============================================================================= Card Rulings Summary (CHANGES ONLY) Updated 04/15/98 ============================================================================= 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 "13 Apr 1998 to 14 Apr 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 03/19/98. Thanx, Stephen. ---- Stephen D'Angelo | Official Magic: The Gathering Rules Summary dangelo@netcom.com | Network Representative for Wizards of the Coast, Inc. ============================================================================== Printing Information ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No changes to this section. Card Rulings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - - * - * - A - * - * - - Altar of Dementia: + The ability is played as an instant. This means you cannot use it when instants are not legal. For example, you cannot use it during between creatures dealing damage in combat and the dead creatures being put into the graveyard, or during any other damage prevention step. [D'Angelo 04/08/98] Anvil of Bogardan: + The draw and discard during the draw phase are controlled by the current player, not by the controller of Anvil of Bogardan. [D'Angelo 03/25/98] - - * - * - B - * - * - - Bosium Strip: + Because the card is removed from the game as triggered on announcement, it will not still be in the game during resolution and so Buyback cannot give you the card. [D'Angelo 03/23/98] Bullwhip: + If the creature can attack, it must. If it cannot, then nothing happens. [Duelist Magazine #25, Page 30] Burgeoning: + Playing a land will trigger it, but putting a land into play as part of an effect will not. [Duelist Magazine #25, Page 30] - - * - * - C - * - * - - Cannibalize: + As errata, it should read "Choose a player and two target creatures controlled by that player. Remove one of those creatures from the game and put two +1/+1 counters on the other." [WotC Rules Team 03/31/98] + A creature will not be affected if it changes controllers before this spell resolves. This is because being controlled by the chosen player is a targeting restriction. [WotC Rules Team 03/31/98] Clone: + As errata, it should read "Clone comes into play as a copy of target creature card or creature token." [WotC Rules Team 03/31/98] + Can be used to copy a base Vesuvan Doppelganger. You get a Doppelganger and the Clone is mimicking the same creature the Doppelganger was until the next upkeep. Then it can switch forms just like the Doppelganger. [PPG Page 223] Contemplation: + You do not gain life from the casting of Contemplation itself. [Duelist Magazine #25, Page 30] Contempt: + If the creature dies before the end of combat, neither will return to your hand. [Barclay 02/27/98] + If Contempt is moved to another creature after the creature attacks, Contempt will still return to your hand at end of combat whether or not the creature dies. [D'Angelo 03/23/98] Copy Artifact: + As errata, it should read "Copy Artifact comes into play as a copy of target artifact card or artifact token, but also counts as a global enchantment." [WotC Rules Team 03/31/98] Crossbow Ambush: + This effect only allows them to block creatures with Flying as if they did not have Flying. It does not allow a otherwise unblockable creature to be blocked. [Duelist Magazine #25, Page 30] - - * - * - D - * - * - - Dance of Many: + As errata, it should read "During your upkeep, pay UU or bury Dance of Many. ; When you play Dance of Many, choose target summon card. When Dance of Many comes into play, put a token creature into play and treat it as a copy of that summon card. If either Dance of Many or the token creature leaves play, bury the other." [WotC Rules Team 03/31/98] Drought: + As errata, it should read "During your upkeep, pay {W}{W} or bury Drought. Spells require sacrificing one additional swamp for each B in their casting cost to play. Abilities require sacrificing one additional swamp for each B in their activation cost." [Encyclopedia Page 78] [Aahz 10/21/97] - - * - * - E - * - * - - Echo Chamber: + As errata, it should read "{4},{Tap}: An opponent chooses target creature card or creature token he or she controls. Put a token creature into play and treat it as a copy of that card or token. The token creature is unaffected by summoning sickness this turn. At end of turn, remove the token creature from the game. Play this ability as a sorcery." Escaped Shapeshifter: + In a multiplayer game, it works if any opponent controls creatures with the appropriate abilities. [bethmo 03/24/98] Extinction: + You do not have to name an existing creature type. [WotC Rules Team 03/31/98] - - * - * - F - * - * - - Femeref Enchantress: + If it goes to the graveyard, its ability will not trigger because of any local enchantments on herself (unless those enchantments are being destroyed by the same effect that is destroying