_Magic: The Gathering_(R) Rulings & Errata A Summary of Recent Rulings February 2005 Compiled by the _Magic_(R) Rules Team CARD-SPECIFIC RULINGS * Kodama of the Center Tree Kodama of the Center Tree's soulshift value is defined by the static ability that grants soulshift. The value of X is continuously calculated by that static ability. When the soulshift ability triggers, it uses the last known value as calculated by the static ability. This value will include Kodama of the Center Tree and Spirits that left play at the same time as Kodama, as well as any other Spirits you controlled at that time. The Oracle text for Kodama of the Center Tree is: Kodama of the Center Tree {4}{G} Legendary Creature -- Spirit */* Kodama of the Center Tree's power and toughness are each equal to the number of Spirits you control. Kodama of the Center Tree has soulshift X, where X is the number of Spirits you control. ---------- ERRATA -- ORACLE WORDING CHANGES * Isochron Scepter and Similar Cards The _Mirrodin_(R) block contains a group of cards that create copies of cards and allow a player to play those copies. The creation of the copy and then the playing of the copy are both optional. The text has been clarified to indicate that each action is an optional choice. If the spell can't be legally played, choosing not to use either option is acceptable. There is no functional change in the way these cards are played. The new Oracle text for the cards is as follows: Isochron Scepter {2} Artifact Imprint -- When Isochron Scepter comes into play, you may remove an instant card with converted mana cost 2 or less in your hand from the game. (The removed card is imprinted on this artifact.) {2}, {T}: You may copy the imprinted instant card. If you do, you may play the copy without paying its mana cost. Panoptic Mirror {5} Artifact Imprint -- {X}, {T}: You may remove an instant or sorcery card with converted mana cost X in your hand from the game. (That card is imprinted on this artifact.) At the beginning of your upkeep, you may copy an imprinted instant or sorcery card. If you do, you may play the copy without paying its mana cost. Reversal of Fortune {4}{R}{R} Sorcery Target opponent reveals his or her hand. You may copy an instant or sorcery card in it. If you do, you may play the copy without paying its mana cost. Spellbinder {3} Artifact -- Equipment Imprint -- When Spellbinder comes into play, you may remove an instant card in your hand from the game. Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, you may copy the imprinted instant card. If you do, you may play the copy without paying its mana cost. Equip {4} Spellweaver Helix {3} Artifact Imprint -- When Spellweaver Helix comes into play, you may remove two target sorcery cards in a single graveyard from the game. (The removed cards are imprinted on this artifact.) Whenever a card is played, if it has the same name as one of the imprinted sorcery cards, you may copy the other. If you do, you may play the copy without paying its mana cost. * Guardian Beast The wording of the _Arabian Nights_(TM) card Guardian Beast has been updated to (a) simplify its interaction with destruction effects and (b) bring its control-change effect in line with the layering system used to determine the interaction of continuous effects (rather than generating a replacement effect). Its new wording is as follows: Guardian Beast {3}{B} Creature -- Guardian 2/4 As long as Guardian Beast is untapped, noncreature artifacts you control can't be enchanted, they're indestructible, and other players can't gain control of them. * Ogre Marauder The printed text of the _Betrayers of Kamigawa_(TM) card Ogre Marauder isn't completely clear about when the defending player's creature should be sacrificed. The new wording makes it clear that the sacrifice occurs as the triggered ability resolves during the declare attackers step. The new Oracle text for Ogre Marauder is: Ogre Marauder {1}{B}{B} Creature -- Ogre Warrior 3/1 Whenever Ogre Marauder attacks, it gains "Ogre Marauder can't be blocked" until end of turn unless defending player sacrifices a creature. ---------- ERRATA -- GERMAN ONLY Hisoka's Guard should target a creature *you control* other than Hisoka's Guard, not just a creature. The Oracle text of Hisoka's Guard is: Hisoka's Guard {1}{U} Creature -- Human Wizard 1/1 You may choose not to untap Hisoka's Guard during your untap step. {1}{U}, {T}: As long as Hisoka's Guard remains tapped, target creature you control other than Hisoka's Guard can't be the target of spells or abilities. 