Rules Tip of the Day: All counters put on permanents in Magic have names. Counters generated by different effects but with the same name are interchangeable. Some abilities refer to specific counters by name, some do not. Those abilities that do not refer to specifically named counters (like Chisei, Heart of Oceans' upkeep triggered ability) can affect any counter.

Q: If a creature has two Bushido counters on it from Sensei Golden Tail, does it have Bushido 2 or two separate Bushido 1 counters?

A: It has two separate instances of Bushido 1. For the most part this is the same as Bushido 2, but each Bushido ability will trigger and resolve separately, so there can be some weird instances where this does matter.

Q: I have Toshiro Umezawa in play, and I play Hanabi Blast from my graveyard after killing a creature. With the random discard, I lose a different card. My opponent then makes me discard it with Nezumi Shortfang (or some other form of discard). Is it removed from the game?

A: No. When a card goes from one zone to another it is treated as a new object. When this Hanabi Blast leaves the stack and goes to your hand the effected created by Toshiro Umezawa's ability can not find it. This Hanabi Blast will not be removed from the game if your opponent' makes you discard it. In fact it will not be removed from the game even if it is randomly chosen as the card to discard when Hanabi Blast resolves.

Q: If I have Umezawa’s Jitte equipped to a creature with First Strike can I apply First Strike damage, get counters on my Jitte, and then use them to either pump my creature, or put -1/-1 counters on an opponents' creature. In this instance, if I was attacking with two creatures, one of which has First Strike and is equipped by the Jitte, can I remove counters on the Jitte to give the blocking -1/-1 thereby reducing it's power/toughness during the combat step?

A: Yes that works. The reason is that the Jitte's ability will trigger when the equipped creature deals combat damage. If this equipped creature deals First Strike combat damage then the counters will be added to the Jitte and you will be able to remove these counters to activate the Jitte's ability before the normal combat damage step.

Q: I have Mycosynth Lattice in play with a few creatures, basic lands, and enchantments. My opponent also has a few lands, creatures, and enchantments in play. What happens when my opponent plays Cataclysm? Do we still each get to keep 1 creature, 1 land and 1 enchantment and 1 artifact, or do we loose everything but a single permanent each because the Lattice turns everything into artifacts?

A: You each keep 1 creature, 1 artifact, 1 land and 1 enchantment if you want. It does not matter if the creature you choose to 'save' is also an artifact, this also applies to the other permanent types as well. However you can choose thee same permanent as the artifact and creature if you want to, but you are not forced to.

The following four question were all were some I received from players on the floor at Pro Tour Philadelphia this past weekend (btw, nice job at the Pro Tour, Chris--Sheldon).

Q: If I use Shining Shoal to redirect the damage from an attacking creature equipped with Umezawa’s Jitte to the controller of this attacking creature will the Jitte receive counters?

A: Yes. When damage is redirected it is source and kind of damage is still thee same. When combat damage resolves this equipped attacking creature is still dealing combat damage, just to a different player therefore the Jitte’s ability will trigger and it will get the two counters.

Q: Can I choose to redirect damage from a source to Opal-Eye, Konda’s Yojimbo if this chosen source has protection from white?

A: Yes, Opal-Eye’s ability does not target the source of the damage that it redirects. Because of this, you can choose to a source that has protection from white.

Q: If a creature equipped Umezawa’s Jitte is removed from the play after combat damage has resolved and the Jitte’s ability has triggered, does the Jitte get counters or does the Jitte’s ability recheck to see if it equipped when the ability resolves?

A: Umezawa's Jitte will still get the counters in this situation. Its triggered ability only cares that is currently equipped to an creature when combat dealt combat damage resolves. If this creature leaves play after that the Jitte’s triggered ability will still resolve.

Q: Do players take mana burn from mana left in their pools when Time Stop resolves?

A: Yes. Players take mana burn for any mana left in their pool when any phases ends. It does not matter that the current phase ends during the resolution of Time Stop. Mana pools are still emptied and player will loss life for each unspent mana at this time.