============================================================================= Card Rulings Summary (CHANGES ONLY) Updated 03/19/98 ============================================================================= Rulings are collected from many sources. See credits and disclaimer at the end of the file for details. The most recent mtg-l digest used was "18 Mar 1998". These rulings are updated monthly. The most recent version is available on the web (WWW) as either of the following: http://www.activesw.com/~sdangelo/magic.html ftp://ftp.activesw.com/pub/sdangelo/magic/rule-cards.txt The above files are also available via FTP to "ftp.activesw.com" under "pub/sdangelo/magic" as "rule-cards.txt". If you have neither WWW nor FTP access, send e-mail to "dangelo@netcom.com" requesting a copy of the current Rulings Summaries. A '+' is used to mark changes since the last released version on 02/19/98. Thanx, Stephen. ---- Stephen D'Angelo | Official Magic: The Gathering Rules Summary dangelo@netcom.com | Network Representative for Wizards of the Coast, Inc. ============================================================================== Printing Information ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Stronghold: + The Stronghold expansion set was printed with black borders on the face of the cards. Cards can be identified by the expansion symbol on the right hand side of the middle section. The expansion symbol is a gated archway. The set consists of 143 unique cards. It was released in early March 1998. + Was printed in 15 card booster packs (1 rare, 3 uncommon, 11 common). Card Rulings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - - * - * - A - * - * - - Angelic Protector: + The +0/+3 bonus is added as a triggered ability upon the playing/casting of the spell or ability which targets this card. This means it has the bonus even before interrupt can be used on that spell or ability. [Duelist Magazine #23, Page 22] Angelic Renewal: + If this card goes to the graveyard at the same time as a creature, then you can still use this card's ability. [D'Angelo 03/02/98] Animate Dead: + In general, an animated creature comes out as if it were just cast. Any X in the casting cost is zero. So animating a Rock Hydra gives you a hydra with zero heads. [Mirage Page 31] + When putting a card into play that requires a definition for its value, such as with Minion of the Wastes, you do what is needed. In this case you pay the amount of life you want to pay. [WotC Rules Team 02/02/98] Arcane Denial: + The player does not choose how many cards to draw until the beginning of the appropriate turn. [Duelist Magazine #13, Page 26] They choose how many before drawing the first one. [D'Angelo 11/11/96] Awakening: + It untaps all creatures and lands controlled by all players. [Barclay 02/27/98] + It is possible to tap your lands for mana before this effect untaps them, and get a bunch of mana for use during your upkeep. [Barclay 02/27/98] - - * - * - B - * - * - - Badlands: + The mana symbols in the card text are just reminders and do not override the land's abilities. So if you change the land type (using Mind Bend or Magical Hack, for example), the type of mana generated is also changed. [WotC Rules Team 03/01/98] Blanket of Night: + The land can now be tapped for black mana in addition to any other abilities it already has. [Visions FAQ 02/16/97] This works just as if the text "Tap: Add B to your mana pool" was added to each mana-producing land. [D'Angelo 01/26/98] In other words, the land can be tapped for its own ability _or_ it can be tapped for black mana. Not both. Bottomless Pit: + The player who is discarding is the controller of the discard effect. This may not be the same as the controller of Bottomless Pit. [Barclay 02/27/98] Bounty of the Hunt: + As errata, it should read "You may remove a green card in your hand from the game instead of paying Bounty of the Hunt's casting cost. Three target creatures get +1/+1 until end of turn. You may choose the same creature for two or more of these targets". [WotC Rules Team 03/01/98] It no longer uses counters. And the last sentence is there to override the normal rule that you cannot target the same thing more than once. + If targeting the same creature three times, it counts as only targeting a single creature. [bethmo 03/11/98] - - * - * - C - * - * - - Cannibalize: + You choose the two creatures and choose which gets the counters and which is to get removed from the game all during announcment. [Barclay 02/27/98] + If one of the targets is not valid on resolution, it still affects the other target normally. [Barclay 02/27/98] Change of Heart: + Will not remove an already attacking creature from the combat. It must be used before attackers are declared. [Barclay 03/06/98] Circle of Protection: Shadow: + It can be used on non-combat damage which happens to come from creatures with the Shadow ability. [Duelist Magazine #23, Page 