Rules Tip of the Day: Prowl is an alternate cost, and it can be reduced by effects that lower the cost to play spells.

Q: I have a Preeminent Captain in play. I attack with him, and with his static ability, I bring into play yet another Preeminent Captain. Now with the static ability of the new Preeminent Captain, can I bring a Benalish Commander into play?

A: Preeminent Captain does not have a static ability; it has a triggered ability that triggers when it is declared as an attacking creature. The ability of this second Preeminent Caption that you put into play will not trigger, as it has not been declared as an attacking creature. It does not matter that it was put into play attacking.

Q: If I have a Body Double in play, copying a Reveillark in the 'yard, as well as a Mulldrifter in my graveyard. I play Wrath of God. Can I bring back the Body Double and the Mulldrifter?

A: Yes. Body Double's power and toughness is 0/0 in any zone other than in play. This Body Double card in your graveyard will have a power of less than two, and will be a legal target for Reveillark's leaves-play triggered ability.

Q: If I have a Frogtosser Banneret in play and I play a Goblin Rogue creature, does its ability count twice, making the spell cost two mana less to play?

A: No. Frogosser Banneret's ability can only lower the cost of a single spell by one mana. It does not matter if a spell has both of the types that the Banneret ability affects.

Q: I know that it is possible to sacrifice Burrenton Forge-Tender and target a source that is not currently dealing any damage. Does the source have to be red at the time I sacrifice it?

A: Sort of; the source must be red when the Forge-Tender's ability resolves. You can sacrifice the Forge-Tender at any time. But when the ability resolves, you must choose a red source. Whether this source is about to deal damage to you, or is even capable of dealing damage, does not matter.

Q: I have a Centaur Omenreader and a Springleaf Drum and I want to play a creature spell that costs three mana. If I tap Omenreader with the Drum's help, will it be enough to play this creature?

A: It depends on when you activate Springleaf Drum's ability. When you play a spell, you announce it, put it on the stack, calculate its cost, then you can generate mana and pay all costs. If you activate Springleaf Drum's ability during the announcement of this creature spell, then the Omenreader's ability will not have lowered the cost of the spell. However, to get the result you want, you can activate Springleaf Drum's ability for mana before you announce this creature spell. If you do, then the Omenreader's ability will lower the cost of this spell, and you'll be able to use the mana from the Drum.

Q: If a Changeling is every creature type, wouldn't it be considered a Wall and be prevented from attacking?

A: Yes, they do have the creature type of Wall. However, the rules were changedseveral years ago so that there are no special rules that apply to specific creature types. The keyword Defender has been created and is given to Walls so they cannot attack. Changelings do not have Defender, so they can attack.

Q: My opponent dropped Muraganda Petroglyphs into play and I had a couple of Tarmogoyfs. Do my Tarmogoyfs get the +2/+2 bonus? I don't see any abilities on them.

A: Tarmogoyf does have an ability, its is the one that sets its initial power and toughness to X/X+1 based on the number of card types in all graveyards. This is an example of what the game calls characteristic-defining abilities. So no, it will not get +2/+2 from the Petraplyphs.

Q: If I have Kusari-Gama attached to Kiku, Night's Flower, can I use her ability during the combat phase?

A: Yes, but that won't cause Kurasi-Gama's ability to trigger. This is because the creature targeted by Kiku's ability deals damage to itself; Kiku does not deal any damage.

Q: It's my opponents turn and he attacks with all his creatures; I then play Tangle. He passes the turn, and on my first main phase, I play [[Insurrection]. At the end of the turn, my opponent regains control of the tapped creatures. On his turn, does Tangle's ability still apply and prevent the creatures from attacking?

A: Yes. The effect created when Tangle resolved which prevented those attacking creatures from untapping during their controller's next untap step will still be applied. It does not matter that these creatures untapped, changed controllers and then became tapped again. They are still the same creatures that were attacking when Tangle resolved.