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Suppose a creature is equipped with Spy Kit, and Oddly Uneven gets cast. Then in order to figure out whether the creature is destroyed, I need to determine whether the total number of words in all names of non legendary creatures is even or odd.

What is the best way (i.e., simplest database query) to accomplish this?

(This originally came up on Mark Rosewater's tumblr.)

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    In the interest of speed of resolution, I'd recommend flipping a coin, and using that result for the rest of the match...
    – John
    Jan 29, 2018 at 22:11

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Having "all the names" does not mean the creature has one mega-name; it means it has multiple distinct names.

Does it have a name with an odd number of words in it? Yes.

Does it have a name with even number of words in it? Yes.

Therefore, it will be destroyed no matter which mode is chosen.

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  • A split card is another example of a card with multiple names. Except when a spell, this card has names "Alive" and "Well". It also has two sets of types. (It used to have two mana costs and CMCs too, but that changed.)
    – ikegami
    Jan 29, 2018 at 23:31
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    Should that be "does not mean the creature has one mega-name"?
    – jwodder
    Jan 30, 2018 at 1:47
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    @jwodder: Apparently so, since that's what the original version said. It was lost in a later copyedit.
    – Ilmari Karonen
    Jan 30, 2018 at 2:23
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    @GendoIkari, Not quite. Don't get distracted by the wording of the question; it's frequently wrong. The OP does not "need to determine whether the total number of words in all names of non legendary creatures is even or odd." The actual question is how to handle Spy Kit with Oddly Uneven --this is even explicitly stated in the title-- and that question was answered.
    – ikegami
    Jan 30, 2018 at 16:03
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    @Gendolkari, There's no reason to count words in all card names. You gotta find out what the person really wants to know, and it's how Spy Kit works (with or without Oddly Uneven).
    – ikegami
    Jan 30, 2018 at 16:11

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