============================================================================== Card Rulings Summary (CHANGES ONLY) Updated 2003/06/19 ============================================================================== Rulings are collected from many sources. See credits and disclaimer at the end of the file for details. This release is under the rules used by SIXTH EDITION and SEVENTH EDITION. Both of these editions use the same rules. Unglued, Portal, Portal: Second Age, Portal: Three Kingdoms, Starter, and Starter 2000 cards do not yet have official Oracle card texts, so rulings on them are based on Oracle texts made by NetReps. Complete text is included for cards from all expansions. These rulings are updated monthly. The most recent version is available on the web (WWW) as either of the following: http://www.crystalkeep.com/magic/rules/index.html A '+' is used to mark changes since the 2003/05/20 release. Thanx, Stephen. ---- Stephen D'Angelo | Official Rulings Summary NetRep dangelo@crystalkeep.com | Network Representative, Wizards of the Coast, Inc. ============================================================================== - - * - * - A - * - * - - Accelerated Mutation: + Note - Also see Converted Mana Cost, Rule K.8. Adventurers' Guildhouse: + Note - Also see Bands with Other, Rule A.9. Ageless Sentinels: + It becomes both creature type Giant and creature type Bird. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + Once it stops being a Wall, it can attack normally. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + Note - Also see Walls, Rule K.27. Alpha Status: + It counts each creature once if that creature shares at least one creature type with the enchanted creature. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + Note - Also see Coat of Arms. Ancient Ooze: + You add up the converted mana cost of all other creatures you control. Remember that tokens and face-down creatures have a cost of zero. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + Note - Also see Converted Mana Cost, Rule K.8. Astral Steel: + Note - Also see Storm, Rule A.35. Aven Liberator: + Note - Also see Morph, Rule A.29. + Note - Also see Protection, Rule A.31. - - * - * - B - * - * - - Brain Freeze: + Note - Also see Storm, Rule A.35. Break Asunder: + Note - Also see Cycling, Rule A.12. Butcher Orgg: + You can choose to assign damage normally to the blocking creature(s) or to the defending player if there were no blockers assigned. [D'Angelo 2003/06/14] + If you choose to use the ability to divide up the damage (and there is at least one point of damage to be assigned), you must choose at least one creature or the defending player, and cannot choose more total creatures and players than the amount of damage being assigned (minimum 1 point per player or creature). [DeLaney 2003/05/19] - - * - * - C - * - * - - Cabal Conditioning: + Note - Also see Converted Mana Cost, Rule K.8. Cabal Interrogator: + Note - Also see X Costs, Rule K.28. Call to the Grave: + The sacrifice during upkeep is not optional. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] Chartooth Cougar: + Note - Also see Landcycling, Rule A.25. Claws of Wirewood: + Note - Also see Cycling, Rule A.12. Coast Watcher: + Note - Also see Protection, Rule A.31. Consumptive Goo: + If the target creature is not a legal target when the ability resolves, then this creature does not get a counter. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + If it targets itself, it gets both -1/-1 and the +1/+1 counter during resolution. Since state-based effects (like being at zero toughness) are not checked until resolution is done, it does not die. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] - - * - * - D - * - * - - Day of the Dragons: + The removed cards are face up when out of the game. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + The removed cards return to play face up. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + When this card leaves play, it looks for creatures of type Dragon. If any of your counters have changed creature type away from Dragon, they will not be removed. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + Note - Also see Token Creatures, Rule K.25. Decree of Annihilation: + Note - Also see Cycling, Rule A.12. Decree of Justice: + The two X's in the mana cost mean that you pay 2 mana (above the {2}{W}{W} base cost) for each token you want to create. