April 2000 *Magic*(R) Rulings & Errata A Summary of Recent Rulings compiled by Brady Dommermuth GENERAL RULES 1) Some abilities that generate prevention effects can affect damage only from a source with certain characteristics, such as a creature or a source of a particular color. When prevention "shields" with these types of restrictions are used, they recheck the source from which they're preventing damage. If the characteristics no longer match, the damage isn't prevented. EXAMPLE: I attack you with Python (a 3/2 black Snake creature). You don't block, but you activate Circle of Protection: Black to set up a prevention shield against the Python's damage. Later, before combat damage is dealt, I play Distorting Lens's ability to make the Python a red creature until end of turn. When the damage is dealt, the shield from the CoP: Black checks to see if the damage being dealt is from a black source. The Python is now red, so the shield can't prevent its combat damage. (The shield isn't used up; if Python becomes black later in the turn, the shield could prevent damage dealt by it.) 2) Rule 420.5e of the *Magic* Comprehensive Rules should read, "If two or more Legends or legendary permanents with the same name are in play, all except the one that has been a Legend or legendary permanent with that name the longest are put into their owners' graveyards. This is called 'the Legend rule.' In the event of a tie, each Legend or legendary permanent with the same name is put into its owner's graveyard." If two permanents have the same name but only one is a Legend or is legendary, this rule doesn't apply. 3) Rule 413.2d describes what to do if an effect calls for choices or actions to be made at the same time by more than one player. (The active player makes his or her choices first, then the nonactive player does. This is sometimes called APNAP.) Some players have asked for more details about how this rule works. For example, let's say I play Mind Swords ("Each player removes two cards in his or her hand from the game.") Do I choose and remove my cards from the game first? Or do I choose first, then my opponent chooses, then remove first, then my opponent removes? In situations like this, the active player does everything first, in the order written, then the other player follows the same order. In the case of Mind Swords, I choose and remove two cards, then my opponent chooses and removes two cards. Some spells and abilities have multiple steps or actions, denoted by separate sentences or clauses. Stronghold Gambit, for instance, reads, "Each player chooses a card in his or her hand. Then each player reveals his or her chosen card. . . ." In these cases, the active player does the first action ("chooses a card"), then the nonactive player does that action, then the active player does the second action ("reveals his or her chosen card"), then the nonactive player does that action. 4) Rule 409.1c of the Comprehensive Rules states that if a spell or ability you control instructs both you and your opponent to choose targets for it, you choose first, then your opponent chooses. This rule now applies to all subrules in 409.1. In other words, if a spell or ability instructs you and your opponent to make any decisions about it, you go first, then your opponent goes. And if a spell or ability instructs your opponent to do something you would normally do, such as choosing modes or targets, he or she does so at the time you would have. 5) Subtypes (such as creature types) are linked to card types. If a card has its type changed, its subtype doesn't continue to exist. Instead, the subtype disappears completely for the entire time the card's type is changed. NOTE: This doesn't override the rule that a permanent retains its legendary status when its type changes. EXAMPLE: You control Python (a 3/2 Snake creature with mana cost 1BB). I control Soul Sculptor and Opalescence. Here are the card details: Soul Sculptor 2W Creature -- Townsfolk 1/1 1W, T: Target creature becomes an enchantment and loses all abilities until a player plays a creature spell. Opalescence 2WW Enchantment Each other global enchantment is a creature with power and toughness each equal to its converted mana cost. It's still an enchantment. Let's say I play Soul Sculptor's ability on your Python, turning it from a creature into an enchantment. Now it's just an enchantment, not an "Enchantment -- Snake." But Opalescence is in play, which means that the Python is turned into a creature with power and toughness equal to its converted mana cost (3/3). Now that it's a creature, is it a Snake again? No. Finally, let's say I play a creature spell, thereby ending Soul Sculptor's effect. Python reverts to its original type and regains the Snake subtype. ERRATA 1) Choking Vines and Trap Runner should both read, "Play [this spell or ability] only during the declare blockers step." This lines them up with similar spells and abilities, such as Dazzling Beauty and Fog Patch. It also prevents unintended interactions with creatures that have an ability that triggers when they're blocked, such as the laccoliths. 2) Static Orb should read, "As long as Static Orb is untapped, players can't untap more than two permanents during their untap steps." SPECIFIC CARD RULINGS 1) Since the *Magic* Comprehensive Rules were released, some players have been confused by which artifacts "turn off" when tapped and which don't. The following artifact cards have the text that "turns off" their abilities: Howling Mine, Static Orb, Storage Matrix, and Winter Orb. (Voodoo Doll and Watchdog have an ability that doesn't work when tapped, but they have other abilities as well.) The rules team doesn't foresee any other existing cards receiving this text. All trademarks are property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. (C)2000 Wizards. # # #