the Enchantress). This is because those enchantments are not buried until after she is in the graveyard. [bethmo 10/19/97] Flowstone Hellion: + It will be destroyed as soon as one of its abilities resolves that puts its toughness at zero (or less than the current amount of damage on it). This destruction is a Rule Trigger, so there is no way to use its ability any more to increase its power and there is no way to use Fling before it is destroyed. [D'Angelo 04/09/98] Fork: + As errata, it should read "Fork resolves as a copy of target instant or sorcery spell, except that it does not copy that spell's color. When you play Fork, choose all targets required by the copy. (You cannot change other choices made by the original caster.)" [WotC Rules Team 03/31/98] Fungus Elemental: + As errata, it should read "When Fungus Elemental comes into play, it gains 'G, Sacrifice a forest: Put a +2/+2 counter on Fungus Elemental' until end of turn." [WotC Rules Team 03/31/98] + The ability to add counters will not be usable on a turn in which is phases in, because "comes into play" abilities will not trigger. [WotC Rules Team 03/31/98] (REVERSAL) - - * - * - G - * - * - - - - * - * - H - * - * - - Hermit Druid: + You can put the cards from your library into your graveyard in any order. [Duelist Magazine #25, Page 31] Hesitation: + Hesitation's ability is not an interrupt, so it can counter Kaervek's Torch without the additional payment of 2 mana. [bethmo 03/26/98] Horn of Greed: + Playing a land will trigger it, but putting a land into play as part of an effect will not. [Duelist Magazine #25, Page 30] Hymn to Tourach: + The two cards are chosen at random and then discarded at the same time. This means the player chooses the order they are put into the graveyard. [DeLaney 04/09/98] - - * - * - I - * - * - - - - * - * - J - * - * - - - - * - * - K - * - * - - Kindle: + Counts the Kindles in graveyard on resolution. [bethmo 04/03/98] - - * - * - L - * - * - - Lancers en-Kor: + You can redirect as much damage as you want during the damage prevention step, and damage is not considered "dealt" until the end of the damage prevention step. So it is possible to redirect more damage to a creature than than that creature's toughness. [D'Angelo 03/23/98] + Duelist Magazine #25, Page 30 is misleading when it says that you can "redirect the damage dealt to the en-Kor back to itself until no damage is left to 'trample through' to you". What it means is that you can do this until none of the damage is combat damage, so it will not trample through. The damage is still there, it is not gone. [D'Angelo 04/06/98] - - * - * - M - * - * - - Martyr's Cry: + You cannot use replacement effects (such as Pursuit of Knowledge on the draws from this card. This is because the number of draws is not figured out until the start of the actual resolution, at the time the white creatures are counted. Before the resolution starts, it has zero draws pending. [bethmo 03/27/98] Meditate: + You skip exactly one turn when you cast this. You cannot choose to skip zero turns or more than one turn. [D'Angelo 03/24/98] Mogg Bomber: + If multiple creatures come into play as the result of a single spell or ability, such as Snake Basket, then it will trigger once for each creature and thereby do 3 damage for each creature. [D'Angelo 04/06/98] - - * - * - N - * - * - - - - * - * - O - * - * - - - - * - * - P - * - * - - Portcullis: + The requirement for 2 creatures in play is checked at the start of resolution as well as when it triggers. So if the number of creatures somehow drops before resolution, the triggered ability fizzles. [Duelist Magazine #25, Page 31] + Creatures which are phasing in will not trigger this card's ability. [D'Angelo 04/13/98] Pusuit of Knowledge: + You can skip your normal draw during your draw phase or any number of draws from spells or abilities. For example, Sylvan Library or Brainstorm. [Duelist Magazine #25, Page 31] - - * - * - Q - * - * - - - - * - * - R - * - * - - Rootwater Shaman: + If used to cast any of the enchantments which have a built-in "can plan as an instant" ability, those enchantments do not consider themselves as having used their own "can play as an instant" ability. This means that Armor of Thorns when cast using Rootwater Shaman is not buried at end of turn. [D'Angelo 03/26/98] - - * - * - S - * - * - - Scapegoat: + You can choose the sacrificed creature as the target, but if you do so the effect will fizzle on resolution (with respect to that target) and you will not get to return the creature to its owner's hand. [Duelist Magazine #25, Page 31] Silver Wyvern: + You must pick a legal target when redirecting the spell or ability. [WotC Rules Team 03/01/98] Spitting Hydra: + It will die as soon as you remove enough counters for its toughness to be less than or equal to the damage on it. So if a Spitting Hydra has 2 damage on it, you can only