Magic: The Gathering is a collectible card game for 2 or more players, set in a variety of fantastical realms. The cards represent the player's resources and available spells and their interactions lead to an often high paced battle of wits.
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Magic: The Gathering - Are there behavioral rules for sanctioned MTG games?
FNM is least stringent Rule Enforcement Level (REL) sanctioned Magic game there is. My question is that at that REL, are there any behavioral rules, and if so, what are the consequences?
Example: ...
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6answers
2k views
How to describe the strengths and weaknesses of white to a new mtg player?
When I'm teaching Magic: The Gathering to a new player, one of the things I usually give them early on is a run down of each of the different colors and its pros and cons. I usually try to come up ...
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2answers
151 views
Does the wording “each land” also include Basic Lands?
I have a Bountiful Harvest. It's a Sorcery that reads "You gain l life for each land you control."
Does this refer to only cards that say Land and not Basic Land, or does it count for both?
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2answers
395 views
Marking white borders with black marker
Is it legal in competitive play to fill in the border of white-bordered MtG cards with black marker?
Which marker would be best to use, and why?
3
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2answers
252 views
Sorcery supercedes instant?
If I cast a sorcery spell to force the opponent to discard two cards, and he/she then casts one of those cards as an instant, would the instant apply first or would the sorcery take precedence?
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2answers
488 views
Order of events with Stitcher's Apprentice
My girlfriend has Stitcher's Apprentice, and she thinks that you can activate its ability, use the homunculus to block, and then sac the homunculus. Is this possible, or does the sacrifice have to ...
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4answers
1k views
MTG: Enchantments that require opponent to pay mana to attack
I had a deck many years ago that was blue/white and used a blue enchantment that made players pay 2 colorless to attack. I can't remember the name of the card, but it was around Mirage, no later than ...
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1answer
92 views
Sacrificing to regenerate from Supreme Verdict
I have Varolz, the Scar-Striped out along with a few minor creatures. My opponent on his turn casts Supreme Verdict. Before the Verdict resolves can I use Varolz's regenerate ability by sacrificing ...
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2answers
139 views
Can you stop casting a spell?
Ok, I was playing an EDH game with my friend and I had 8 mana available to me. In order for me to win the game, I had to destroy one of his permanents with a Spine of Ish Sah (7 mana). Now I planned ...
3
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1answer
134 views
Can the Mask of Avacyn be targeted by spells after being equipped to a creature?
Can the Mask of Avacyn be targeted by spells after it's been equipped to a creature?
This is an odd question, because the mask gives the equipped creature a +1/+2 and has hexproof and says it "can't ...
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3answers
314 views
Will using Nephalia Smuggler save a creature targeted by a destruction spell?
If an opponent targets one of my creatures with a destroy spell, and in response I tap Nephalia Smuggler to exile that creature and return it to the battlefield, does the destroy spell fizzle due to ...
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2answers
401 views
If they counter my Goblin Grenade, do I still lose my goblin?
If they use a Counter Spell or some other similar way to counter my Goblin Grenade do I still lose the sacrificed goblin?
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3answers
397 views
If I am going to start playing Magic The Gathering, what set should I start with?
I know how this site works so I'm going to try my hardest to ask questions that have answers and aren't too open to interpretation.
I'm considering getting (back) into Magic. My son is 12 now and he ...
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2answers
2k views
Can the “Sacrifice (this card):” activated ability be placed back on the stack?
This is a broad question so for simplicity I will use Seal of Fire and Naturalize.
Scenario 1: Common exchange- creating a baseline.
Player A uses Naturalize on Seal of Fire
Player B Sacrifices ...
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2answers
249 views
Can I save my spark trooper with a delayed flicker?
What exactly defines the beginning and end of a specific step? Because I'm wondering if my logic seems solid enough.
I'm thinking of trying to avoid the sac requirement on my Spark Trooper by using ...
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1answer
313 views
Can non basic lands be tapped for colorless mana?
For example, Evolving Wilds has a mana fixing ability, but it doesn't say you can tap it for mana. Other non-basic lands have a mana ability listed on the card. Should I assume that Evolving Winds ...
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3answers
507 views
How much money would I have to spend to play in tournaments?
