Rules Tip of the Day: When on the stack, the value of X in the converted mana cost of a spell is equal to whatever was chosen when the spell was played.

Q: I have an Aeon Chronicler in play, and at least one card in my hand. I play Wheel of Fate, which causes all players to discard their hands and draw seven new cards. What happens?

A: You will keep this Aeon Chronicler. When Wheel of Fate resolves, you will discard your hand and then draw seven new cards. For a brief moment, the Chronicler is a 0/0 creature, but this occurs during the resolution of Wheel of Fate. State-based effects are not checked until a player receives priority, which will be after Wheel of Fate has completely resolved. At this point, the Chronicler will be a 7/7 creature, so it will not go to the graveyard.

Q: While playing casual magic, one opponent had an unmorphed Liege of the Pit with Vampiric Link on it and no other creatures. He was at seven life before his turn began. He said he would not die, since he would gain life from the Vampiric Link at the same time he was dealt the damage. Is he correct, or does he die?

A: Your opponent was wrong; he will lose in this situation. Vampiric Link has a triggered ability that uses the stack. When the Liege's upkeep ability resolves and the Liege deals damage, this ability will trigger. However, after this ability has resolved and before this trigger can even go on the stack, state-based effects are checked. At this point, your opponent will have a life total of zero and lose the game before he can gain back this life.

Q: If I have Vedalken Mastermind on the field and I enchant my opponent's land with Reality Acid. Do I still have the ability to return Reality Acid to my hand and make them sacrifice their permanent?

A: Yes, that works. The Mastermind can return any permanent you control to your hand, including those Auras you control that are attached to a permanent controlled by another player. Reality Acid has a leaves-play triggered ability that triggers any time it leaves play. This ability will trigger when it is returned to your hand.

Q: My opponent has a Thelon of Havenwood in play, as well as two Thallids with three spore counters each. If my Bogardan Hellkite comes into play, can I assign damage "in order" such that Thelon dies first, and the Thallids are 1/1s before assigning the remaining damage, or does the damage get assigned simultaneously, such that each of the Thallids are at 4/4?

A: You can get the result you want, but not because the damage from the Hellkite is dealt in a certain order. To deal lethal damage to all of these creatures, you need to assign just one point to each Thallid and two to Thelon. When the Hellkite's ability resolves, the Thallids will each receive a point of damage, and Thelon will be dealt lethal damage. Immediately after this ability resolves, state-based effects will be checked, and at this point Thelon will go to the graveyard. Then, because a state-based effect actually did something, state-based effects will be checked again. At this point the two Thallid's are 1/1 creatures with one point of damage on them so they will also go to the graveyard.

Q: If I'm playing a No Mercy and a Stuffy Doll enchanted by Pariah, would No Mercy's effect still fire and kill the opponent's creature since the damage is being redirected to Stuffy Doll by the Pariah?

A: No. Pariah will redirect this damage, so you will not receive any damage at all. Because of this No Mercy's ability will not trigger.

Q: If an opponent plays Stupor and the random part hits Guerrilla Tactics, do I name a target then or wait until Stupor resolves completely?

A: Whenever an ability triggers during the resolution of a spell or ability, it will wait until the spell or ability has completely resolved before it goes on the stack. And since you do not choose the targets of a spell or ability until it goes on the stack, you will not choose a target until after Stupor has completely resolved.

Q: If I have a Coalhauler Swine enchanted with a Spirit Loop, and I blow up a Bloodfire Colossus while I'm under 12 life, will I die before the ability from the Spirit Loop saves me?

A: Yes, state-based effects will be checked after the Swine's ability deals damage. At this point you will have a life total of zero and lose the game. In fact, even if your life total was 12 or higher, Spirit Loop's ability would not trigger and you would not gain any life. After the Colossus' ability resolves, the Swine and the Spirit Loop will go to the graveyard. Then, when the Swine's ability resolves, it will not be in play, and it is not enchanted by the Spirit Loop, so it will not be able to trigger.

Q: I have a face-down Chromeshell Crab in play and another 1/1 creature; my opponent has a Serra Angel. He attacks with his Serra Angel, and I turn my Crab face-up and exchange control of my 1/1 with the Serra Angel. What will happen here? No combat damage will be dealt?

A: Correct, as long as this happens before the combat damage step. When a creatures changes controllers, it is removed from combat if it is in combat. If this happens before the combat damge step, then it cannot assign combat damage.