Rules Tip of the Day: I’ll be at GP Minneapolis to help run the first Kamigawa block GP of the season. Feel free to say "Hi’ if you are there.

Q: When Kaho, Minmano Historian comes into play I search my library for the 3 Instant cards, do I have to reveal them to my opponent, in a face up removed from game pile or can I choose to have it in a face down pile so it’s a mystery to my opponents?

A: Unless specified, all cards that are removed from the game are face up, so your opponent will know what card you remove with Kaho's ability.

Q: I was wondering what happens when you use the ninjitsu abiltity to return Yukora, The Prisoner. Does Yukora's leaves play ability resolve before or after the Ninja hits the table?

A: Yukora's ability will trigger when you play the ninjutsu ability and go on top of that ability. This means that the ninja you put into play when its ninjutsu ability resolves will enter play after Yukora's leaves play triggered ability has resolved and therefore won't be destroyed.

Q: Does lowering a creature's power below three in response to the equip ability make it an illegal target for O-Naginata? Does O-Naginata check its target's power on resolution, or only when choosing a target?

A: All targeted spells and abilities check the legality of the target when the spell or ability is played and when it resolves. If this target is not legal when it goes to resolve the spell or ability is countered on resolution. So if you lower the power of the creature target by O-Naginata's equip ability before it resolves, then O-Naginata will not be come equipped.

Q: Is the act of naming a card effectively a card? For example, if I have a card which can't be the target of spells and abilities, can Pithing Needle still affect it?

A: Naming a card does not target it. You can name a card that can not be targeted when that card is in play. Pithing Needle's ability will still affect this permanent and prevent you from playing it's activated abilities.

Q: Can I Mirari a copy if an Epic spell?

A: It can make a copy of an original Epic spell, but not of the copies that are put on the stack in subsequent turns. This is because Mirari's ability that allows you to make copies triggers when an instant or sorcery is played. The Epic copies that tare later put on the stack are not played, so Mirari's ability will not trigger.

Q: I play Lingering Death on one of my opponent’s creatures. During his turn he equipped the Whispering Cloak on his creature. Does he still have to sacrifice his creature at the end of his turn?

A: Yes. Lingering Death's triggered ability does not target anything, so your opponent will still have to sacrifice this creature.

Q: My opponent played Laquatus's Champion and targeted me with its coming into play ability. I responded with Gilded Light, so I didn't lose six life. At the end of my opponent's turn I played Swords to Plowshares targeting the Laquatus's Champion. Would I gain six life or not?

A: Actually, you will gain six life when Laquatas's Champions leaves play ability resolves. That ability refers to the player targeted by the coming into play ability. It does not matter if that ability resolved or not, you were the target chosen by that ability, so you will gain six life when the Champion leaves.

Q: Can I sacrifice a creature with Attrition if there is no creature that I can target, in order to prevent it from being stolen by an opponent with Control Magic or similar spells?

A: You cannot play a spell or ability if you cannot choose all of the legal targets. However as long as this creature is nonblack, you can target it with Attrition's ability and then sacrifice it. The ability will be countered on resolution, but at least it wont' be stolen.