wait, that isn't very helpful, is it? There is no hard top limit on deck sizes; the only requirement is that you're able to shuffle it thoroughly in a reasonable amount of time.
Q: Can I use a mechanical card shuffler for my Battle of Wits deck?
A: Okay, one other small limit: You have to be able to shuffle it in a reasonable amount of time without assistance, mechanical or otherwise. Physical disabilities are grounds for assistance, but deck choice is not. If you're unable to shuffle a 250-ish card deck in three minutes, Battle of Wits is not the card for you. You don't get to ask a judge or friend to shuffle for you.
Q: Do I have to reveal the cards I get for Diabolic Revelation?
A: Nope! Some cards, like Farseek, instruct you to reveal the card or cards you get - but that's only to prove that you got a valid card. Diabolic Revelation has you get any card, so assuming you're not sneaking in an Ace of Spades, Charizard, or Storm Crow with a Magic back, whatever card you got is a valid card to find.
Q: Can Odric, Master Tactician force a Primal Huntbeast to block a creature with flying? Or to block at all, for that matter, since it's hexproof?
A: Hexproof won't matter here - Odric's ability doesn't target, since it doesn't use the word "target" in it, so it can force the Huntbeast to block. But it can't force it to block a flier. Even though Odric's controller gets to choose blockers and how, he still can't make an illegal choice.
Q: What happens when I Clone a Primal Clay?
A: You get a fresh new Primal Clay, as primal as the day it was primed. You'll get to apply its enters-the-battlefield replacement effect all over again, and possibly make a different choice this time.
Q: If I Fling Tallyrand at my opponent, will I get a Drake?
A: Sadly, you won't. Things that trigger on spells being cast do so after all costs are paid, which is the final step of casting a spell. However, by that point, Talrand is sailing on his merry way through the sky, just like his Drake buddies, and is far too busy realizing he has quite terrible pteromerhanophobia (and that he is, in fact, quite dead) to trigger on things happening then.
Now I have Avatars of my own.
They ask each upkeep, "What will I be?
Will I win Standard? Will I swing games?"
I sac them to cast Fling.
They ask each upkeep, "What will I be?
Will I win Standard? Will I swing games?"
I sac them to cast Fling.
A: That is, quite frankly, none of your business - they're consenting adults.
Oh, whatever, we all want to know, so let's look!
The first one doubles 1 life gained to 2... and the second one doubles the amount of life being gained to 4! Quadruple life! That is... less scandalously titillating than expected. Oh well.
Q: Will Blood Reckoning kill my opponent first if he swings for lethal?
A: It'll kill him dead. Blood Reckoning triggers on attackers being declared, and its triggers resolve before blockers are even chosen. If your opponent goes down to 0 life, he'll die before his attackers can do anything to you.
Q: I make a 3/3 token while I have Hamletback Goliath, but the token dies before the Goliath gets the counters. Does it still get three counters now?
A: It'll still get three counters. The number of counters to add is determined upon resolution of the Goliath's triggered ability, and if the object it wants to look at is gone, it'll use that object's last known information. Assuming your 3/3 token didn't die to Dismember or somesuch that reduced its power, it had 3 power just before it died, so three counters.
Q: Will Safe Passage protect my planeswalkers?
A: Sometimes. Creatures attacking your planeswalker will deal damage as normal, since your planeswalker is neither you nor a creature you control. But if your opponent casts a spell to deal damage to you, you can choose to prevent it before he can redirect it to your planeswalker. Magmaquake will still ruin their day, though.
Q: Shimian Specter connects with my handless opponent. Does he still get a free shuffle out of that?
A: He does. Even though you don't choose a card, you still search, and he still shuffles even though you won't find anything. However, if your opponent's library is already entirely random (he hasn't scryed or Indexed or anything), save everyone some time - it was random, it'll be random after the shuffle, so performing the physical action of shuffling is irrelevant.
Q: Can I tap Equipment for Clock of Omens?
A: You sure can! Equipment are artifacts, and you can tap any sort of artifacts for Clock of Omens. There's no downside to Equipment being tapped, either. It still provides all of its bonuses and can still be attached to a new creature.
Q: If a creature enchanted with Rancor is exiled, does Rancor go with it, or do I get it back, or what?
A: Rancor (and any other Aura) won't follow a creature that leaves the battlefield - it'll be put into its owner's graveyard. And hey, that causes Rancor to trigger! So you'll get it back.
Q: In a multiplayer game, can I untap my friend's lands after I Rewind a spell so he can help deal with stuff?
A: As odd as that is, yes, that's legal. Rewind just says to untap four lands, and nothing says they have to be your lands.
That's all for this time! Carsten will be back next week to continue looking into M13, as well as to field a bunch of juicy questions with older cards that piled up while I was writing this article.
For those of you going to San Diego ComicCon this weekend, I'll be around the Magic area at the hotel for the judge conference on Saturday and Sunday, very likely with Moko in tow. Come say hi, he won't bite.
Until next time, whatever will be will be!
- Eli Shiffrin
About the Author:
Eli Shiffrin is currently in Lowell, Massachusetts and discovering how dense the east coast MTG community is. Legend has it that the Comprehensive Rules are inscribed on the folds of his brain.
