Rules Tip of the Day: An ability that reads, "as ~this~ comes into play" is an example of a static ability that generates a replacement effect. This replacement effect is applied to the action of putting this permanent into play. "When ~this~ comes into play" is an example of a triggered ability that will trigger and go on the stack the next time a player receives priority.

Q: I play Giant's Ire while I control no creatures. Giant's Ire says, in part, "If you control a Giant, draw a card". It does not say "If you control a Giant creature" or "If you control another Giant". Giant's Ire itself has the Giant subtype, and at the time that this sentence takes effect, it is still on the stack, in the process of resolving, and is a spell that I control. So assuming that my opponent doesn't have any effects that change the creature types of this spell while it's on the stack, wouldn't I always "control a Giant" when it resolves, and wouldn't I therefore always draw a card?

A: No. The phrase "control a Giant" means "control a Giant permanent". This is covered in rule 200.9 of the Comprehensive Rules, which reads:

"200.9. If a spell or ability uses a description of an object that includes a card type or subtype, but doesn't include the word "card," "spell," or "source," it means a permanent of that card type or subtype in play."

This rule applies to the text of a lot of Lorwyn cards, so I image it will be a useful one to know in the coming months.

Q: I control Soulbright Flamekin and Rings of Brighthearth. When I use the Rings to copy the third activation of the Flamekin's ability, will I add 16 red mana to my pool, or eight?

A: Just eight red mana. Technically speaking, the copy will add eight red mana to your pool, and the 'original' will not add anything . Soulbright Flamekin's ability checks to see if it is the third activation from that source to resolve when it actually resolves. It does not matter how many times the ability has been activated. The copy that is created by Rings of Brighthearth will have the same source as the original, so a copy will be counted when determining whether or not you add red mana to your pool. This also means that if you activate the Flamekin's ability for the second time in a turn, and then pay when Rings of Brighthearth's ability resolves to make a copy of this second activation, then when this second activation resolves, you will add eight red mana to your pool.

Q: Is the "sacrifice this creature" clause of an Evoke spell a triggered ability that can be responded to with something like Momentary Blink?

A: Yes. If you played the Evoke creature via its Evoke cost, then the triggered ability portion of the Evoke ability will trigger when this creature comes into play. You can respond to this trigger by playing spells and abilities. Momentary Blink will cause this creature to leave play and then return as a new permanent. Then, as it is a new permanent, it will not be sacrificed when the Evoke ability resolves.

Q: I have Garruk Wildspeaker in play with four loyalty counters on it at the begining of my turn. Can I play his four loyalty ability, killing Garruk, and then cast a second Garruk and use it this turn?

A: Yes. The limitation on playing a planewalker's ability only applies to each individual planewalker; it is not associated with the planeswalker subtype. The second Garruk in play has no connection to the one that was previously in play, and you can play any one of of its abilities this turn, provided you can pay the activation cost. Similarly, if you have two different planesealkers in play (with different subtypes, of course), you could play one ability from each of them.

Q: I know that my Amrou Scout can search out a Bound in Silence and attach it to a creature. Does this same thing work for non-permanent Rebel cards, such as Crib Swap?

A: No. All cards with the Rebel searching ability now have errata so these abilities state that you can search for a 'Rebel permanent card' and put it into play. So you can use this ability to search for any card that can exist in play as a permanent, but you cannot search for instants or sorceries with the creature subtype Rebel.

Q: Will the new Lowryn card Hostility activate itself? Could you bring it into play with Incandescent Soulstoke, attack, then gain six tokens?

A: No. Hostility's ability only changes what happens when a spell you control would deal damage to an opponent. Permanents in play are not spells.

Q: I'm having trouble with the 'Pickles' lock and wonder how Pithing Needle interacts with turning a Morph face-up. I understand that I can stop the Vesuvan Shapeshifter from turning face-down, but can I stop Brine Elemental from turning face-up by naming it with the Needle?

A: First of all, your initial statement is incorrect. You turn the Shapeshifter face-down as the result of the Shapeshifter's upkeep triggered ability. This is not an activated ability, so Pithing Needle will not interact with this at all. And Morph is also not an activated ability; you can not prevent a creature from turning face-up via its Morph cost with Pithing Needle either. So Pithing Needle does not interact with this combo at all.

Q: When a creature with Umezawa's Jitte attached to it dies, what happen to the charge counters on Umezawa's Jitte?

A: They remain on the Jitte. Apart from becoming unattached, nothing will happen to the Jitte when the creature it is attached to goes to the graveyard.