Rules Tip of the Day: Regardless of which two modes you choose when playing a Command spell from Lorwyn, these two modes will resolve in the order written on the card. You cannot choose the order that these effects occur.

Q: If I have a creature with a Makeshift Mannequin counter on it and I try to attach Deathrender (targeting the creature), will the creature die before Deathrender's ability triggers, or will Deathrender become equipped before the creature goes to the graveyard, allowing me to put a creature into play?

A: When you play Deathrender's Equip ability, the triggered ability given to this creature by Makeshift Mannequin will trigger and go on the stack on top of the Equip ability. This will cause this creature to be sacrificed before Deathrender becomes attached to it, so Deathrender's triggered ability will not be able to trigger.

Q: The new Changeling creatures have every creature type. Would this allow me to apply a creature type that hasn't existed yet? For example, "Shrine", to activate extra abilities from the Hondens?

A: No, Shrine is an enchantment subtype, not a creature one. The Changeling ability gives the creature with Changeling all creature types that exist in Magic. It does not give this creature anything other than those creature types.

Q: Can I tap a Surgespanner for Springleaf Drum's ability and then use that mana to pay for Surgespanner's triggered ability?

A: Yes. Surgespanner's ability triggers whenever you tap it, regardless of what causes it to become tapped. In this example, you will get whatever mana you choose as soon as you activate the Drum's ability. This will cause Surgespanner's ability to go on the stack. You will choose a target for this ability at this time. Then, when the ability resolves, you can pay 1U to return the targeted permanent to its owner's hand.

Q: At the start of my turn, my opponent uses his Amoeboid Changeling to make my White Pegasus creature token lose all creature types until the end of turn. Since the token's name is still Pegasus, am I able to sacrifice it to my Sacred Mesa or is the sacrifice based on creature type?

A: No, you cannot sacrifice it to satisfy Sacred Mesa's ability's effect. When an effect refers to a type or subtype, it means a permanent with that type or subtype, regardless of the name of that permanent.

Q: If I attach Whispersilk Cloak to my Knight of the Holy Nimbus, can my opponents pay to stop the Nimbus from regenerating?

A: Yes. Playing the Knight's ability does not target it.

Q: My friend and I were doing some playtesting when a curious question came up about the interaction of Isochron Scepter and Venser, Shaper Savant came up. She said that I can't target the spell that the Scepter generates with a Venser, because it is not technically a card, and cannot be resolved properly because it cannot go back to your hand if it does not exist. I said that Venser could target the spell, and because it was not a real card, it effectively countered it, because it can't exist in other zones.

A: You are correct. Venser's comes-into-play ability can target any spell on the stack, including those spells that are copies of other objects and not represented by actual cards. When this ability resolves, the targeted spell will leave the stack and go to the hand of its controller. Then, when state-based effects are checked, this copy will cease to exist. It works in a manner that is very similar to what happens when a creature token goes to the graveyard.

Q: If I have Circu, Dimir Lobotomist in play and I cast Sealed Fate, can I wait for the Sealed Fate to resolve before removing the top two cards from the game?

A: No. Circu's abilities trigger when you play blue and black spells. When you play Sealed Fate, these two triggered abilities will go on the stack on top of Sealed Fate. The triggered abilities will resolve first and you will 'mill' two cards before you can stack the top of your opponent's library.

Q: Is it possible to cast Brain Pry and target an opponent with no cards in his hand?

A: Yes. The only targeting restriction of Brain Pry is that you target an opponent.

Q: Can I use something like Ghitu Firebreathing while Confusion in the Ranks is in play and then return it to my hand to steal an enchantment for free?

A: No. When Ghitu Firebreathing comes into play, the triggered ability of Confusion in the Ranks will trigger. You can respond to this trigger by returning the Ghitu Firebreathing to your hand. However, Confusion in the Rank's ability uses the word 'exchange.' In order to perform an exchange, both objects involved in the exchange must be present when the exchange takes place. In this example, the Ghitu Firebreathing will not be in play when Confusion in the Ranks' ability resolves, so nothing will happen, and you won't gain control of another enchantment in play.