Rules Tip of the Day: Creatures do not tap when a regeneration ability is used or when a regeneration ability resolves and a shield is created. They tap when this shield is used and they become regenerated.

Q: My opponent played a Blaze that dealt three damage to me. When I play Memory Plunder targeting this Blaze, how much how much damage will it deal?

A: Zero. What has paid for X previously does not matter. Whenever you play a spell with an X in the mana cost and you do not pay the mana cost, then the value of X is zero.

Q: Can I discard an X card like Broken Ambitions to do X damage for Knollspine Invocation?

A: You can discard Broken Ambitions, but the value of X in the converted mana cost of a card that is not a spell on the stack is zero. This means that the converted mana cost of Broken Ambitions is 1, and you'll only be able to deal one point of damage to the targeted creature or player.

Q: I have a tapped Leech Bonder and I activate its ability. My opponent has two creatures brought into play with Makeshift Mannequin. I target both creatures. Will they both be sacrificed?

A: Yes. Both of these creatures are targeted when Leech Bonder's ability is played. The ability given to each one by Makeshift Mannequin will trigger at this time and go on the stack on top of Leech Bonder's ability. These two triggers will resolve first and these creatures will be sacrificed before Leech Bonder's ability resolves and a counter is moved.

Q: If I have a Hamletback Goliath in play and I play Grief Tyrant, will the Goliath get eight counters or four? Which triggered ability happens first, the Goliath's or the Tyrannt's?

A: Grief Tyrant does not have a triggered ability; it has a static ability that alters what happens as the Tyrant comes into play. This means that the Tyrant will come into play with four -1/-1 counters; it does not come into play as an 8/8 and then receive the counters. Because of this, the Hamletback Goliath will only receive four +1/+1 counters.

Q: Can Murderous Redcap plus Primal Forcemage and Nantuko Husk (or any other sacrifice outlet) make an infinite loop? For example, I'd sacrifice Murderous Redcap to Nantuko Husk, persist returns it to play, and Primal Forcemage gives it +3/+3 each time?

A: No, that does not create a repeatable loop. Giving the Redcap that is returned to play with a -1/-1 counter +3/+3 will not remove this counter. The -1/-1 counter can be removed if the Redcap is also given a +1/+1 counter, but not by effects that modify power and toughness directly.

Q: What happens if I cast Grapeshot with a storm count of six, targeting my opponent, and he sacrifices a Burrenton Forge-Tender? Is all damage prevented (all from the same source of damage) or only one copy (each copy of Grapeshot on the stack is a different source of damage)?

A: Each individual copy of Grapeshot is a different source, so the ability of Burrenton Forge-Tender will only be able to prevent one point of damage in this example, not all seven.

Q: I have Oblivion Ring in play, which removed my opponent's The Rack; can I play Krosan Grip on my Oblivion Ring and choose my opponent for The Rack's ability, or will he choose again?

A: When The Rack returns to play it will do so under its owner's control, so he will make the choice of player for it to affect when it comes into play.

Q: Does Dream Chisel reduce the costs of face-down morph cards that aren'te creatures, like Zoetic Cavern or Whetwheel?

A: Yes. When played via their morph ability, they are face-down creature spells. It does not matter that they are noncreature cards.

Q: I have ten life and I have a Dingus Egg in play. I tap all seven of my lands and play Armageddon. Dingus Egg deals me 14 damage; at the same time, I play Reverse Polarity. Do I survive long enough to play the Reverse Polarity?

A: First of all, no two spells or abilities resolve at the same time in Magic. It is possible for you to survive in this situation, but what happens depends on when the Reverse Polarity is played. After Armageddon resolves, the ability of your Dingus Egg will trigger seven times. Each of these triggered abilities will resolve one at a time. You can play Reverse Polarity any time you receive priority as these abilities are resolving. However, if you allow five of these triggers to resolve, you will lose the game before you can play the Reverse Polarity. Your best bet is to allow four of these abilities to resolve, and then play Reverse Polarity. At this point, you will have taken eight points of damage and your life total will be two. Reverse Polarity will resolve and you will gain 16 life. Then the final three Dingus Egg abilities will resolve, and you will end up with 12 life.