Rules Tip of the Day: Magic was originally created with an Ante rule. Technically, it sill exists now, but with the exception of 5-Color Magic, this option is not used that much, and it is not the default way to play. For those of you unaware, playing for Ante involved randomly removing a card from each player's deck at the start of a game. The winner of the game would win these cards. There were a few cards that affected the ante, but there has not been one printed like that for several years.
Q: I was wondering about the interaction between Stasis Cell and Bramble Elemental. While the Aura is on the Elemental, can pay 4 mana and attach it to the same Bramble Elemental to get another two tokens? Or should you first attach it to another creature and then reattach it to get the tokens?
A: You need to move the Stasis Cell onto another creature first and then back onto the Bramble Elemental in order for the Elemental's ability to trigger. This is because if the Stasis Cell is already attached to the Bramble Elemental it cannot "become attached" to it.
Q: If I control Uba Mask, and during my opponent's draw step, he wants to Dredge Life From the Loam, can he do so?
A: Yes, he can. Both Uba Mask and the Dredge ability create replacement effects. As the affected player your opponent can choose which of these two effects to apply first. Then, after applying the chosen one, you apply the other if it is still applicable. In this example, your opponent can choose to Dredge a card instead of drawing. If he does, then the Uba Mask effect is no longer applicable as the draw has been completely replaced, so that effect will not do anything.
Q: Does Copy Enchantment count as an Aura card? Can I use my Auratouched Mage's ability to bring Copy Enchantment into play?
A: No, Copy Enchantment is not an Aura card. If, when it comes into play, it copies an Aura in play, then as a permanent it will also be an Aura, but this does not make it an Aura card. Because the card does not have the subtype Aura, you can not use the triggered ability of Auratouched Mage to search for Copy Enchantment.
Q: If I have Solitary Confinement and Dark Confidant in play, do I lose life from the Confidant's triggered ability?
A: Yes. Solitary Confinement prevents damage that would be dealt to you; it does not affect loss of ilfe.
Q: If I play Pithing Needle naming Ichorid, does that mean my opponent cant play Ichorid from the yard?
A: No, Ichorid's ability is a triggered ability, not an activated one. When this triggered ability resolves, the controller of the triggered ability can choose to remove a black creature from his graveyard other than Ichorid in order to return this Ichorid to play. Doing so is not playing a spell or an activated ability; is it paying a cost when a triggered ability resolves.
Q: I use mana from a Hall of the Bandit Lord to help pay for Scatter the Seeds. Will these token creatures have haste?
A: No. Scatter the Seeds may put token creatures into play, but it is not a creature spell. Because of this, these token creatures will not gain haste form the effect generated by Hall of the Bandit Lord's mana ability.
Q: I have Glorious Anthem in play. If I play a Clone and choose not to have it copy any creature, does it stay alive?
A: Yes, this Clone will enter play as a Clone, and due to the Glorious Anthem, it will be a 1/1 creature. It will remain in play as long as the Glorious Anthem is in play.
Q: I have Birds of Paradise and a face-down Exalted Angel in play. I play Do or Die targeting myself. The card says to separate the cards into two face-up piles and choose a pile to be destroyed. Does this mean I can kill the Birds and also flip my Angel?
A: No. It's important to note that Do or Die was printed before Onslaught block and the introduction of the morph mechanic. The Oracle text of Do or Die does not use the term "face-up." It states that the controller of Do or Die separates the creatures controlled by the targeted player into two piles. So you cannot use Do or Die to turn a face-down creature face-up.
Q: In a Two-Headed Giant game, I play Plague Wind. Whose creatures get destroyed? Will this cause my teammate's creatures to be destroyed?
A: Yes, the creatures controlled by your teammate will be destroyed, along with all creatures controlled by both members of the opposing team. Plague Wind's effect destroys all creatures you do not control. This obviously covers those creatures controlled by the opposing team, but it also affects those creatures controlled by your teammate. It does not matter that you share a life total and a turn, control of your permanents is not shared.
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