Rules Tip of the Day: Some continuous effects have multiple aspects that are applied in separate layers. For example, an effect that gives a creature flying and +2/+2 will be applied in two layers: the "flying" portion in the layer that contains "all other effects" (layer 5), and the +2/+2 in the layer that affects power and toughness (layer 6).

Q: My opponent controls the only creature in play, a Mogg Fanatic. I control a Porphyry Nodes, and an unanimated Plains enchanted by Genju of the Fields. If my opponent sacrifices the Fanatic per its ability, can I turn my Genju into a creature "fast enough" to keep Nodes on the table?

A: No. Prophyry Nodes has two triggered abilities. The one that causs you sacrifice Prophyry Nodes is a state triggered ability. This ability will trigger anytime that there are no creatures in play. Immediately after your opponent uses the ability of his Mogg Fanatic, there won't be any creatures in play, and this ability will trigger. When this ability resolves, you will sacrifice Porphyry Nodes. It does not matter if there are creatures in play when the ability resolves, you will still have to sacrifice it.

Q: Does having multiple Two-Headed Slivers in play stack up the number of creatures needed to block? E.g., one Two-Headed Sliver requires two creatures to block; two means that four creatures must block a single Sliver; three, six creatures to block, etc.?

A: No. Having more than one Two-Headed Sliver in play does not change the blocking requirement. Slivers in play will have that ability more than once, but this is not cumulative or additive in any way. Slivers will still only be able to be blocked by two or more creatures.

Q: I have Sacred Ground in play, and my opponent casts Shivan Wumpus. If I sacrifice a land to the Wumpus' comes-into-play trigger, will my land return to play?

A: Yes. It does not matter that you choose to sacrifice a land, this land is going to the graveyard due to an ability controlled by your opponent. Because of this, Sacred Ground's ability will trigger and this sacrificed land will return to play.

Q: If I give a creature +2/-2 with Shaper Parasite, and then turn it face down with Ixidron, does the creature die?

A: Yes. When a card is turned face down, the effect that turns it face down sets its base characteristics. Ixidron makes the starting power and toughness of this creature 2/2. It does not matter that the effect from Shaper Parasite has an earlier timestamp, it will still be factored in later. In the end, this creature will be a 4/0 creature, and will go to the graveyard.

Q: I enchant my opponent's Darksteel Ingot with Relic Bane. I think that because the text on Relic Bane is in quotes it means its actually as though it were printed on his Ingot and, therefore, the life loss triggers during his upkeep. My opponent says that because I am the controller it triggers during mine. Who is right?

A: You are. Relic Bane gives the triggered ability to the enchanted artifact. This ability will trigger at the beginning of the upkeep of the enchanted artifact.

Q: I have an Isochron Scepter in play with Lightning Bolt Imprinted on it. I play Vision Charm, choosing to phase out my Scepter. When it phases in, does it still have the Bolt imprinted on it?

A: Yes. Permanents that phase out of and then back into play are the same permanents that were in play previously. Any cards that have been removed from the game and imprinted on the phased-out permanent will still be imprinted on it.

Q: If my opponent has six 1/1 weenies sitting on his side of the board, and they all die at one time, will my Nantuko Husk enchanted with Druid's Call] die from all the damage it takes from [[Last Laugh before I can make and sacrifice a squirrel to beef him up?

A: If six permanents go to the graveyard at the same time, then Last Laugh's ability will trigger six times. These abilities will use the stack. Each time one of these abilities resolves, one point of damage will be dealt to each creature in play. When the enchanted Husk is dealt damage, Druid's Call's ability will trigger and go on the stack on top of the remaining abilities on the stack. This Druid's Call ability will resolve first and put a 1/1 Squirrel into play before the next Last Laugh ability does it's damage. At this time you can choose to sacrifice a Squirrel to "pump" the Husk.

Q: I know I can Giant Growth a 2/2 and then Berserk it to make its power 10 , but can I Berserk first and then Giant Growth, resulting in the same effect?

A: No, the increase in power that Berserk gives to the targeted creatures is calculated when Berserk resolves. If the Berserk resolves first in this situation, then it will give this 2/2 creature +2/+0. It does not matter that other effects will later increase this creature's power. In this example, the creature will end up being a 7/2 after the Giant Growth has resolved.

Q: If a player in a Magic tournament is wearing sunglasses (for whatever reason) and they are highly reflective, is it an illegal action for their opponent to maybe position themselves to see into the glasses reflection, giving themselves a better perspective to see their opponent's hand?

A: Using any reflective surface to attempt to gain information about a player's hand is cheating. It does not matter if you are using clothing on the person who's hand you are attempting to see. While it might be best if this person did not have this reflective material on himself, that does not mean that you are free to abuse the situation.