22] Contempt: + If the creature dies before the end of combat, neither will not return to your hand. [Barclay 02/27/98] Crovax the Cursed: + Can sacrifice itself to its upkeep cost. [Barclay 02/27/98] Cursed Rack: + The player plays this phase ability on themself. So the current player controls the effect which is making them discard, even though they probably don't control the Cursed Rack. [Barclay 02/27/98] - - * - * - D - * - * - - Deadshot: + Deadshot can target a creature which is already tapped as its first target, and it will still damage the second target. This is because it taps that creature as an effect, not as a cost. [Duelist Magazine #23, Page 22] Dream Halls: + Artifact and "colorless" are not colors, so you cannot cast colorless spells this way. [Barclay 02/27/98] + Only pays the casting cost (the mana in the upper right hand corner of the card). It will not pay additional costs from the card text (such as Buyback) or from other effects (such as Gloom). [Barclay 02/27/98] - - * - * - E - * - * - - Elvish Spirit Guide: + When using the ability, this is not considered to be "playing a card" for things like Recycle. You are playing an ability. [D'Angelo 03/11/98] Endless Scream: + The X in the text box is set when the spell is cast and does not revert to zero while in play or even when the enchantment is moved. [WotC Rules Team 02/01/98] This is a complete override of the normal rule, which only applies to this one card. All other cards have X on them be zero while in play. Ensnaring Bridge: + It only checks the cards in your hand when declaring attackers. Once they are declared, changes to your hand size will not remove creatures from the attack. [Barclay 02/27/98] Escaped Shapeshifter: + All abilities listed on the card (Flying, First Strike, Trample, and Protection from Color) are considered to be base abilities of this card which are only "on" under certain conditions. When determining order of effects, these abilities are considered to be built-in and thus are the oldest. [Duelist Magazine #23, Page 22] - - * - * - F - * - * - - Fling: + It deals damage equal to the sacrificed creature's power when it was sacrificed. This is as if it read "Sacrifice a creature: Fling deals damage equal to the power the creature had when sacrificed." [WotC Rules Team 03/01/98] Foul Imp: + You can play this if you have less than 2 life, since the life is lost as an effect and not a payment. [Barclay 02/27/98] - - * - * - G - * - * - - Gemstone Mine: + Burying this card when the last counter is removed is a triggered effect. It is not part of the last removal. This makes it possible to sacrifice this card to Squandered Resources (which is a mana source ability) after the last counter is removed. [WotC Rules Team 10/06/97] You cannot sacrifice it to Zuran Orb since Zuran Orb is played as an instant, which cannot be played during this narrow window. [D'Angelo 02/23/98] Grave Pact: + Your opponent sacrifices a creature for each creature you control that goes to a graveyard. [Barclay 02/27/98] Grindstone: + The effect repeats as many times as it takes to meet the end condition. [Duelist Magazine #23, Page 23] - - * - * - H - * - * - - Hand to Hand: + Will not prevent cost increasers such as Propaganda. (REVERSAL) [WotC Rules Team 03/01/98] (Takes effect on 04/01/98.) Heartstone: + As errata, it should read "The cost of each creature ability requiring an activation cost is reduced by 1. This cannot reduce an ability's total mana cost to less than 1." [WotC Rules Team 03/01/98] This changed "generic" to "total" in the text, so it will change {1R} to {R}. + The cost reduction can be applied to extra costs such as Gloom. [D'Angelo 02/27/98] + Will not add a 1 generic mana cost to abilities with no generic mana in their activation cost. [Barclay 02/27/98] Hesitation: + If a mana source spell is cast, then Hesitation will trigger and sacrifice itself but will not counter the mana source. [Barclay 02/27/98] Hidden Retreat: + Can be used on instant or sorcery spells and abilities. [Barclay 02/27/98] - - * - * - I - * - * - - - - * - * - J - * - * - - Justice: + It does get re-applied to damage that gets redirected. This means that Trample redirection also causes it to re-apply. [WotC Rules Team 02/01/98] The Lancers en-Kor (and similar creatures) will also cause Justice to trigger. [D'Angelo 03/17/98] - - * - * - K - * - * - - - - * - * - L - * - * - - Lancers en-Kor: + See the "Damage Redirection" entry in the General Rulings for more information. + It can redirect damage to itself. [D'Angelo 03/17/98] + When you redirect damage it stops being combat damage. [Duelist Magazine #17, Page 24] + The Trample nature of damage is useless after it is redirected since it only applies to combat damage and damage is no longer combat damage after it is redirected. [D'Angelo 01/06/96] Legacy's Allure: + The "power no greater than the number of treasure counters on this card" restriction is