Rules Tip of the Day: The source of a triggered ability is the object that generated it. This is most often permanents, but spells can also generate delayed triggered abilities.

Q: Can I counter a Flashbacked spell with Nix?

A: It depends on the Flashbacked spell. As long as this spell has a Flashback cost that includes mana, then no. The mana cost of this spell may not have been paid, but if mana was spent to pay the Flashback cost then it cannot be countered by Nix. However you can counter a Flashbacked spell, such as Dread Return, where the Flashback cost does not include mana.

Q: If a Molten Firebird dies while Yixlid Jailer is in play, will it come back at the end of the turn?

A: Yes. When Molten Firebird goes to the graveyard from play, its ability will trigger. This triggered ability will create another delayed triggered ability when it resolves. The delayed triggered ability will go on the stack at the beginning of the next end of turn step regardless of whether or not the Molten Firebird in the graveyard has any abilities. When it resolves the Firebird will be returned to play, and a replacement effect that causes you to skip your next draw step will be created.

Q: Can I cast Delay on a Detritivore to put three more time counters on it and destroy more lands?

A: Yes. When the Detritivore un-Suspends, you will play it. You can choose to counter it with Delay at this point. If you do, it will be removed from the game and gain three time counters. (It will not gain Suspend, as it already has it.) At the beginning of your upkeep, the Suspend ability of this Suspended Detrivore will trigger. It does not matter that the time counters on it are there because of Delay, rather than its own inherent Suspend ability; its triggered ability will trigger when you remove one of these time counters.

Q: I have a Bat token created by Sengir Nosferatu's ability. Can I use this ability to get a Sengir Nostferatu from my sideboard?

A: No, the ability of those Bat tokens can only put a card named Sengir Nosferatu into play from the removed from game zone. Cards in your sideboard are outside the game, but they are not in the removed from game zone.

Q: Can a Shock or Sudden Death kill Norin the Wary?

A: No. Norin's triggered ability will go on the stack on top of the Shock and cause Norin to leave play before Shock resolves. Shock will be countered on resolution.

Q: My opponent has Underworld Dreams in play and I play Infernal Contract. Will I lose four points of life before or after I lose half of my life?

A: You'll lose four points of life after your life total is halved. Underworld Dreams has a triggered ability that triggers when you draw a card, but these triggers will not go on the stack until a player receive priority. When Infernal Contract resolves, you will draw four cards, which will trigger Underworld Dreams four times, and then you will lose half of your life. Then, after Infernal Contract has completely resolved, these four triggered abilities will go on the stack. When each of these abilities resolves, you'll lose a point of life.

Q: I have Autumn-Tail, Kitsune Sage in play (a flipped Kitsune Mystic). My friend plays Binding Grasp, targeting Autume-Tail. Can I move the enchantment before its ability resolves?

A: No, you cannot do that. Autumn-Tail's ability can only move Auras that are in play. Before Binding Grasp is an Aura in play, it is a spell on the stack, and you cannot use Autumn-Tail's ability to move it. After it resolves and enters play it will be an Aura, but you will not control Autumn-Tail at that point.

Q: I have a Northen Paladin in play, and I activate it to destroy my opponent's Pestilence. He responds by playing Mind Bend and changing the color in the text on my Paladin to green. What happens?

A: The targeted Pestilence will still be destroyed. Once activated, an ability on the stack is independent of its source. The text on the Paladin now uses the word "green," but the ability on the stack will destroy black permanents.

Q: Can you use Forcefield to prevent the damage from a creature that cannot be targeted?

A: The current Oracle text for Forcefield's ability now uses the word target, so no, you cannot use Forcefield's ability and choose to prevent the damage from an unblocked attacking creature that cannot be the target of spells or abilities.