WryShadow
The Rhox Faithmender joke made me laugh out loud. Good stuff guys.
#1
• Date: 2012-07-09 • Time: 14:02:24 •
So you can untap your opponent's lands with rewind? Including if the land (somehow) has hexproof or shroud, since rewind doesn't target?
#2
• Date: 2012-07-09 • Time: 19:53:04 •
Natedogg
Rewind doesn\'t target the lands to be untapped (you simply choose up to four lands to untap when it resolves), so you can can choose a land that has shroud to untap.
#3
• Date: 2012-07-09 • Time: 20:20:20 •
- "it was random, it'll be random after the shuffle, so performing the physical action of shuffling is irrelevant."
...is NOT!!!
the top card will change! you think that's irrelevant? so all those 1 mana tutors don't really do anything? (sry.../sarcasm)
the top card decides between win and loss. shuffling is NEVER irrelevant.
At least cut the cards once!
...is NOT!!!
the top card will change! you think that's irrelevant? so all those 1 mana tutors don't really do anything? (sry.../sarcasm)
the top card decides between win and loss. shuffling is NEVER irrelevant.
At least cut the cards once!
#4
• Date: 2012-07-10 • Time: 10:23:48 •
Eli
Zitat (reidan):
|
- "it was random, it'll be random after the shuffle, so performing the physical action of shuffling is irrelevant." ...is NOT!!! the top card will change! you think that's irrelevant? so all those 1 mana tutors don't really do anything? (sry.../sarcasm) the top card decides between win and loss. shuffling is NEVER irrelevant. At least cut the cards once! |
If the top card is known, then the library is not random, and you need to physically shuffle it. If no cards in the library are in a known position, then you should not waste time with physically shuffling unless you really feel like it.
#5
• Date: 2012-07-10 • Time: 13:15:07 •
ZoidbergForPresident
* Invalid user.
Am I allowed to require my opponnent to shuffle his/her library in such a case?
As in if your opponnent resolves a search ability (Mwonvuli Beast Tracker) but don't actually search, you ask him/her to shuffle...
Am I allowed to require my opponnent to shuffle his/her library in such a case?
As in if your opponnent resolves a search ability (Mwonvuli Beast Tracker) but don't actually search, you ask him/her to shuffle...
#6
• Date: 2012-07-13 • Time: 02:29:21 •
...-.-
perhaps i shouldn't have mentioned the tutors. my point wasn't the knowledge of the top card. it doesn't even matter. the "random" top card changes. whatever was on top of your deck before the shuffle: you'll never get it. that's VERY important.
you're right. you don't need to shuffle it, but you HAVE TO change the top card. do a cut. it takes 2 seconds. is that's too much to ask?
...and i believe you can always do that, even with your opponent's deck, after he/she "shuffled" it. i think it's meant to prevent your opponent from cheating.
perhaps i shouldn't have mentioned the tutors. my point wasn't the knowledge of the top card. it doesn't even matter. the "random" top card changes. whatever was on top of your deck before the shuffle: you'll never get it. that's VERY important.
you're right. you don't need to shuffle it, but you HAVE TO change the top card. do a cut. it takes 2 seconds. is that's too much to ask?
...and i believe you can always do that, even with your opponent's deck, after he/she "shuffled" it. i think it's meant to prevent your opponent from cheating.
#7
• Date: 2012-07-15 • Time: 06:54:09 •
Eli
If the top card is unknown, it remains unknown. You can ask your opponent to physically shuffle, but if there is a lot of shuffling and you insist on it all happening, you're looking at a serious talk with a judge.
If your opponent already knows the top card, and doesn't know it legally, he's already cheated, and this doesn't prevent it - and he's likely to cheat again with his new shuffle.
If your opponent already knows the top card, and doesn't know it legally, he's already cheated, and this doesn't prevent it - and he's likely to cheat again with his new shuffle.
#8
• Date: 2012-07-16 • Time: 00:02:06 •
"If your opponent already knows the top card, and doesn't know it legally, he's already cheated, and this doesn't prevent it - and he's likely to cheat again with his new shuffle." ...which is EXACTLY why the opponent does a cut AFTER he/she shuffled. to make it impossible for anyone to control the order of cards. that's what's perventing your opponent from cheating. but i'm talking to a brick wall here as it seems.
if a card says shuffle - you shuffle. period. and every opponent is well within his rights to insist on it happening. your opinion doesn't add into it. it doesn't matter if you feel like you don't "need" to shuffle. if you don't shuffle, it will more likely be YOU who's going to have a long talk with the judge. what are you gonna hold against me? stalling by insisting on following strict game procedure? laughable.
if a card says shuffle - you shuffle. period. and every opponent is well within his rights to insist on it happening. your opinion doesn't add into it. it doesn't matter if you feel like you don't "need" to shuffle. if you don't shuffle, it will more likely be YOU who's going to have a long talk with the judge. what are you gonna hold against me? stalling by insisting on following strict game procedure? laughable.
#9
• Date: 2012-07-16 • Time: 07:11:04 •