a targeting restriction and will be checked on resolution. If the creature's power changes to be greater than this before the effect resolves, then the Legacy's Allure effect fizzles, but the card stays in the graveyard. [bethmo 02/24/98] Lobotomy: + It removes the chosen card plus all others in the hand, library, and graveyard. [D'Angelo 02/25/98] Some people thought the chosen card was not removed due to some vague wording. Lowland Basilisk: + If it damages a creature outside of combat, it's effect will destroy the creature at the end of the next combat. [Barclay 02/27/98] + If a creature leaves play (including phasing out) before the end of combat, then the Lowland Basilisk effect on it will end. [Barclay 02/27/98] - - * - * - M - * - * - - Martyrdom: + Can be used to redirect damage from that creature to itself. This would remove combat nature from the damage. [bethmo 03/18/98] Mask of the Mimic: + You choose a target card in play which is a "Summon" or "Artifact Creature" card, even if that card is not currently a creature due to some effect. [Barclay 02/27/98] + You can choose the sacrificed creature as the target, but if you do so the effect will fizzle on resolution and you will not get to look for a creature. [Barclay 02/27/98] Mob Justice: + Creatures are counted on resolution. [Barclay 02/27/98] Mogg Flunkies: + A group of more than one Mogg Flunkie can attack together. [Barclay 02/27/98] Mortuary: + This is not an optional ability. [Barclay 02/27/98] + If multiple creatures die at once, you resolve the triggers in the order you choose, so the creatures end up on your library in the order you choose. [Barclay 02/27/98] Mounted Archers: + You can use the ability multiple times so it can block more than two creatures. [Duelist Magazine #23, Page 23] Mox Diamond: + You cannot tap it for mana until after you deal with its "coming into play" cost. [Barclay 02/27/98] - - * - * - N - * - * - - Necromancy: + In general, an animated creature comes out as if it were just cast. Any X in the casting cost is zero. So animating a Rock Hydra gives you a hydra with zero heads. [Mirage Page 31] + When putting a card into play that requires a definition for its value, such as with Minion of the Wastes, you do what is needed. In this case you pay the amount of life you want to pay. [WotC Rules Team 02/02/98] Nomads en-Kor: + See Lancers en-Kor for rulings. - - * - * - O - * - * - - - - * - * - P - * - * - - Phyrexian Grimoire: + If there is only one card in your graveyard, it is removed from the game by the first part of the effect and you do not get to put any cards into your hand since the second part fails. [Duelist Magazine #23, Page23] Portcullis: + The creature card is "set aside", which means it leaves play and stays out of play until Portcullis leaves play. [Barclay 02/27/98] Propaganda: + The payment is made during the declare attackers step at the same time you are declaring the attacker. [WotC Rules Team 03/01/98] + Paying Propaganda is not an instant or any other kind of ability, it is a cost increase on the declaration of the attacker. This makes it much like the way Gloom makes a white spell more expensive to cast. [WotC Rules Team 03/01/98] (REVERSAL) (Takes effect on 04/01/98.) + If there is more than one Propaganda in play, they are cumulative. [D'Angelo 03/16/98] Provoke: + You can target an untapped creature. [Barclay 02/27/98] - - * - * - Q - * - * - - - - * - * - R - * - * - - Rebound: + You must pick a new legal target for the spell. [WotC Rules Team 03/01/98] So if a spell targets "an opponent", you cannot make it target the caster. Recycle: + Works when playing a land card from your hand as normal. Does not work if a land is put into play by an effect. [Duelist Magazine #23, Page 23] Reins of Power: + It is perfectly legal for either or both players to have zero creatures. They give control of all their zero creatures as instructed. [Barclay 02/27/98] Rust: + Can only counter effects which read "Cost: Effect". [Duelist Magazine #2, Page 9] - - * - * - S - * - * - - Sacred Ground: + The words "an effect" mean "an effect of a spell or ability". [Barclay 02/27/98] + A land creature dying due to fatal damage is not being destroyed by a spell or ability. It is being destroyed by a game rule, so this card will not trigger. [Barclay 02/27/98] + A legendary land being buried as a duplicate legend will not be brought back since it is being buried by a game rule. [Barclay 03/18/98] Scalding Tongs: + You choose one opposing player each time the ability is played. [bethmo 02/27/98] Shaman en-Kor: + See Lancers en-Kor for rulings. Shapeshifter: + The limit of power/toughness to a total of 7 only applies to the base power/toughness. [D'Angelo 03/17/98] Silver Wyvern: + The retargeting does not say you have to pick a legal target, however if the target is illegal on resolution, however, the spell or ability will fizzle. [Barclay 02/27/98] Skyshroud Falcon: + No