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/40] + When you cycle this card, the last ability triggers. When that ability resolves, you choose a value of X and pay it during resolution. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + You can play this with X=0. [D'Angelo 2003/06/07] + Note - Also see Cycling, Rule A.12. + Note - Also see Token Creatures, Rule K.25. + Note - Also see X Costs, Rule K.28. Decree of Pain: + Note - Also see Cycling, Rule A.12. Decree of Savagery: + Note - Also see Cycling, Rule A.12. Decree of Silence: + Note - Also see Cycling, Rule A.12. Dimensional Breach: + Each player chooses which one of their removed cards to return during each of their upkeeps. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + Remember that the returned creature just came under your control, so it cannot attack until you start a turn with it under your control. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] Dispersal Shield: + Note - Also see Converted Mana Cost, Rule K.8. Dragon Breath: + Note - Also see Converted Mana Cost, Rule K.8. Dragon Fangs: + Note - Also see Converted Mana Cost, Rule K.8. + Note - Also see Trample, Rule A.37. Dragon Mage: + All players discard, not just the player that was damaged. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] Dragon Scales: + Note - Also see Converted Mana Cost, Rule K.8. Dragon Shadow: + Note - Also see Converted Mana Cost, Rule K.8. + Note - Also see Fear, Rule A.17. Dragonstalker: + Note - Also see Protection, Rule A.31. Dragonstorm: + A "Dragon card" is a creature card of creature type Dragon. The name of the card is not looked at. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + Note - Also see Storm, Rule A.35. Dragon Tyrant: + Note - Also see Double Strike, Rule A.13. + Note - Also see Trample, Rule A.37. Dragon Wings: + Note - Also see Converted Mana Cost, Rule K.8. + Note - Also see Cycling, Rule A.12. - - * - * - E - * - * - - Edgewalker: + It only reduces the cost of a Cleric if there is {W} or {B} in the mana cost. If there is no white then it does not remove {W}, and if there is no black then it does not remove {B}. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + If you have more than one of these in play, the cost reduction is cumulative. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] Elvish Aberration: + Note - Also see Landcycling, Rule A.25. Enrage: + Note - Also see X Costs, Rule K.28. Eternal Dragon: + Note - Also see Landcycling, Rule A.25. - - * - * - F - * - * - - Faces of the Past: + You either tap all of them or untap all of them. You cannot tap some and untap others. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + You choose whether to tap or untap during resolution. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] Fastbond: + Text(ABU/RV+errata): You may play as many lands as you choose on your turn ; Whenever you play a land other than the first land of the turn, ~this~ deals 1 damage to you. [Oracle 2003/05/19] + You take damage when you play a land using the "play a land" action. Such an action can be your regular "play a land", one enabled by Fastbond, or ones enabled through other effects, such as Storm Cauldron. [DeLaney 2003/06/14] + You do not take damage when you "put a land into play" through the effect of a spell or ability. [DeLaney 2003/06/14] Fierce Empath: + Note - Also see Converted Mana Cost, Rule K.8. Final Punishment: + Damage that is prevented does not count toward the total. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + Worship does not prevent damage. It causes some damage to be unable to lower your life total. So any damage rendered useless by Worship was still dealt and is counted. In addition, Worship does not prevent loss of life, so the loss of life from this card bypasses Worship. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] Force Bubble: + The effect does not "prevent" damage, it "replaces" it so the damage is neither dealt or prevented. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + If you take 6 damage at once, it will replace all 6 damage and put 6 counters on it. Then the second ability will trigger. Any additional damage you take before this ability resolves also results in counters, but once the ability resolves, this card is sacrificed. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + If you control more than one, each time you take damage you can decide which one replaces the damage, and that one replaces all of the damage. You cannot split the damage between them. [DeLaney 2003/06/14] You decide each time you take damage. Note that damage from multiple sources that happens at one time (such as combat damage) gives one choice, not one per source. [DeLaney 2003/06/14] Forgotten Ancient: + Putting on a counter is optional. If you forget to do so, it means you chose not to do so. [D'Angelo 2003/06/07] + It does not get counters for copies of spells (as with Storm), just for spells that are actually played. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + You decide how many counters to move and where to move them when the ability resolves. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + The moving of counters is not a targeted ability. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] Form of the Dragon: + If you life total was above 5 at end of turn, then you lose life to make your total 5. If it was less than 5, you gain life to bring it to 5. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + It sets your life total at the end of every player's turn, not just your own. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] Frontline Strategist: + The creature type is checked for "non-Soldier" at the time the damage would be dealt. If the creature that is dealing the damage is not in play, use its creature type right before it left play. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + Note - Also see Morph, Rule A.29. - - * - * - G - * - * - - Gilded Light: + Note - Also see Cycling, Rule A.12. Goblin Brigand: + Note - Also see Must Attack or Block, Rule C.7. Goblin Psychopath: + The ability triggers when it attacks or block and resolves before combat damage is assigned. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] This gives you a chance to possibly get rid of it before it hurts you. [D'Angelo 2003/05/30] Goblin War Strike: + Text(SC): ~this~ deals damage equal to the number of Goblins you control to target player. Grip of Chaos: + Text(SC+errata): Whenever a spell or ability is put onto the stack, if it has a single target, reselect its target at random. (Select from among all legal targets.) + The ability triggers when a spell or ability is put on the stack, and this target-changing ability itself goes on the stack. This means that the spell or ability keeps its original target until this ability resolves. You determine the new target when this ability resolves... at which time the set of legal targets may have changed. [D'Angelo 2003/06/07] + If there are no other legal targets, it keeps its target. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + If there are multiple legal targets, it may still choose the original one. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + Reselecting a target does not cause abilities that trigger on the "choosing of targets" to trigger. For example, Coalition Honor Guard's ability will not trigger. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05]/30] Gush: + Type 1 tournaments (see Rule D.13) restricted this card since 2003/07/01. - - * - * - H - * - * - - Hindering Touch: + Note - Also see Storm, Rule A.35. Hunting Pack: + Note - Also see Storm, Rule A.35. + Note - Also see Token Creatures, Rule K.25. - - * - * - I - * - * - - - - * - * - J - * - * - - - - * - * - K - * - * - - Karona's Zealot: + If the targeted creature leaves play or stops being a creature before the damage would be dealt, then the damage is not redirected. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] For example, if you choose a 1/1 creature, then this card would take 3 damage, all 3 is directed to the 1/1 creature, which then dies. If this card would take an additional 3 damage later in the turn, the 1/1 creature is no longer in play so the damage is not redirected. [D'Angelo 2003/05/30] + Note - Also see Morph, Rule A.29. Kill Switch: + Only the artifacts that it tried to tap when the ability resolved are prevented from untapping. Artifacts that enter play after that or permanents that become artifacts after that are not affected. [Barclay 2003/05/20] Krosan Drover: + Note - Also see Converted Mana Cost, Rule K.8. Krovikan Vampire: + You do not get the permanent back if the card that went to the graveyard is not a creature at the time it went to the graveyard. [D'Angelo 2003/06/14] Kurgadon: + Note - Also see Converted Mana Cost, Rule K.8. - - * - * - L - * - * - - Lingering Death: + This is a triggered ability (even though it does not start with "When" or "At"). [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] Long-Term Plans: + If there are fewer than 3 cards in your library, put the card on the bottom of your library. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] - - * - * - M - * - * - - Mind's Desire: + The card is face-up when removed from the game. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + If the card is not played by end of turn, it remains removed from the game until end of game. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + You cannot play a removed creature card with Morph face down. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + Type 1 tournaments (see Rule D.13) restricted this card since 2003/07/01. + Note - Also see Storm, Rule A.35. Mischievous Quanar: + Note - Also see Morph, Rule A.29. Mishra's Factory: + The card name does not change. It remains "Mishra's Factory". [Jordan 2003/06/14] + If an Assembly-Worker is changed to another land type by something like Phantasmal Terrain, it will stay a 2/2 artifact creature and keep the creature type "Assembly-Worker" (until end of turn), but it will change its land type as directed. [Jordan 2003/06/14] - - * - * - N - * - * - - Noble Templar: + Note - Also see Landcycling, Rule A.25. - - * - * - O - * - * - - - - * - * - P - * - * - - Parallel Thoughts: + If you have fewer than 7 cards in your library, remove them all. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + You cannot look at the face down cards. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + You can choose to take the top card from the pile (and not draw) even if there are no cards in the pile. This allows you to skip draws. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] Primitive Etchings: + If you have more than one of these cards in play, only one card is revealed (both of them reveal the same card). Both of them will trigger if this card is a creature and thereby allow you to draw 2 cards. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] Proteus Machine: + Note - Also see Morph, Rule A.29. Putrid Raptor: + Note - Also see Morph, Rule A.29. Pyrostatic Pillar: + Note - Also see Converted Mana Cost, Rule K.8. - - * - * - Q - * - * - - - - * - * - R - * - * - - Raven Guild Initiate: + Note - Also see Morph, Rule A.29. Raven Guild Master: + Note - Also see Morph, Rule A.29. Reaping the Graves: + Note - Also see Storm, Rule A.35. Recuperate: + Note - Also see Modal Spells and Abilities, Rule G.24. Reward the Faithful: + Note - Also see Converted Mana Cost, Rule K.8. Riptide Mangler: + Any power/toughness changing enchantments or effects on this card prior to using its ability will be overridden when the ability resolves. This effect completely covers all previous effects. [D'Angelo 2003/06/14] Riptide Survivor: + If you have less than 2 cards in your hand, discard all the cards you have. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] If you have no cards in hand, you can discard zero and draw 3. + Note - Also see Morph, Rule A.29. Rock Jockey: + The first ability applies only while this card is in your hand (or someplace else you can play it from). [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + The second ability applies only while this card is in play. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] Root Elemental: + Note - Also see Morph, Rule A.29. Rush of Knowledge: + Note - Also see Converted Mana Cost, Rule K.8. - - * - * - S - * - * - - Scattershot: + Note - Also see Storm, Rule A.35. Scornful Egotist: + Note - Also see Morph, Rule A.29. Shoreline Ranger: + Note - Also see Landcycling, Rule A.25. Siege-Gang Commander: + Note - Also see Token Creatures, Rule K.25. Silver Knight: + Note - Also see First Strike, Rule A.18. + Note - Also see Protection, Rule A.31. Skirk Volcanist: + Note - Also see Morph, Rule A.29. Soul Collector: + The ability only triggers if this card is face up at the time the creature is put into the graveyard. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + Note - Also see Morph, Rule A.29. Spark Spray: + Note - Also see Cycling, Rule A.12. Sprouting Vines: + Note - Also see Storm, Rule A.35. Stabilizer: + This affects both Cycling and Landcycling. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] Stifle: + An activated ability has a "Cost: Effect" format. Look for the colon. A triggered ability starts with "when", "whenever", or "at". [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + It can target delayed triggered abilities. For example, a card that says "Whenever a player cycles a card, you may remove target creature from the game. If you do, return that creature to play at end of turn." triggers when a player cycles a card and creates a delayed trigger that happens at end of turn. You can choose to target the "at end of turn" trigger when it is placed on the stack at end of turn. