Rules Tip of the Day: Untapping an attacking creature does not remove it from combat or prevent it from dealing combat damage.

Q: How does Rings of Brighthearth interact with Chaos Orb? If you activate Chaos Orb, then copy the activated ability with the Rings of Brighthearth ... do you flip it twice?

A: No, you'll still only be able to flip it once. When you use Rings of Brighthearth to make a copy of an activated ability, the source of that activated ability is the same object that created the original. If you make a copy of Chaos Orb's ability, the copy will resolve first. When it does you will flip the Chaos Orb and destroy all of the permanents that it touches and the Chaos Orb itself. Then when the original activated ability resolves the Chaos Orb is not in play, so the ability will not be able to do anything.

Q: Unless I'm misreading something, Guile makes cards like Temporal Extortion and Dash Hopes good. If I have Guile in play and cast Temporal Extortion, am I correct in thinking that no matter how many times my opponent pays half of his life, rounded up, I can keep casting Temporal Extortion off of Guile?

A: Yes that does work. As long as this is your Temporal Extortion or Dash Hopes, you control the abilities that trigger when they are played. Regardless of who pays life to cause these spells to become countered, you still control the ability that is countering them. With Guile in play, this means that you will be able to play your countered spell again.

Q: Will a Yixlid Jailer in play that removes Reveillark's ability in the graveyard make a Body Double copying it a 4/3 creature with no abilities?

A: No, effects that are applied to the original are not copied. This Body Double in play will be a 'regular' Reveillark, even if the one in the graveyard does not have any abilities.

Q: The card Hunter of Eyeblights says that I have to put a +1/+1 counter on an enemy creature. Do I have to put this counter on a creature in order to play the creature? If my opponent does not control a creature, can I still put this creature into play?

A: When Hunter of Eyeblights comes into play, its ability will trigger. If there is not a legal target for this ability, then the ability will leave the stack and do nothing. However, if there is a legal target, you must choose it. There does not have to be a creature controlled by an opponent for you to be able to play Hunter of Eyeblights. Also, in a multiplayer game, the Hunter's ability does not have to target a creature controlled by an opponent, it can target one controlled by a teammate.

Q: If I have Wort, Boggart Auntie in play, can I respond to her upkeep trigger by sacrificing a Goblin (to a Siege Gang Commander or Greater Gargadon, etc.), and get the sacrificed card when her trigger actually resolves?

A: No. You choose all targets of a targeted spell or ability when it goes on the stack. By the time you get the chance to respond to Wort's ability, a legal target must have been chosen.

Q: If I bring back a Mulldrifter with a Makeshift Mannequin, then I play a Heat Shimmmer targeting the 'Drifter, would I still get the token?

A: No. When you target this Mulldrifter with Heat Shimmer, the ability given to it by Makeshift Mannequin will trigger and go on the stack on top of the Heat Shimmer. This trigger will resolve first, and you will sacrifice the Mulldrifter at this time. Then, when Heat Shimmer attempts to resolve, its target is not in play, so it will be countered on resolution.

Q: Let's say I have a Land Equilibrium in play and I play Armageddon. I also have a Null Rod in play to stop mana producing artifacts... along with a Time Vault. I know Null Rod will prevent me from using Time Vault to take an extra turn. But will Null Rod prevent me from untapping it, thus giving the opponent an extra turn... after turn... after turn (infinitely) to deck them?

A: Null Rod will not prevent you from using Time Vault to skip a turn. However, this is not something that can be done over and over again. Time Vault has a static ability that generates a replacement effect that is applied any time you would untap Time Vault. If Time Vault were to become untapped you either skip your next turn or do not untap Time Vault. But in order to keep skipping your turn over and over, you'd have to find a way to tap Time Vault.

Q: I put Rancor on a Vintara Elephant. My opponent pays 3 for the Elephant's ability. Does it still lose trample?

A: Yes, provided that the Elephant's ability is played after the Rancor becomes attached to the Elephant. This is because Vintara Elephant's ability will cause the Elephant to lose all instances of Trample, regardless of why it has these abilities.

Q: I have a Gemstone Cavern in play without a luck counter. I also have a Reflecting Pool in play. Can I tap my Pool for mana of any color?

A: No, as the only way to get colored mana from Gemstone Caverns is if its self-replacement ability is applied the mana ability. If the Caverns do not have a luck counter on them, then this replacement effect is not applied. That being the case, you will not be able to get colored mana from the Reflecting Pool either.