Rules Tip of the Day: All permanents have what used to be called "summoning sickness," but only creatures are affected. When a permanent become a creature, it will be unable to tap to activate an ability that has the tap symbol in an activation cost or attack if you have not controlled that permanent continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn. You can attack with the lands that are turned into creatures by Rude Awakening, Vivify etc. as long as you have controlled them since the beginning of your most recent turn. It does not matter that they just became creatures, only that you have controlled those permanents since the start of your most recent turn.

Q: Is there any difference between sacrificing five Zubera Spirits to a Spawning Pit or using Wrath of God to destroy them? If I use Wrath of God, would each one count as five or would each one build towards the next one?

A: It depends on when you sacrifice the Zubera. The Zubera triggered ability counts the number of Zubera that have gone to the graveyard that turn before the triggered ability resolves. If you sacrifice one Zubera to the Pit and, put the Zubera triggered ability and allow this triggered ability to resolve then you only one Zubera has gone to the graveyard that turn, two for the second and so on. If you sacrifice a Zubera, and then before its triggered ability resolves you sacrifice another over and over then the result will be the same as if all had gone to the graveyard at the same time.

Q: I imprint Squelch on Isochron Scepter. I activate Isochron Scepter and target itself. Do I get to draw a card?

A: No. When the Isochron Scepter's ability resolves, a copy of Squelch will be created. Still during the resolution of this ability you are allowed to play this Squelch and choose a target activated ability on the stack. At this point the Isochron Scepter ability is on the stack and it is a legal target for Squelch. However, by the time Squelch resolves the Isochron Scepter ability will have completely resolved and left the stack. Because of this the Squelch will be countered on resolution, as its target is no longer legal. As it is countered on resolution no part of it will resolve and you won't draw a card.

Q: I play Isochron Scepter, imprinting Fire/Ice. Then I play Chill. Does Chill effect Fire that is imprinted on the Scepter??

A: It depends on which side of the Fire/Ice copy you play. If you choose to play Ice, then Chill's effect will not be applied as you are playing a blue spell. If you play Fire, then you will have to pay an additional 2 mana due to Chill.

Q: Can Earthcraft untap a dual land, such as Tropical Island? And can Land Tax bring duals into your hand?

A: No, the original dual lands may have two basic lands types but they are not basic lands so they cannot be untapped by Earthcraft's ability or searched for with Land Tax's ability.

Q: If my opponent plays Death Cloud for five, and I have four creatures in play, and have a Basking Rootwalla in hand, if I Madness out my Rootwalla, will it still die to Death Cloud since Death Cloud has you discard cards before sacrificing creatures?

A: No. While you discard before you sacrifice creatures when resolving Death Cloud, you will not be able to play Rootwalla until after Death Cloud has completely resolved.

Q: If I have Goblin Welder in play with Jinxed Idol and I sacrifice a creature (other than the Welder) to donate the Idol to an opponent, could I then tap the Welder to switch the Idol (now in my opponents control) with an artifact in his/her graveyard? The Idol would then go back to my graveyard after the switch is resolved, right? I'm not too sure of many instances where this would be beneficial, but I'd like to know.

A: Yes that works, because as you pointed out the Idol is under their control.

Q: When I play Channel, do I have to pay 5 life to gain 5 mana right when I play Channel, or can I wait and add it one at a time when I need it until the end of my turn?

A: Channel creates a continuous effect that lasts until the end of the current turn that allows you to pay one life for one colorless mana. In other words, you do not have to pay life just when Channel resolves, you can do it anytime during that turn when you could play a mana ability.

Q: I know that you cannot respond to a spell by putting Meddling Mage into play in order to counter that spell (Hallelujah!--Sheldon), but what about Madness spells? If I have Aether Vial with two counters in play and my opponent has Wild Mongrel in play. My opponent wants to discard Arrogant Wurm and play it via its Madness cost. Is there some way I can prevent this from happening by putting a Meddling Mage into play?

A: It is possible to prevent your opponent from playing the Arrogant Wurm in this situation. When your opponent discards the Wurm the Madness ability will trigger. All you have to do it pout the Meddling Mage into play naming 'Arrogant Wurm' before this triggered ability resolves and your opponent will be unable to play the Wurm.