Rules Tip of the Day: Effects that prevents spells from being played (like Meddling Mage or Orim's Chant) do not function like counterspells. Once a spell has been played, putting the Mage into play, or playing Orim's Chant, will not counter anything that has been played and is on the stack.

Q: A creature is put into play by Aethermage's Touch on my turn. I Otherworldly Journey the creature. Where does the creature go: to hand, or will it stay in play at the end of turn?

A: It will stay in play with a +1/+1 counter. When a permanent leaves play and then later returns, it is treated as a new object, with no connection to any the effects that applied to the card when it was previously in play. When Otherworldly Journey returns this card to play, it is a different creature from the one that you put into play with Aethermage's Touch, and it will remain in play.

Q: If I have an Azorius Aethermage in play, and I use Wizard Mentor's ability to return itself and another creature to my hand, can I spend 1 for each creature and draw two cards?

A: Yes, that works. When Wizard Mentor's ability resolves, both it and the targeted creature you control will be returned to your hand. This will cause the Aethermage's ability to trigger twice; it does not matter that these two cards are being returned to your hand in one action. When each of these triggered abilities resolves, you can pay 1 and draw a card.

Q: I have Threatened my opponent's Watchwolf and declare an attack with it. I then Ninjitsu a ninja into play. Whose hand does the Watchwolf go back to, since I control it for the turn?

A: It goes to its owner's hand, for two reasons. Any time a card would go to a player's hand, it goes to the hand of its owner. Also, the Ninjutsu ability specifically instructs you to return the unblocked attacker to its owner's hand.

Q: I'm at two life, and I have Nettling Curse on one of my opponent's creatures. It's his turn and he's at two life as well. He attacks with all of his creatures except the one with Nettling Curse on it. I play Nettling Curse's ability to have that creature attack if able too, so that he loses three life points from the Aura. What happens? Is this game a draw?

A: First of all, you need to use Nettling Curse's ability to force this creature to attack before attackers are declared. You cannot wait until after attackers are declared, and then add this enchanted creature as another attacker. Assuming that you do use the Curse's ability before attackers are declared, then your opponent will lose the game. The triggered ability of Nettling Curse will trigger when this creature is declared as an attacker. This triggered ability will resolve before you advance to the next step, which is well before the combat damage step. After the Curse's ability resolves your opponent will have a life total of -1, and he will lose the game.

Q: Phyrexian Arena is in play under my control and I have a card with a Dredge ability in my graveyard. When the Arena's ability triggers, if I Dredge instead of drawing, do I still lose one life?

A: Yes. Replacing the draw portion of the effect does not negate the loss of life.

Q: I have Bushi Tenderfoot in play, equip him with a No-Dachi, and attack. My buddy blocks with a Goblin, which dies, triggering Bushi's flip ability. Does the No-Dachi get removed because the target creature is now different, or would Kenzo remain equipped?

A: Kenzo the Hardhearted will remain equipped. While the name and other characteristics of this permanent will change, it is still the same permanent. Any enchantments or equipment attached to the unfiipped version of the object will stay on it when it flips.

Q: I was wondering if you could play Flickering Ward, naming black to remove an Animate Dead from a creature, then use the ability to bring the Ward back into your hand to save it from going to the graveyard.

A: Yes, that works. In this example, after the Flickering Ward resolves, state-based effects are checked, and the Animate Dead will "fall off" of the creature and go to the graveyard. This will cause Animate Dead's leaves-play triggered ability to trigger. After this triggered ability goes on the stack, but before it resolves, you can pay W to return the Ward to your hand. Then Animate Dead's triggered ability will resolve and destroy the formerly enchanted creature.

Q: If I put a white creature enchantment on an enemy's creature, then play Jihad, can I name white and keep Jihad in play, as long as my creature enchantment is on their creature?

A: No. This white enchantment may be attached to a creature controlled by your opponent, but he is not the enchantment's controller; you are. Jihad will not count this as a white permanent under your opponent's control.