2) Sift Through Sands The German Sift Through Sands searches for a card named "Der Unaussprechliche." It should search for "Der Unaussprechbare." The Oracle text of Sift Through Sands is: Sift Through Sands {1}{U}{U} Instant -- Arcane Draw two cards, then discard a card. If you played a spell named Peer Through Depths and a spell named Reach Through Mists this turn, you may search your library for a card named The Unspeakable, put it into play, then shuffle your library. ---------- ERRATA -- JAPANESE ONLY 1) Budoka Gardener Budoka Gardener's ability should put *one* land card into play. Japanese words can be both singular and plural, so this clarification is necessary. The Oracle text of Budoka Gardener is: Budoka Gardener {1}{G} Creature -- Human Monk 2/1 {T}: You may put a land card from your hand into play. If you control ten or more lands, flip Budoka Gardener. ----- Dokai, Weaver of Life Legendary Creature -- Human Monk 3/3 {4}{G}{G}, {T}: Put an X/X green Elemental creature token into play, where X is the number of lands you control. 2) Devouring Greed The Japanese Devouring Greed is missing the fact that the player is targeted. The Oracle text of Devouring Greed is: Devouring Greed {2}{B}{B} Sorcery -- Arcane As an additional cost to play Devouring Greed, you may sacrifice any number of Spirits. Target player loses 2 life plus 2 life for each Spirit sacrificed this way. You gain that much life. 3) Feral Deceiver The Japanese Feral Deceiver has the same name as another card, Cruel Deceiver (Zankoku na Sagishi). Feral Deceiver's name should be "Zannin na Sagishi." The Oracle text of Feral Deceiver is: Feral Deceiver {3}{G} Creature -- Spirit 3/2 {1}: Look at the top card of your library. {2}: Reveal the top card of your library. If it's a land, Feral Deceiver gets +2/+2 and gains trample until end of turn. Play this ability only once each turn. 4) Higure, the Still Wind The ability of Higure, the Still Wind should trigger when it deals combat damage to a player, not just to an opponent. The Oracle text of Higure, the Still Wind is: Higure, the Still Wind {3}{U}{U} Legendary Creature -- Human Ninja 3/4 Ninjutsu {2}{U}{U} ({2}{U}{U}, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card into play from your hand tapped and attacking.) Whenever Higure deals combat damage to a player, you may search your library for a Ninja card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. If you do, shuffle your library. {2}: Target Ninja is unblockable this turn. 5) Shining Shoal The Japanese Shining Shoal only prevents damage to you. It should prevent damage to you or creatures you control. The Oracle text of Shining Shoal is: Shining Shoal {X}{W}{W} Instant -- Arcane You may remove a white card with converted mana cost X in your hand from the game rather than pay Shining Shoal's mana cost. The next X damage that a source of your choice would deal to you or a creature you control this turn is dealt to target creature or player instead. ---------- ERRATA -- PORTUGUESE ONLY 1) Floodbringer Floodbringer's activation cost should return only a land you control, not any land. The Oracle text of Floodbringer is: Floodbringer {1}{U} Creature -- Moonfolk Wizard 1/2 Flying {2}, Return a land you control to its owner's hand: Tap target land. 2) Stir the Grave Stir the Grave should return the creature to play, not to your hand. The Oracle text of Stir the Grave is: Stir the Grave {X}{B} Sorcery Return target creature card with converted mana cost X or less from your graveyard to play. 3) Threads of Disloyalty The Portuguese Threads of Disloyalty improperly refers to itself in its rules text. The Oracle text of Threads of Disloyalty is: Threads of Disloyalty {1}{U}{U} Enchant Creature Threads of Disloyalty can enchant only a creature with converted mana cost 2 or less. You control enchanted creature. ---------- ERRATA -- SPANISH ONLY 1) Budoka Pupil Budoka Pupil should flip into a legendary creature with trample. The Oracle text of Budoka Pupil is: Budoka Pupil {1}{G}{G} Creature -- Human Monk 2/2 Whenever you play a Spirit or Arcane spell, you may put a ki counter on Budoka Pupil. At end of turn, if there are two or more ki counters on Budoka Pupil, you may flip it. ---- Ichiga, Who Topples Oaks Legendary Creature -- Spirit 4/3 Trample Remove a ki counter from Ichiga, Who Topples Oaks: Target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn. 2) Meloku the Clouded Mirror The Spanish Meloku the Clouded Mirror puts 2/2 creature tokens into play. The tokens should be 1/1 creatures. The Oracle text of Meloku the Clouded Mirror is: Meloku the Clouded Mirror {4}{U} Legendary Creature - Moonfolk Wizard 2/4 Flying {1}, Return a land you control to its owner's hand: Put a 1/1 blue Illusion creature token with flying into play. ---------- All trademarks, including character names, are property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. in the U.S.A. and other countries. (Copr.)2005 Wizards.