In posing this question, I realize that it may be out of scope for boardgames.SE; this question could be subjective and the monetary costs vary quite a bit between cheapest and most expensive decks. ...
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2answers
658 views
Are multicolor decks in any color combination viable in modern Magic?
I've just recently regained interest in MtG and was overwhelmed by the quantity of new collections and the amount of cards.
I stopped playing MtG when the Fallen Empires expansion was just out.
One ...
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2answers
6k views
How can I improve a Zombie deck to work faster?
I created a deck with the new expansion (Dark Ascension) using the cards I got from a couple of boosters last week.
My initial deck form is [Zombies Nightmare] (created by me) but I feel like it ...
3
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1answer
388 views
In MTG, is there a collective name for cards that cost 1 mana and grant 3 of something?
I'm aware of the boons, which are a cycle of instants that cost 1 coloured mana and grant 3 of something: cards, mana, damage, +1/+1, or healing.
However, it seems that there are a number of other ...
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2answers
593 views
Why is Trade Secrets banned in EDH or Commander?
Ban list for commander
I don't see any announcement for Trade Secrets. Why has it been banned? Is there any mention of this card from Wizards, a card they made specifically for Commander?
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2answers
100 views
What may happen after a stack of spells resolves?
Within the same phase, once a stack of spells has resolved in its entirety, is priority once again given to a player so that more spells may be cast?
For example:
I attack with a creature. Opponent ...
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1answer
128 views
Stinkweed Imp + Rancor and a flying 3/3 blocker
Does Stinkweed Imp with Rancor get the extra trample damage if a 3/3 flyer blocks? Is Stinkweed's text is the same as an actual deathtouch?
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2answers
579 views
Are cards that are both Land and Creature affected by summoning sickness?
Are cards that are both Land and Creature affected by summoning sickness with regard to:
Possibility to attack
Activating special abilities with the TAP symbol?
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2answers
367 views
If my creature has shadow and flying, can it only be blocked by creatures with shadow AND flying?
My understanding is that creatures with shadow can only block or be blocked by creatures with shadow, and creatures with flying can only be blocked by creatures with flying. If I have a creature with ...
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1answer
1k views
Can I redirect a spell to another type of target in MTG?
M12 features the card Redirect, which allows you to choose new targets for a spell. Innistrad introduced the card Into the Maw of Hell, which deals 13 damage to target creature.
Can I redirect the ...
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2answers
215 views
What can I do to make my opponent play faster at Regular REL?
I play low-key Magic the Gathering tournaments, like release parties and Friday Night Magic. They're good fun but I'm often stuck looking at the clock, trying to avoid a game-3 draw. I know the ...
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1answer
3k views
How can a blue control deck be made more efficient?
It seems like my games last a long time and I don't do that much damage. Is that what it's supposed to feel like when using a control deck? How can I win more efficiently?
Here is my deck:
Lands
19x ...
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2answers
132 views
Can you play 99 relentless rats in commander?
Just a silly question, can you run 99 Relentless Rats in commander? Maybe that and Sphinx of the Chimes and some juicy commander that plays off creature types.
3
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1answer
90 views
Do I or my planeswalker need to take damage for Blood Reckoning to trigger?
If I have Blood Reckoning on the battlefield and an opponent targets me or my planeswalker with his creatures, but I block the full attack with my creatures, does this still activate? Or do I or my ...
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3answers
240 views
Ponder: to shuffle or not to shuffle
You know the situation. You need something specific: a land, say, or a removal spell, so you play Ponder. You find the thing you're looking for. Hooray! Unfortunately, the other two cards that Ponder ...
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2answers
360 views
How does Mitotic Slime work with Devour?
Say that I have a Mitotic Slime in play and then play Thromok the Insatiable. When I sacrifice the Slime due to Thromok's Devour ability, I get two 2/2 Slime tokens. Am I able to sacrifice those Slime ...
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1answer
77 views
Can I use Lingering Souls' flashback ability the same turn I cast it normally?
For Lingering Souls once the spell is played on my turn it is put into the graveyard. However if I have enough mana can I instantly play the flashback ability or do I need to wait until my next turn ...
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1answer
113 views
Do Untap triggers still trigger when the creature is untapped?
