Rules Tip of the Day: Most abilities that prevent damage do not target the source of the damage that is prevented. When offered a choice, you can choose to prevent the damage from a source that cannot be targeted, as choosing a source does not target.
Q: If I target a token creature with Momentary Blink does the rule about tokens ceasing to exist when they leave play prevent the token from returning?
A: No, tokens only cease to exist when state-based effects are checked, which is when a player would receive priority. No one receives priority when a spell or ability is resolving, so this token creature will return to play.
Q: If a creature attacks, can I declare blockers, put the declaration of blockers on the stack, and use Kher Keep to make a token creature to prevent the token to be destroyed before blocking?
A: No. First of all, the announcement of blockers does not use the stack at all. It is just something that happens at the beginning of the declaration of blockers step. In order for a creature to be able to block, it must be in play when the declaration of blockers step begins. This means that the last opportunity to make a Kobold token to block is in the declaration of attackers step. However, after this Kobold token is created, all players will receive priority to play spells and abilities before you advance to the next step. So, as you pointed out, your opponent can destroy this token before it can be declared as a blocker.
Q: I have three tokens in play. My opponent Shocks one of the tokens. Can I sacrifice it with the other two tokens to Flashback Dread Return in response?
A: No, Dread Return is a sorcery, and it can only be played during one of the main phases of your turn when the stack is empty. This is true if you play it 'normally' from your hand or if you play it via the Flashback cost from your graveyard.
Q: I have no black permanents in play, as I used my only black creature to chump block my opponent's Spectral Force. He did not untap the Force the turn after the attack, but he untapped it in the subsequent turn. Is he allowed to do this? Or does this creature stay tapped as long as I don't have a black permanent?
A: Spectral Force's ability only triggers when it attacks and the defending player does not control a black permanent. Then if the defending player still does not control a black permanent when this triggered ability resolves, an effect is created that prevents Spectral Force from untapping in the next untap step of the controller of the triggered ability (the player who attacked with the Spectral Force). This effect does not last for the remainder of the game. At most, the Spectral Force will be 'locked down' for one set of turns.
Also, it does not matter that your only black permanent was destroyed by the combat damage from the Spectral Force. Spectral Force's ability won't trigger in this example, as you controlled a black permanent when Spectral Force became an attacking creature. Because of this, Spectral Force will untap in its controller's next untap step.
Q: If I put a Stuffy Doll into play, choosing myself, and then equip it with a Pariah's Shield, does he simply do infinite damage to himself? What happens if I put a Spirit Link on him? Infinite life?
A: If Stuffy Doll in this example is equipped with Pariah's Shield and Stuffy Doll is dealt damage, then the game will enter a loop. It will be a draw unless one or the other of these permanents leaves play or the Pariah's Shield becomes unequipped from Stuffy Doll. When Stuffy Doll's triggered ability resolves, instead of you receiving point of damage, a point of damage will be dealt to Stuffy Doll. This will cause the triggered ability to trigger again, and this process will continue over and over. Unless you have previously enchanted Stuffy Doll with Spirit Link, you won't get the opportunity now. And even if you did, and were gaining life, you'd still have this loop and the game would be a draw.
Q: If I Flashback Conflagrate, discarding three cards, is the converted mana cost of the spell on the stack 1 or 7?
A: You are choosing a value for X and paying a cost based on that value. It doesn't matter that you are only discarding X cards, as the value X appears in the mana cost of Conflagrate twice, the converted mana cost will be seven.
Q: If someone Giant Growths their creature, after it resolves, what happens when I play Sudden Spoiling on it? Is their creature a 0/2 or a 3/5?
A: It'll be a 0/2. The effects from Giant Growth and Sudden Spoiling are both applied in same sub-layer (sub-layer 6b for the rules sticklers out there). Andas Sudden Spoiling resolved after Giant Growththe effect from it will be applied last.
Q: My opponent has a Skulking Knight in play. I target it with an Orcish Cannonade. Since his Knight has been targeted, he sacrifices it. What happens to the damage that the Orcish Cannonade deals? Do I receive 3 damage? Do I draw a card?
A: Because the Skulking Knight is not in play when Orchish Cannonade tries to resolve, Orchish Cannonade is countered on resolution, which means that no damage is dealt and you will not draw a card.
Q: Can I pay for Transguild Courier with four Pillar of the Paruns?
A: Yes. Transguild Courier is multicolored in all zones, so you can use the mana from four Pillar of the Paruns to pay for it.
Q: With Invasion Plans, can you choose for the opponent's creatures to not block at all?
A: No. Invasion Plans first ability states that all creatures must block if able. You may be able to choose how your opponent's creatures block, but all of the blocking choices you choose must be legal.
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