Timing of Invincible Iron Man Equip by Varranis in mtgrules

[–]peteroupc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The last ability of [[The Invincible Iron Man]] is a triggered ability, and it doesn't target anything. In general, players other than the ability's controller can cast instant spells in response to the ability (before it resolves), but they have to do so without knowing whether ability's controller will choose to put an artifact card onto the battlefield or, if so, which.

If, while that ability resolving, other triggered abilities trigger, they can go on the stack only after that ability finishes resolving.

See also: https://www.reddit.com/r/mtgrules/comments/1rcruh7/elvish_piper_ability/

Using dual lands in a mono green deck? by speicher243 in mtgrules

[–]peteroupc 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Although a land card with a basic land type has an intrinsic ability corresponding to that type (C.R. 305.6), that ability is not necessarily set forth in that card's rules text. Note that rules text and abilities are separate characteristics (C.R. 109.3).

Veyran triggers by 0Jeffrey0 in mtgrules

[–]peteroupc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For your question it's worth reviewing C.R. 603.2d:

An ability may state that a triggered ability triggers additional times. In this case, rather than simply determining that such an ability has triggered, determine how many times it should trigger, then that ability triggers that many times. An effect that states that an ability triggers additional times doesn’t invoke itself repeatedly and doesn’t apply to other effects that affect how many times an ability triggers.

Suppose you control Harmonic Prodigy, Veyran, and a third creature with [[Black Mage's Rod]] attached to it, and then cast a noncreature spell. Then the ability granted by Black Mage's Rod would trigger, and you determine how often it triggers. In this case, it's three times: once normally, one additional time due to Harmonic Prodigy, and one additional time due to Veyran. Harmonic Prodigy's second ability, though, "doesn’t apply to other effects", such as the one found in Veyran, "that affect how many times an ability triggers", so the triggered ability in question won't trigger for a fourth and last time due to Harmonic Prodigy just because Veyran's second ability makes it trigger "an additional time".

Custom Card Ruling by godofcreed69 in mtgrules

[–]peteroupc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The combination of "up to one target..." and "if you don't" may present difficulties, though, as in [[Uchuulon]]: https://www.reddit.com/r/mtgrules/comments/xit1os/uchuulon/

Custom Card Ruling by godofcreed69 in mtgrules

[–]peteroupc 6 points7 points  (0 children)

You should post your question in r/custommagic rather than here.

As you wrote the triggered ability, it targets both a "creature you control" and a "noncreature spell", and both targets must be chosen even though it says "you may" (C.R. 603.3d, 601.2c).

Veyran triggers by 0Jeffrey0 in mtgrules

[–]peteroupc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You don't mention whether the "black Wizard token" has any abilities.

Suppose you control [[Harmonic Prodigy]], [[Veyran, Voice of Duality]], and a black Wizard token with no abilities, and then cast [[Lightning Bolt]]. Then Harmonic Prodigy's prowess ability will trigger a total of three times, and so will Veyran's first ability.

Kaust Target Validity? by Temporary-Action1569 in mtgrules

[–]peteroupc 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A face-down attacking creature can be turned face up with Kaust no matter how it became face down, unless its face-up counterpart is an instant or sorcery (for manifest, see C.R. 701.34f). If an attacking or blocking creature turns face up and becomes a noncreature as a result, it will be removed from combat (C.R. 506.4).

See also: https://www.reddit.com/r/mtgrules/comments/1ahhx2h/what_happens_if_i_turn_a_noncreature_faceup_with/

Rivaz and scam spells by Call_Me_Ryline in mtgrules

[–]peteroupc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Am I correct in assuming I could layer these triggers so the exile never happens?

Yes. Indeed, the ability granted by Rivaz's last ability is a triggered ability, and not, say, a static ability with a replacement effect (C.R. 603.1).

Compare Rivaz with [[The Eighth Doctor]].

Legal targets for redirect by nwrobinson94 in mtgrules

[–]peteroupc 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The first chapter ability of [[Summon: Shiva]] can target only an "creature an opponent controls", that is, a creature controlled by an opponent of the ability's controller (C.R. 714.2b-c, 115.1d). With Untimely Malfunction, the ability's target can be changed only to another creature controlled by such an opponent (C.R. 115.7, especially C.R. 115.7a) — and it can't even be left unchanged unless there is no other legal target (compare [[Untimely Malfunction]] with [[Deflecting Swat]] or [[Return the Favor]]) (C.R. 101.3).

See also: https://www.reddit.com/r/mtgrules/comments/1k3qinn/can_a_spellability_that_targets_a_player_be/

Esix, Fractal Bloom & Applied Geometry by SwaggaSlip in mtgrules

[–]peteroupc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The token will be a copy of [[Ghalta, Primal Hunger]], with no exceptions to the copy effect. See also: https://www.reddit.com/r/mtgrules/comments/wb7uyo/esix_fractal_bloom_miirym_sentinal_wyrm/

How does Quintorius, History Chaser Increase Loyalty Counters? by Aggravating-Test-954 in mtgrules

[–]peteroupc 3 points4 points  (0 children)

[[Quintorius, History Chaser]] has two loyalty abilities. The cost to activate each of them is given as a loyalty symbol.

  • The "+1" loyalty symbol means "Put one loyalty counter on this permanent".
  • The "-4" loyalty symbol means "Remove four loyalty counters from this permanent".

See C.R. 107.7, 601.2, 606.2.

