Rules Tip of the Day: Only spells and abilities that use the word target actually target other objects. The exception to this is that Aura and some keyword abilities do target, even though they do not explicitly say so in their rules text. (They may refer to targeting in the reminder text.)

Q: Can you Spell Snare an Evoked Shriekmaw?

A: No. The converted mana cost of a Shreikmaw spell is five; it does not matter if it was played via its Evoke cost.

Q: I attack with Galepowder Mage and choose to remove from play Mangara of Corondor. Can I tap Mangara and use his ability, removing a permanent from play and then have him back at the end of my turn, as Galepowder Mage resolves?

A: No, that does not work, because Galepowder Mage's ability is a triggered ability, so you do not have that much control over when that ability goes on the stack. If you attack with Galepowder Mage, its ability will trigger and go on the stack. You can choose to target Mangara at this time. However, if you respond to this triggered ability by activating Mangara's ability, then Mangara's ability will resolve first. This will cause Mangara to be removed from the game permanently before Galepowder Mage's ability can temporarily remove it from the game.

Q: Can Oblivion Ring work on a Suspended card?

A: No, the Suspended card is not a permanent in play. Suspended cards are cards in the removed from game zone.

Q: If I enchant my opponent's Ohran Viper with Pariah, then he attacks with the Viper alone for one point of damage, will Pariah's replacement effect kill the Viper?

A: Yes. The damage from this Ohran Viper will be redirected from you to itself. This will cause the Viper's first ability to trigger. Then later, in the end of combat step, the Viper will be destroyed. (Technically, the Pariah's replacement effect does not destroy the Viper, it just sets it up so that the delayed triggered ability made by the Viper's own ability destroys it.)

Q: I have two Doubling Seasons in play and a Soul Foundry with an Arcbound Crusher inprinted on it. When I activate the Soul Foundry, I get four Arcbound Crushers. Do they all come into play simultaneously? And how many +1/+1 counters will each end up with?

A: These four Arcbound Crushers come into play with four +1/+1 counters on them. As they all come into play at the same time, their abilities will trigger once for each other. (So a total of 12 triggered abilities will go on the stack, three for each Crusher.) Each time one of these abilities resolves, the appropriate Arcbound Crusher will receive four +1/+1. When all of this has resolved, each Crusher will have 16 +1/+1 counter on it.

Q: I have Intruder Alarm and Meeskstone in play. When I play a creature spell, will my opponent's creatures with power three or more untap (because of Intruder Alarm's ability)?

A: Yes. Meekstone only prevent creatures from untapping as normal during their controller's untap step. It does not prevent anything from untapping at any other time.

Q: Serrated Biskelion, with one -1/-1 counter on it, is enchanted with Sadistic Glee. If the Serrated Biskelion uses its ability to kill another creature, are the -1/-1 and the +1/+1 counters canceled out, due to rule 420.5n, saving the Serrated Biskelion?

A: They would if they were both on the Serrated Biskelion at the same time, but that won't happen in this example. When the Biskelion's ability resolves, the targeted creature and the Biskelion will both receive a -1/-1 counter. Then state-based effects will be checked and both the Biskelion and the targeted creature will go to the graveyard, as they have a toughness of zero. This will cause the ability of Sadistic Glee to trigger; when this ability resolves, the Biskelion (and the Sadistic Glee) will be in the graveyard.

Q: Do Snow-Covered Mountains count for Spitting Earth?

A: Yes, when Spitting Earth resolves, it will deal damage to the targeted creature equal to the number of lands you control with the type Mountain. Lands you control that have this type but do not have the actually name of Mountain are counted.

Q: Is Thran Golem considered "enchanted" and does it receive it's +2/+2 bonus if the enchantment Serra's Blessing is in play and affecting it?

A: No. In order to be enchanted, the Golem must have an Aura attached to it.