Rules Tip of the Day: When a permanent changes controllers, it does not leave play and then reenter play. It will remain in play the entire time; all that happens is that control over this permanent changes.

Q: If I have Wild Pair and March of the Machines in play, and I play a Coalition Relic, can I then search for a creature card with total P/T of six?

A: Yes. You did play this spell from your handi, and it did enter play as a 3/3 creature. Wild Pair's ability will trigger and you will be able to search for a creature with a combined power and toughness of six.

Q: I have a Gemstone Caverns with a luck counter on it in play. If I copy it with Vesuva, will the Vesuva also get a luck coutner?

A: No. Vesuva will become a copy of the chosen land, but it will not copy any effects that are applied to the original. As this Vesuva did not start the game in play, it will not have a luck counter on it.

Q: I have Grinning Ignus in play, and my opponent plays Sudden Shock targeting Grinning Ignus. I tap a Mountain and return Grinning Ignus to my hand to play its ability. My opponent says I can't do that, because Sudden Shock has Split Second. I say I can, because its a mana ability. Who is right?

A: While you are correct that Grinning Ignus's ability is a mana ability, it has a restriction that states that you can only play that ability when you could play a sorcery. As there is something on the stack at this point, you cannot play that ability.

Q: Is my opponent able to play Extirpate on a card in my graveyard while I have Solitary Confinement in play?

A: Yes. Solitary Confinement only prevents you from being the target of spells and abilities; it does not prevent cards in your graveyard from being targeted.

Q: I have Pulmonic Sliver and Mnemonic Sliver in play. I sacrifice a Sliver to draw a card. In which order does it resolve? Do I draw first, then place my Sliver on top of my library, or am I effectively just drawing the Sliver I just sacrificed?

A: Pulmonic Sliver's ability is a static ability that generates a replacement effect. This effect is applied to the action that puts a Sliver in play into your graveyard. In this case, that is when you sacrifice it to pay the cost of Mnemonic Sliver's ability. So if you do choose to put this sacrificed Sliver on top of your library, you will end up drawing it.

Q: When I search for a card with Grinning Totem, do I have to name a card first? Or can I just look through their library and pick what I want?

A: You search through the targeted opponent's library and choose a card while you search. You do not have to name a card and hope that the named card is in your opponent's library.

Q: I play a Jester's Scepter and remove five cards from the game face-down. Later, my opponent destroys it with a Krosan Grip. My opponent believes the cards that were removed from the game by the Scepter should join his other cards in the RFG zone. I think he should keep them face-down, and that he won't get to see which cards they are. Who is right?

A: You are. Those cards were removed from the game face-down, and they will remain removed from the game face-down. Your opponent will not be able to see what they are.

Q: I have a Cytoplast Manipulator in play that has been tapped twice to take control of two different creatures with counters on them. My opponent uses a spell or other means to kill off or bury my Cytoplast Manipulator. Can I use Voidslime to cancel the delayed triggered ability of the Cytoplast Manipulator that gives control back to the original owner?

A: No. Cytoplast Manipulator's ability that has you gain control of creatures that have +1/+1 counters on them does not create a delayed triggered ability. That ability creates a continuous effect that lasts as long as the Manipulator is in play. As soon as the Manipulator leaves play, you will lose control of the 'stolen' creatures. There is nothing to respond to or counter in order to keep control of these creatures.

Q: I have two copies of Nomads en-Kor in play and I have Spirit Link attached to one of them. I Lighting Bolt the one with Spirit Link. Could I have the damage bounce back and fourth, gaining as much life as I want, before having one of them take the damage?

A: No. The en-Kor ability does not prevent damage and then deal it elsewhere; it redirects it. In this example, regardless of the number of times you activate these redirection abilities, neither of these creatures will deal damage. It is the Lightning Bolt that deals damage. You will not gain any life.

Q: If an Academy Rector goes to a graveyard from play, its controller searches their library for an enchantment card and puts it into play. Can a player counter this enchantment with Counterspell?

A: No, this enchantment is put into play without being played. It is never a spell, so it cannot be countered.