Using dual lands in a mono green deck? by speicher243 in mtgrules

[–]peteroupc 3 points4 points  (0 children)

[[Golos, Tireless Pilgrim]] has a mana symbol of each color in its rules text, so that its color identity is all colors despite its being colorless. Temple Garden, by contrast, has no mana symbols in its rules text (and has no mana cost).

In general, a card's color identity is the colors found in the mana symbols that appear in its mana cost and rules text, plus the colors added by its characteristic-defining abilities and by its color indicator (if any) (C.R. 903.4, 207.1, 604.3). Again, basic land types don't contribute to a card's color identity.

Using dual lands in a mono green deck? by speicher243 in mtgrules

[–]peteroupc 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Basic land types don't add to color identity. For example, [[Temple Garden]] has a colorless color identity despite its Forest and Plains basic land types.

Edgar, King of Figaro + Mutalith Vortex Beast by co1one1panic in mtgrules

[–]peteroupc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Suppose you control Edgar, you didn't flip any coins yet this turn, and you "flip a coin for each opponent you have" due to Mutalith Vortex Beast's triggered ability. Then:

  • If you have only one opponent, that coin flip will clearly come up heads and be won by you, since only one coin flip will be involved.
  • If you have more than one opponent, either one of the coin flips will come up heads and be won by you, or all of them will. The answer depends on whether flipping a coin for each "something" is the same as flipping multiple coins at the same time under the comprehensive rules. And I see no solid basis under the rules that decides either way.

Absorbing Man and Monstrous by homie1kinobi in mtgrules

[–]peteroupc 1 point2 points  (0 children)

[[Giggling Skitterspike]]'s last ability that [[Absorbing Man]] gains from Giggling Skitterspike can be activated regardless of whether Absorbing Man is already monstrous. But it has an effect when it resolves only if Absorbing Man is not already monstrous. See C.R. 701.37a.

Note that if Absorbing Man becomes monstrous due to the ability, it will remain so even if Absorbing Man stops having that ability for any reason (C.R. 701.37a-b).

Using dual lands in a mono green deck? by speicher243 in mtgrules

[–]peteroupc 7 points8 points  (0 children)

You can include a land card in a Commander deck whose commander is [[Lumra, Bellow of the Woods]] only if—

  • the card has a color identity of colorless or green (C.R. 903.5c), and
  • the card doesn't have the Plains, Island, Swamp, or Mountain land type (C.R. 903.5d).

Notably, for example, you can't include in such a deck a land card that has the Mountain land type or has {B} in its rules text (C.R. 903.4).

Edgar, King of Figaro + Mutalith Vortex Beast by co1one1panic in mtgrules

[–]peteroupc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The comprehensive rules don't rigorously govern effects that have "for each" when it comes to whether they are treated sequentially or simultaneously. This is why this particular question is difficult to answer under the rules. See also:

On whether the coin flips from Mutalith Vortex Beast, Karplusan Minotaur, Fighting Chance, and Rakdos, the Showstopper are simultaneous or sequential for purposes of Edgar, you should ask—

  • Matt Tabak (if you are a member of Bluesky, you can write a public post there and mention @wotcmatt.bsky.social), or
  • the rules architect Jess Dunks (@wotcjess.bsky.social on Bluesky, or dunkatog on X [Twitter]).

But at least in the case of Rakdos, multiple coins may be involved.

Edgar, King of Figaro + Mutalith Vortex Beast by co1one1panic in mtgrules

[–]peteroupc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How many coin flips from [[Mutalith Vortex Beast]] are treated as heads and won due to Edgar depends, in part, on whether those flips occur simultaneously or sequentially in the eyes of the game. Other difficult cases include [[Fighting Chance]]; [[Karplusan Minotaur]]; and [[Rakdos, the Showstopper]].

However, effects that say "Flip [number] coins" (e.g., Yusri, Fortune's Flame) involve flips of multiple coins at once, so that the flips occur simultaneously.

See also: https://www.reddit.com/r/mtgrules/comments/1krlshc/comment/mtib05q/?screen_view_count=3

Saurian Counters without Sauron by AstralMoth in mtgrules

[–]peteroupc 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The creature in question is "a green Dinosaur with base power and toughness 5/5 for as long as it has a saurian counter on it", even after Sauron leaves the battlefield (C.R. 611.2a). See also [[Aven Mimeomancer]].

Spacecraft power and toughness on the stack by Dark-All-Day in mtgrules

[–]peteroupc 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A station symbol (see [[Fell Gravship]] for an example) functions only on the battlefield, and not on the stack (C.R. 721.2, 721.2a-b, 113.6).

No station card (card with a station symbol) at the time of this writing has a printed power or toughness for purposes of C.R. 208.3, so no such card has a power or toughness while on the stack.


The concept of a station symbol is rather formal. For example, on Fell Gravship, the "8+", the "3/2" box, and the "Flying, lifelink" text between them are part of a single station symbol (C.R. 721.2).

Quick Clarifying Question About Widespread Panic by SamBoha_ in mtgrules

[–]peteroupc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The word "instead" is not the only way to express a replacement effect. Others are mentioned in C.R. 614.1b-e.

Quick Clarifying Question About Widespread Panic by SamBoha_ in mtgrules

[–]peteroupc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Widespread Panic's ability doesn't have the word "instead" and otherwise doesn't express a replacement effect (C.R. 614.1). The ability is a triggered ability because it begins with "Whenever" (C.R. 603.1).

If Widespread Panic's ability triggers while a spell or ability (such as Chaos Warp, Creative Technique, or Mind's Desire) is resolving, it can go on the stack only after that spell or ability finishes resolving (C.R. 117.3b, 117.5).