spend it down to two +1/+1 counters before it will die. You cannot spend the remaining counters before it dies. [Duelist Magazine #25, Page 31] - - * - * - T - * - * - - Tithe: + Can be used to pull a non-basic land that "counts as" a plains. [D'Angelo 04/08/98] - - * - * - U - * - * - - Unstable Shapeshifter: + As errata, it should read "Whenever any creature card or creature token comes into play, Unstable Shapeshifter becomes a copy of that card or token and gains this ability." [WotC Rules Team 03/31/98] The ability gained here is considered a base ability. [bethmo 04/07/98] + The copy effect is not targeted. This makes it different from other copy cards in this resped. [D'Angelo 03/25/98] - - * - * - V - * - * - - Vesuvan Doppelganger: + As errata, it should read "Vesuvan Doppelganger comes into play as a copy of target creature card or creature token, except that it does not copy that creature's color, and gains '0: Vesuvan Doppelganger loses all abilities and becomes a copy of target creature card or creature token, except that it does not copy that creature's color and gains this ability. Use this ability only during your upkeep and only once per turn.'" [WotC Rules Team 03/31/98] The ability is gained as a base ability (in both places). The "loses all abilities" causes the loss of all base abilities, but not ones added by effects such as a Flight enchantment. [bethmo 04/07/98] + Can switch to the same creature it is currently a copy of. [WotC Rules Team 03/31/98] This is a REVERSAL due to the errata. + The Doppelganger cannot switch forms before paying upkeep on the current form. This is because abilities on a permanent cannot be used before its upkeep is paid. [WotC Rules Team 03/31/98] This is a REVERSAL due to the errata. + When the Doppelganger switches creatures, the creature it used to be is not considered to have left play. Such effects will consider the creature to have left play when the Doppelganger leaves play. This means that if it was a Gaea's Liege, converted lands revert to their old form when the Doppelganger leaves play, and that if it was Aladdin, stolen artifacts return to the owner when the Doppelganger leaves play. [WotC Rules Team 03/31/98] (REVERSAL) + Whenever it changes forms, it does not lose any counters or other gains made as the creature it was copying. [WotC Rules Team 03/31/98] (REVERSAL) + When changing forms, the text changes from Magical Hack and Sleight of Mind are lost in the change along with the old text. [WotC Rules Team 03/31/98] + When it switches forms, cumulative upkeep counts on the creature it was copying applies to any new cumulative upkeep for the new form. For example, if it was copying a Firestorm Hellkite (cumulative upkeep UR), and it stayed in that form through three upkeep payments, it would gain three cumulative upkeep counters. If it then switched to a Soldevi Simulacrum (cumulative upkeep 1), its next upkeep payment would be 4. [WotC Rules Team 03/31/98] + When it takes on the characteristics of the other card, it is no longer of type Summon Doppelganger. [WotC Rules Team 03/31/98] Viashino Sandstalkers: + It is returned to its owner's hand at the end of every turn in which it is in play. [D'Angelo 03/26/98] Volrath's Laboratory: + You do not have to choose an existing creature type. [WotC Rules Team 03/31/98] Volrath's Shapeshifter: + As errata, it should read "As long as the top card of your graveyard is a creature card, Volrath's Shapeshifter is a copy of that card with this ability and the ability '{2}: Choose and discard a card' added to it. Any undefined characteristics are not copied. ; {2}: Choose and discard a card." [WotC Rules Team 03/31/98] The abilities added are base abilities. [bethmo 04/07/98] - - * - * - W - * - * - - Wall of Tears: + Only creatures which live through the combat are returned to their owner's hand. [Duelist Magazine #25, Page 31] - - * - * - 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. "WotC Rules Team" marks official rulings from the rules team. "Mirage, Page " marks rules from the Mirage rulebook. "Fifth Edition, Page " marks rules from the Fifth Edition rulebook. "Encyclopedia, Page " marks errata from the Magic Official Encyclopedia. "bethmo" is Beth Moursund, the Rules Manager at Wizards of the Coast. "Barclay" is Paul Barclay, the network representative for the "mtg-l" mailing list. "DeLaney" is David DeLaney, the network representative for the "rec.games.trading-cards.magic.rules" newsgroup. "D'Angelo" is Stephen D'Angelo, the Rules Summary network representative. "bethmo" was the previous "mtg-l" representative. "D'Angelo" was the previous "mtg-l" representative. "Peterson" is Paul Peterson, the previous "mtg-l" representative. "bethmo" was also the "mtg-l" representative before Paul. "Aahz" is Tom Wylie, the former Magic Rules Manager. "Snark" is Dave Howell of WotC. 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.