it is not a Falcon creature type. It is a Bird. [D'Angelo 03/09/98] Sliver Queen: + The token creatures created by this card are Slivers. [D'Angelo 03/05/98] Soltari Guerrillas: + The redirection ability is played as a triggered ability at the beginning of damage prevention along with automatic damage prevention abilities and things which trigger on daamge assignment, and prior to normal damage prevention things such as a Circle of Protection. [Duelist Magazine #23, Page 23] Spirit en-Kor: + See Lancers en-Kor for rulings. Sword of the Chosen: + See "Legendary Artifact" in the General Rulings for more information. + Its ability applies to creatures of type legend, not to all legendary permanents. [Barclay 02/27/98] - - * - * - T - * - * - - Teeka's Dragon: + This card is a Dragon even when not in play. [Aahz 09/28/97] Temper: + You can make X be larger than the amount of damage, but you only get one counter for each actual point of damage prevented. [Barclay 02/27/98] + Unlike most damage prevention spells, this one targets the creature. [Barclay 02/27/98] Tetravus: + Any +1/+1 counter which is on this card can be turned into a Tetravite token. It does not care where the +1/+1 counter came from. [WotC Rules Team 03/01/98] Tortured Existance: + You cannot return the same card you are discarding. This is because you pick the target and discard simultaneously during the announcement. [Barclay 02/27/98] - - * - * - U - * - * - - - - * - * - V - * - * - - Verdant Touch: + The land is still a land and retains all its abilities, plus any other characteristics. [Barclay 02/27/98] Volrath's Gardens: + Must tap an untapped creature when you pay the cost. [Barclay 02/27/98] Volrath's Laboratory: + You must choose a valid creature type. [Barclay 02/27/98] See "Creature Type" in the General Rulings for more information. + The token has the same name as the creature type. [bethmo 02/27/98] Volrath's Shapeshifter: + See "Copy Cards" in the General Rulings for more information. + If the top card in your graveyard isn't a creature card (meaning a "Summon" or "Artifact Creature"), then it's just a 0/1 blue creature. [Barclay 02/27/98] + If the top card in your graveyard is a creature card, this card copies the card entirely, including color and artifact nature. But, this card keeps its two abilities in addition to those from the card being copied. [Barclay 02/27/98] + If the top card in the graveyard has any undefined characteristics, then those characteristics are not copied. For example, Primal Clay does not have a power/toughness. [Barclay 02/27/98] - - * - * - W - * - * - - Wall of Souls: + Redirected damage loses its combat nature, so it will not trigger on damage that is redirected to it. [Barclay 02/27/98] Warrior en-Kor: + See Lancers en-Kor for rulings. - - * - * - X - * - * - - - - * - * - Y - * - * - - - - * - * - Z - * - * - - Acknowledgments and Disclaimers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ While this work is not officially issued by Wizards of the Coast, it is the official collected rulings from official sanctioned representatives of and publications by Wizards of the Coast. This summary is collected from rulings made by officials and network representatives of Wizards of the Coast, along with a number of unofficial rulings also collected from the net. Whenever a source for a ruling is known, the name of that person is listed with the ruling. "bethmo" is Beth Moursund, the Rules Manager at Wizards of the Coast. "Barclay" is the network representative for the "mtg-l" mailing list. "bethmo" was the previous "mtg-l" representative. "D'Angelo" is Stephen D'Angelo, the previous "mtg-l" representative. "Peterson" is Paul Peterson, the previous "mtg-l" representative. "bethmo" was also the representative before Paul. "Aahz" is Tom Wylie, the former Magic Rules Manager. "DeLaney" is David DeLaney, the network representative for the "rec.games.trading-cards.magic.rules" newsgroup. "Snark" is Dave Howell of WotC. Official rulings from the rules team are marked as "WotC Rules Team". Rules from the Mirage rulebook are marked with "Mirage Page #". Rules from the Fifth Edition rulebook are marked with "Fifth Edition, Page #". Errata from the Magic Official Encyclopedia are marked with "Encyclopedia Page #". These files may be freely copied and posted anywhere you'd like. The contents can also be included in other formats (such as HTML or databases) or in products, but there are two restrictions. I insist that the files not be sold for profit. Anything you put them in must be available at no more than cost of duplication. Also, you must give credit to me and list the version date your work is derived from. Thanks. Every attempt has been made to make this summary accurate, but errors do creep in. Nothing in this work is guaranteed to be accurate. Use at your own risk. Magic: The Gathering and all of the cards listed herein are copyrighted by Wizards of the Coast.