Rules Tip of the Day: An effect that tells you to 'untap target creature,' does not have to target a tapped creature. The word 'untap' is an instruction to untap the targeted creature; it is not a targeting restriction. If it were a targeting restriction, it would read 'untap target tapped creature.'

Q: I attack my opponent with two Bull Aurochs and he declares that he is blocking one of them with a Paladin en-Vec. After blockers are declared, I play Resize, targeting the unblocked Auroch. Once first strike damage is dealt to my blocked Bull Auroch, does he enter the graveyard at that time, allowing me to recover my Resize and play it before my unblocked Bull Auroch's damage is put on the stack?

A: Yes, that works. Immediately after first strike damage is dealt, your blocked Bull Aurochs will go to the graveyard. This will trigger the Recover ability. The ability will go on the stack and resolve, and you can then replay the returned Resize before normal combat damage goes on the stack.

Q: If I snag one of my opponent's creatures with Krovikan Whispers and "donate" it back to them by failing to pay the Cumulative Upkeep cost, which one of us will take the damage?

A: You will. You still control the Krovikan Whispers; it does not matter that it is attached to a creature that you no longer control. When it goes to the graveyard, you will lose life equal to the number of age counters on it.

Q: I control a Thrumming Stone and I cast Brainstorm. I put it on the stack, Ripple triggers. I reveal the top four cards of my library, which are Accumulated Knowledge, Dark Ritual, Null Rod, Brainstorm. I choose to play the revealed Brainstorm, which triggers Ripple again, revealing Polluted Delta, Mox Ruby, Mox Pearl, Duress. This allows me to play the AK and Ritual while they are in my hand, correct?

A: No. The Accumulated Knowledge and Dark Ritual you are referring to were put on the bottom of your library when the Ripple effect from Brainstorm #1 resolved and you played Brainstorm #2. When the Ripple effect resolves, you can play the appropriate card, and you put the non-played cards on the bottom of your library. You do not put these cards on the bottom of your library at some other time, and these cards are never in your hand.

Q: I use a Mizzium Transreliquat to copy Bloodletter Quill and add blood counters to it. Could I then have Mizzium Transreliquat copy a Rakdos Riteknife and have those same blood counters count towards the Riteknife abilities?

A: Yes, counter with the same name are interchangeable. It does not matter that this Transreliquat received these blood counters while it was a copy of a Bloodletter Quill, they will still be counted by the Riteknife ability when the Transreliquat becomes a copy of a Rakdos Riteknife.

Q: I wanted to double check on the interaction between Celestial Dawn and the new karoos in Ravnica block such as Boros Garrison. What I believe happens is if I have a Celestial Dawn out and play the Garrison, then it comes into play tapped as a Plains, and I don't have to return a land to my hand.

A: You are correct. The first line of text on the karoo lands is a static ability that generates a replacement effect. This replacement effect is applied to the karoo as it enters play, so it will come into play tapped. However once in play, this land is a Plains, and it will lose all other abilities. This means that its triggered ability will not trigger.

Q: I've got question on Blinding Powder and Suppression Field. Since Blinding Powder doesn't exactly specify a numeric cost for its unattach ability, does Suppression Field actually do anything to the ability's cost?

A: Yes. Unattaching the Blinding Powder to activate its ability is using an activated ability. (You can tell, as it uses the [cost]: [effect] format.) It does not matter that this ability does not normally require a mana payment to use, Suppression Field will make it cost 2 mana more.

Q: I have Enduring Renewal and Debtors' Knell in play. If I pull a creature from an opponent's graveyard with Debtors' Knell, and that creature subsequently goes to the graveyard, does it go back to into my hand?

A: No. Whenever a card would go to the hand of any player other then its owner, the card will go back to its owner's hand. So it will go to your opponent's hand.

Q: Suppose my opponent uses his Extruder's ability to try to add a +1/+1 counter to itself, and I Reroute the ability to target my Retromancer instead. Who takes the three damage?

A: Your opponent will receive the three points of damage. You may be changing the target of Extruder's ability, but your opponent is still the controller of the ability.