Rules Tip of the Day: The decision to take advantage of a Replicate ability is made when a Replicate spell is played. It is also at this time that the Replicate costs must be paid. You cannot play a Replicate spell and then choose to make a copy of the spell any time after the initial announcement.

Q: In a recent rules tip you pointed out that when an ability refers to a type or subtype but does not also use the word 'card', 'spell', or 'source', it means a permanent in play with that type or subtype. Does that mean that my Warren-Scourge Elf isn't protected from Tarfire?

A: No. That is specifically covered in the rules that govern protection. While the card does not say that the Warren-Scourge Elf cannot be targeted by Goblin spells, the rules do. This also applies to the other aspects of protection.

Q: A player has Guile in play and counters an enchantment. That spell is removed from the game. Guile is destroyed before he can play the spell. Can he still play the removed card?

A: What you describe is not possible. Guile's ability has you play the countered spell as it is countered. It does not matter what type of spell it is, Guile's effect does not care about timing restrictions associated with playing that spell. You do not remove a card from the game and then get the chance to play it later. If the card is not played at this time, it will remain removed from the game. This is true whether or not Guile remains in play.

Q: If I have Brion Stoutarm in play and play a Nova Chaser with no other Elemental in play, will I be able to sacrifice the Nova Chaser to Brion's ability before I have sac the Nova Chaser to its own Champion ability?

A: Yes, that works. The Champion ability uses the stack. You can have a Champion creature enter play, put its ability on the stack, and then respond to this ability. You can play Brion's ability at this time and sacrifice the Champion creature that just came into play.

Q: If I play a Sower of Temptation on an opposing creature, and my opponent plays Sower of Temptation on that same creature, they gain control of it. What happens if I bounce or kill their Sower of Temptation?

A: The last control effect that is still in existence and applied to this creature is the one generated by the comes-into-play ability of your Sower of Temptation. This means that you will be the player that controls this creature, at least until your Sower leaves play.

Q: If I have a Scion of Oona in play, giving my Faeries Shroud, can I still Champion a Faerie with Mistbind Clique?

A: Yes, as the Champion ability does not target. You choose an appropriate creature to remove from the game when the ability resolves. Making this choice does not target.

Q: The new Lorwyn Command cards say "Choose two", can you choose the same effect twice?

A: No, you must choose two different modes.

Q: If I activate Saffi Eriksdotter, targeting a Protean Hulk reanimated by Makeshift Mannequin, will Protean Hulk return to play, or stay in the graveyard?

A: It will end being sacrificed and go to your graveyard. When you activate Saffi's ability and target the Hulk, the triggered ability given by Makeshift Manakin will go on the stack on top of Saffi's ability. This triggered ability will resolve first and will cause you to sacrifice the Hulk. This is before Saffi's ability resolves, so that ability will be countered on resolution.

Q: I play Ixidron. My opponent has a creature with +1/+1 counters on it. He says that the creature is now a 2/2 plus the 1/1 counters. I point out that the card states that all other creatures are 2/2 face-down creatures, regardless. Who is right, and why?

A: Your opponent is correct. Ixidron's ability turned these non-token creatures face down and set their base power and toughness to 2/2. This does not negate any other effects that are applied to these creatures or remove tokens from them. So these 2/2 creatures will get +1/+1 from these counters.

Q: If I zap a Stuffy Doll with the activated ability of a Frostwielder, will it be removed from the game?

A: No. The replacement effect from Frostwielder's ability only removes a creature from the game if the damaged creature is destroyed. Stuffy Doll's ability will keep it from being destroyed, regardless of the amount of damage that it receives.

Q: When I put a Conclave Phalanx into play, does its triggered ability count the Phalanx for the life gained?

A: Conclave Phalanx's ability triggers when it comes into play. Provided that it does not leave play before its triggered ability resolves, then yes, it will be counted and you will gain a point of life for it.

Q: My opponent plays Phage the Untouchable. I Delay the spell in response. After the last time counter is removed, my opponent will lose the game, right?

A: Correct. When this Phage card unsuspends, your opponent must play the the Phage spell. When this spell resolves, its comes-into-play ability will trigger, since your opponent did not play it from his hand, he played it from the removed from game zone.