I control an untapped Goblin Sharpshooter, My opponent controls a 3/3 Beast Token, I Cast Lightning Bolt on the Beast, to kill it. Do I have to tap my Sharpshooter before the beast dies to get the ...
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5answers
312 views
Card Organization: Multi-Color Cards
As my collection has started growing (new to MtG) I'm now needing to organize. I've done quite a bit of blog reading on the different methods and strategies but one thing I can't quite seem to ...
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1answer
683 views
How do Snapcaster Mage and Cipher cards interact?
Let's say I cast a card with Cipher from my graveyard with the help of Flashback (provided by Snapcaster Mage). Will I be encoding it on a creature instead of exiling it from the effect of Flashback?
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2answers
371 views
What cards or types of cards are substantially more/less useful in Two-Headed-Giant than in 'normal' Magic?
I'm just getting into Two-Headed-Giant games, and have noticed that some cards become far more powerful while others become much less powerful. For instance, landwalk cards become better because your ...
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2answers
345 views
Would Brink of Disaster destroy an already tapped permanent?
I'm aware this is very much like this question, but that question's answer does not answer my question.
Brink of Disaster reads:
Enchant creature or land.
When enchanted permanent becomes ...
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1answer
1k views
What happens if 7 Soldiers block a Phyrexian Obliterator?
This is a situation I am confronted with more often than I want to. My opponent attacks me with his Phyrexian Obliterator (5/5). The card says:
Trample;
Whenever a source deals damage to Phyrexian ...
3
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2answers
683 views
Can the choice to move a commander to the command-zone be delayed?
903.12. If a commander would be put into the exile zone from anywhere, its owner may put it into the command zone instead.
If the owner chooses to let a commander go into the graveyard with the ...
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1answer
519 views
Does an exiled Aetherling come back into play untapped?
Let's say I attack with Aetherling. After it deals damage I blink it out. When it returns at my end step, does it come back untapped and ready to block?
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1answer
154 views
When someone dies who controls a permanent but does not own it, what happens? [duplicate]
In a multiplayer game, if I were to give someone a permanent with Donate and they were to die while controlling that permanent, then would I get that permanent back? Or would the permanent get put ...
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3answers
201 views
Is it possible to counter cards that boost a creatures power during the combat phase?
For example, if someone attacks with a 3/3 creature, and you have a 5/5 creature that will ultimately block and destroy his creature.
If they boosts their creature with a +3/+3 spell, can you counter ...
3
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1answer
238 views
Does Wizards of the Coast still package World Championship Decks?
The most recent decks that I can find are from 2005. Are the top 4 championship decks from each year still being packaged for retail? If so, where's a good place to buy them?
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1answer
207 views
Does casting a card and paying for it work like this?
Let's say that I have two cards in my hand, Lion's Eye Diamond and Shock. According to the rules, the steps to casting a spell are as follows:
Announcing the spell (put the spell on the stack)
...
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3answers
742 views
Can an Aura which was not cast be attached to a permanent with shroud?
If an Aura is placed on the battlefield using Genesis Wave or an ability like Sun Titan's, can it enchant a creature that has shroud (or an opponent-controlled creature with hexproof)?
I'm looking at ...
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3answers
309 views
What's a good handicap for a less experienced player in an MTG Draft?
My drafting group has a few hardcore players like me who have been playing magic for a while. We've memorized almost all the commons and uncommons in the sets we're drafting (usually Innistrad or ...
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1answer
649 views
Magic: The Gathering - Can Charge Counters be put on cards that don't “use” counters themselves?
Some cards allow you to add counters, or move counters, to other cards. Would you be allowed to do this onto a card that doesn't actually use any counters at all?
For example:
Would Coretapper be ...
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2answers
1k views
Liege of the Tangle with awakening counter - how does it work?
I just got a MTG card named Liege of the Tangle: card details.
I'm a little confused here. What does that "awakening counter" mean? How long will it remain? Can it be removed from the land?
3
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1answer
172 views
Do I still get to draw cards if I can't sacrifice Soul Ransom when its ability resolves?
Soul Ransom has an interesting ability:
Discard two cards: Soul Ransom's controller sacrifices it, then draws two cards. Only any opponent may activate this ability.
I'm aware that the normal ...
