Rules Tip of the Day: If the text of a spell or ability refers to a type or subtype, but does not also use the word 'card,' 'spell,' or 'source' to describe this object, it means a permanent in play with that type or subtype.

Q: If you Momentary Blink a Sower of Temptation, can you gain control of multiple creatures, since state-based effects never see the Sower missing?

A: No, Sower of Temptation's ability does not care about state-based effects. Its comes-into-play ability creates a continuous effect that lasts as long as the Sower remains in play. When Momentary Blink resolves, this Sower leaves play, albeit only briefly. This will cause this continuous effect to end immediately at this point. The Sower will return to play, and its comes-into-play ability will trigger again. You can target the same creature you stole before or another creature, but you will not be able to gain control of more than one creature with this combo.

Q: Can I make Liliana Vess get an additional counter if I target a player with no cards in hand?

A: Yes. You can activate that ability and put a loyalty counter on Liliana Vess even if this player does not have any cards in hand. Adding or removing loyalty counters is a cost of that ability, not part of the effect. As soon as you activate the ability, Liliana will gain the counter, regardless of what happens when the ability resolves.

Q: Soulbright Flamekin's ability reads "If this is the third time this ability has resolved this turn..." Is the ability resolving unique to that specific Soulbright? Or could one Soulbright use its ability three times, and activate not only it's own, but another Soulbright's 8-R effect?

A: That line of text applies to the ability of each individual Soulbright Flamekin. For example, you will not get eight mana if you activate and resolve the abilities of three different Soulbright Flamekins in play. It also means that you can chain these abilities to increase the total amount of mana you have. To do this, first play and resolve the ability of one Soulbright Flamekin three times, getting eight red mana. You can then take six of this red mana to activate the ability of another Soulbright Flamkin three times. When the third ability of this Flamekin resolves, you will get an additional eight red mana, so you will now have ten red mana.

Q: If I use Incandescent Soulstroke's ability to sneak in Nova Chaser, then Champion Incandescent Soulstroke with Nova Chaser's ability, do I still sacrifice Nova Chaser at the end of turn?

A: Yes. When Incandescent Soulstroke's ability resolves, a delayed triggered ability is created. This delayed triggered ability will go on the stack at the end of the current turn, even if Incandescent Soutstroke is not in play.

Q: With the introduction of the new Lowryn rules, is Torchling a Changeling since it is a Shapeshifter?

A: No. There are no specific rules that are applied to any creature type. Only those Shapeshifters with the Changeling ability actually have Changeling. Changeling is not something that is intrinsic to all Shapeshifters. No Shapeshifters that were printed prior to Lorwyn (and there are quite a few) have the Changeling ability.

Q: I attack with Boggart Mob and another Goblin, and my opponent blocks the Boggart Mob, killing it while letting the other Goblin deal damage. Do I get a Goblin token from the Boggart Mob ability or not?

A: Yes, you will. Boggart Mob's ability will trigger when combat damage is dealt and it receives lethal damage and the other attacking Goblin deals damage to your opponent. After this damage is dealt, state-based effects are checked and the Mob will go to the graveyard, as it has lethal damage. Then the Mob's triggered ability will go on the stack. It does not matter that the Mob is not in play at this point, it was when the other goblin dealt damage, and the trigger condition of its ability was met.

Q: The card Surgespanner allows its controller to pay 1U to return a permanent whenever it becomes tapped. Can I tap Surgespanner to attack, allow my opponent to choose to block, have damage go on the stack, and then pay the 1U to return itself back to my hand?

A: No. Surgespanner's ability triggers when it becomes tapped. You choose a target for this ability when this ability goes on the stack. Then, when the ability resolves, you can choose whether or not to pay 1U. If you do, then the targeted permanent will be returned to its owner's hand. If this ability triggers because you attacked with the Surgespanner, then all of the above will happen before your opponent even chooses blocking creatures.

Q: My question is about Barbarian Lunatic. Its activated ability reads "2R, Sacrifice Barbarian Lunatic: Barbarian Lunatic deals 2 damage to target creature." If my Barbarian Lunatic is the only creature on the board, and my opponent targets it with a Lightning Helix, am I able to pay 2R and sacrifice the Barbarian targeting itself so that the Lightning Helix is countered on resolution with no life gain for opponent?

A: Yes, that works. When you play a spell or ability, you choose targets before you pay any costs. This means that the Barbarian will be in play and can be targeted by its own ability before you have to sacrifice it to pay for the ability. Then, because it is not in play when the Lightning Helix tries to resolve, the Helix will be countered on resolution.