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] + Game actions like the normal card, combat damage, or turning a face-down creature face up cannot be targeted. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] - - * - * - T - * - * - - Temporal Fissure: + Note - Also see Storm, Rule A.35. Tendrils of Agony: + Note - Also see Storm, Rule A.35. Titanic Bulvox: + Note - Also see Morph, Rule A.29. + Note - Also see Trample, Rule A.37. Torrent of Fire: + Note - Also see Converted Mana Cost, Rule K.8. Twisted Abomination: + Note - Also see Landcycling, Rule A.25. - - * - * - U - * - * - - Unburden: + Note - Also see Cycling, Rule A.12. Uncontrolled Infestation: + It only triggers if the land becomes tapped after this enchantment is on it. Playing it onto a tapped land will not destroy the land until the next time the land is untapped and then tapped again. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] Upwelling: + Players can keep mana in their pool indefinitely while this is in play, but once it leaves play, they have until the end of the current phase to use the mana or deal with mana burn. [Scourge FAQ 2003/05/30] - - * - * - V - * - * - - - - * - * - W - * - * - - Wing Shards: + Note - Also see Storm, Rule A.35. Wipe Clean: + Note - Also see Cycling, Rule A.12. Wirewood Guardian: + Note - Also see Landcycling, Rule A.25. Woodcloaker: + Note - Also see Morph, Rule A.29. + Note - Also see Trample, Rule A.37. - - * - * - X - * - * - - - - * - * - Y - * - * - - - - * - * - Z - * - * - - Zombie Cutthroat: + Note - Also see Morph, Rule A.29. 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. The expansion sets in this file are indicated by the following code letters: A = Limited Edition (Alpha). B = Limited Edition (Beta). U = Unlimited Edition. R = Revised Edition. 4 = Fourth Edition. 5 = Fifth Edition. 6 = Sixth Edition. 7 = Seventh Edition. AL= Alliances. AN= Arabian Nights. AP= Apocalypse. AQ= Antiquities. AT= Anthologies. BD= Beatdown. BR= Battle Royale. CH= Chronicles. DK= The Dark. EX= Exodus. FE= Fallen Empires. HL= Homelands. IA= Ice Age. IN= Invasion. JU= Judgment. LE= Legions. LG= Legends. MI= Mirage. MM= Mercadian Masques. NE= Nemesis. OD= Odyssey. ON= Onslaught. P2= Portal: Second Age. P3= Portal: Three Kingdoms. PR= Promotional (AR=Arena novel, DC=DragonCon and Duelist Magazine, FS=Final Sacrifice novel, SC=Shattered Chains novel, WW=Whispering Woods novel). PS= Planeshift. PT= Portal. PY= Prophecy. S2= Starter 2000 (deck and sampler pack). SH= Stronghold. ST= Starter. TE= Tempest. TO= Torment. UD= Urza's Destiny. UG= Unglued. UL= Urza's Legacy. US= Urza's Saga. VI= Visions. WL= Weatherlight. Rarity levels are shown as follows: R= Rare, U= Uncommon, C= Common, L= Land, F= Fixed in a preconstructed deck. Any number after the letter indicates how often the card appears in the printing process. An "R2" occurs twice as often as an "R1", for example. Note that on some older expansions, the rarity schemes were complex and those complexities are not described here. You can find descriptions of the various products and their rarity schemes at "http://www.crystalkeep.com/magic". 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. "Aahz" is Tom Wylie, the former Magic Rules Manager. "Barclay" is Paul Barclay, a previous MTG-L mailing list NetRep. "bethmo" is Beth Moursund, the Rules Manager at Wizards of the Coast, and former MTG-L mailing list NetRep. "CompRules" marks rules from the Sixth Edition Comprehensive Rules. "D'Angelo" is Stephen D'Angelo, the Rules Summary network representative, and former MTG-L mailing list NetRep. "DeLaney" is David DeLaney, the network representative for the "rec.games.trading-cards.magic.rules" newsgroup. "Encyclopedia, Page " marks errata from the Magic Official Encyclopedia. "Fifth Edition, Page " marks rules from the Fifth Edition rulebook. "Jackson" is Collin Jackson, the DCI Rules Documentation NetRep. "Jordan" is Jeff Jordan, the MTG-L mailing list NetRep. "Mirage, Page " marks rules from the Mirage rulebook. "Peterson" is Paul Peterson, a previous MTG-L mailing list NetRep. "Tempest, Page " marks rules from the Tempest rulebook. "WotC Rules Team" marks official rulings from the rules team. 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.