Q: Hi; I have a question regarding your Urza's Rage vs. Undermine/Absorb answer. Lets say I'm playing a red/blue deck and cast a Rage, then target my own Rage with a Memory Lapse. Do I get to put my Rage back on top of my library after the replacement effect happens?

A: No. Memory Lapse's replacement effect is contingent on the spell being countered. You could read it like, "Counter target spell. If you do, put it on top of its owner's library instead of into that player's graveyard."
- Sheldon

Q: Something popped up recently at a tournament I went to in Plattsburgh, New York. Someone had cast a Parallax Nexus and chose to remove three cards from the players hand. He claimed that the cards "Have to be shown face up for removed cards from the game can not be concealed". He says that this is a ruling. I think that sounds pretty far-fetched; there would be no reason for a player to see the cards, they are out of play by the Nexus and were not ever revealed in the first place. If you know the correct answer (and if this situation happened to be the right answer) I would like to know.

Thanks
Jeremy

A: Jeremy,
As we recently discovered with Skyship Weatherlight, 217.7b says that cards in the Removed from Game Zone are kept face up unless the effect says to remove them face down. Parallax Nexus makes no such distinction. The cards are face up and may be viewed by any player at any time.
- Sheldon

Q: If I block a creature with a Voracious Cobra, does the creature get destroyed by destroy ability before it places its normal damage on the stack, or is the destroy it when it recieves damage placed on the stack so that damage is still dealt?
(I know, it is worded poorly, but I couldn't explain it very well. Sorry.)
- Todd

A: Todd,
I know what you're trying to get at. When we have a creature with First Strike, we basically have two combat damage steps (502.2). The Cobra deals its damage, so its triggered ability goes on the stack (and resolves) before the "normal" combat damage step. The Cobra kills most non-First Strike creatures that it blocks or block it. The only thing that could save the creature would be making sure the damage doesn't happen (prevention, protection from green/red, removing it from play, etc.). Cobra is some good.
Sheldon

Q: Greetings, Sheldon,
My friend, Mark (Level one DCI Judge) has been trying to prove that Orim's Chant isn't broken by any means. Now, the way that he's trying to prove this is by using the Rulebook against it. He believes he's found it; personally, I don't think so (but would like this to be clarified).

Orim's Chant doesn't affect activated abilities once cast; therefore, Chimeric Idol could potentially activate itself after the Chant resolves. Now, the question is to whether or not the Chant affects the Idol in play. I think so, because the card says that "Creatures cannot attack." It doesn't say "All creatures in play cannot attack."

Please help,
Jeff Wrobleski
First Idiot of Magic

A : Jeff
You've hit the nail right on the head. It doesn't matter if the creature comes into play before or after the Chant resolves. Looks like your "First Idiot" title may be in jeopardy.
- Sheldon

Q: I wanted to know if using Eureka and Recycle together will work - don't you play a permanent to put into play?

A: "Putting a permanent into play" is not the same as "playing a spell." The
former is resolution; the latter is an announcement. Here's the current
wording of Eureka:

"Each player may put an artifact, creature, enchantment, or land card from
his or her hand into play. Players take turns playing cards from their
hands until no one wants to put another card into play. If a spell has an X
in its casting cost, X is 0."

Ergo:

Q: If I use Eureka to put Recycle in play, do I draw a card for each permanent I play immediately, or does it go on a stack that resolves after Eureka is done?

A: Eureka doesn't trigger things that trigger off of "playing a card," such as
Recycle.

Q: What if Recycle is in play first?

A: Recycle will trigger when you play the Eureka. The Eureka will go on the stack first, then the Recycle. Draw a card, resolve Eureka.

Q: Can I play more than one land a turn with Eureka?

A: "Playing a land" is a single, distinct action you get once per turn.
"Putting a land into play" is the effect of a spell or ability (214.9b). Eureka will allow you to put more than one land into play.

Q: When playing creatures with Eureka, When do the "coming into play" abilities resolve (Cloudchaser Eagle, Uktabi Monkeys, et cetera) - immediately or after Eureka?

A: Anything that triggers during the resolution of Eureka will wait and go on the stack when a player next gets priority (410.2).

Q: With Recycle in play, if I cast a spell and it is countered, do I get to draw a card? If I cast a Phyrexian Dreadnought and don't sac the creatures, do I draw a card?

A: Yes. There's no such thing as "successfully cast" any more. Recycle
triggers when you play a spell - that is, to say when you announce it. As
soon as you play the spell, you know you're going to get to draw a card.
Sheldon