The Knowledge Pool

How things work in Magic: the Gathering. Posts will include why combos work, explanation of rules, mathematical findings, and answers to readers' questions. My name is Matt Braddock. I often go by mafteechr online, and I am a rules advisor. If you have any rules questions that you would like answered by me, click Q&A below.

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Double-Faced Cards and Transforming

This will be a quick article highlighting some of the new rules concerning double-faced cards and the transform mechanic, and addressing some questions that have been raised.

First, some very basic rules.

711.1. Each double-faced card has a Magic card face on each side rather than a Magic card face on one side and a Magic card back on the other. Each face may have abilities that allow the permanent to "transform," or turn over to its other face. Tokens and cards with a Magic card back can't transform. (See rule 701.25, "Transform.")

711.1a A double-faced card's front face is indicated by the sun symbol in its upper left corner.

711.1b A double-faced card's back face is indicated by the moon symbol in its upper left corner.

711.1c While a double-faced card is in a public zone, each player may look at both faces.

711.1d If the back face of a double-sided card is a creature, the front face of that card will have the back face's power and toughness printed in italicized gray text in the lower right of its text box. This is reminder text and has no effect on game play.

Now, some more finer details about each face of the card.

711.2. Each face of a double-faced card has its own set of characteristics.

711.2a In every zone other than the battlefield, and also on the battlefield with its front face up, a double-faced card has only the characteristics of its front face.

711.2b While a double-faced permanent's back face is up, it has only the characteristics of its back face. The back face doesn't have a mana cost; it has the colors in its color indicator (see rule 202.2e).

Some consequences of these rules include the converted mana cost of double-faced cards on the battlefield. If using Birthing Pod, a card with it's back face up will have a converted mana cost of zero and can only fetch a creature with converted mana cost of one. Additionally, Ratchet Bomb can be used with zero counters on it to destroy all double-faced cards with their back face up.

711.8. If an effect instructs a player to name a card, the player may name either face of a double-faced card but not both.

This rule is important for cards such as Surgical Extraction. Note that with rule 711.2a above, you must name the front face of the card if the card is in any zone other than the battlefield.

One of the biggest troubles is cloning a double-faced cards.

711.3. Except for determining whether or not a permanent can transform, a spell, ability, or rule that needs information about a double-faced permanent sees only the information given by the face that's currently up.

701.25a Only permanents represented by double-faced cards can transform. (See rule 711, "Double-Faced Cards.") If a spell or ability instructs a player to transform any permanent that isn't a double-faced card, nothing happens.

For example, if you cast Phyrexian Metamorph copying Thraben Sentry, it will only have the characteristics of the side face up, in this case, the front face. If another creature you control dies (which is the trigger for Thraben Sentry's transform ability), then Phyrexian Metamorph will not transform, because it physically does not have two sides.

Another example, if you cast Phantasmal Image copying Thraben Militia, it will only have the characteristics of the side face up, in this case, the back face. Thus, the converted mana cost of Phantasmal Image will be zero.

Transforming is another concern for some players, whether or not it affects counters, equipment, and other objects.

711.7. When a double-faced permanent transforms, it doesn't become a new object. Any effects that applied to that permanent will continue to apply to it after it transforms.

Thus, any triggered abilities for creatures or permanents entering the battlefield will not trigger. Additionally, any auras, equipment, counters, and damage marked on the permanent will remain on the permanent after transforming.

Here are a few rules concerning casting and resolving of double-faced cards.

711.4. If a double-faced card is cast as a spell, it's put on the stack with its front face up. A double-faced card can't be cast face down. See rule 601, "Casting Spells."

711.5. A double-faced card enters the battlefield with its front face up.

To end this article, I will leave the remaining rules I have not touched on. Most of these will relate to older mechanics.

711.6. A double-faced permanent always has the status "face up" (see rule 110.6). Double-faced permanents can't be turned face down. If a spell or ability tries to turn a double-faced permanent face down, nothing happens.

701.25c Although transforming a permanent uses the same physical action as turning a permanent face up or face down, they are different game actions. Abilities that trigger when a permanent is turned face down won't trigger when that permanent transforms, and so on.

If you have any questions for me regarding double-faced cards, the transform mechanic, specific applications of either new topic, or any other questions, please feel free to ask using the Magic Rules Q&A link on the left.

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Can Thun, the last troll be the target of Oblivion Ring. If so Can you get me the exact ruling

It depends. Thrun, the Last Troll specifically states the following:

Thrun can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.

This is now known as hexproof. Oblivion Ring is a permanent with a triggered ability. If it is controlled by your opponent, then Thrun, the Last Troll could not be targeted by it. If Oblivion Ring is controlled by the same controller of Thrun, the Last Troll, then it can be targeted and exiled.

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Can you copy all of staggershock's effects (rebound) with a reverberate? Thanks.

No. Check out the ruling on rebound (which is also in the reminder text on Staggershock):

702.86a Rebound appears on some instants and sorceries. It represents a static ability that functions while the spell is on the stack and may create a delayed triggered ability. “Rebound” means “If this spell was cast from your hand, instead of putting it into your graveyard as it resolves, exile it and, at the beginning of your next upkeep, you may cast this card from exile without paying its mana cost.”

Only spells cast from your hand will be exiled. Thus, any copies that are created will not be exiled for rebound.

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Copying Objects

Spells and creatures that copy and become copies are some of the most difficult cards to fully grasp. The effort in this article will be to quote rules, then share examples to demonstrate the rules.

706.2. When copying an object, the copy acquires the copiable values of the original object’s characteristics and, for an object on the stack, choices made when casting or activating it (mode, targets, the value of X, whether it was kicked, how it will affect multiple targets, and so on). The “copiable values” are the values derived from the text printed on the object (that text being name, mana cost, card type, subtype, supertype, expansion symbol, rules text, power, toughness, and/or loyalty), as modified by other copy effects, by “as . . . enters the battlefield” and “as . . . is turned face up” abilities that set characteristics, and by abilities that caused the object to be face down. Other effects (including type-changing and text-changing effects), status, and counters are not copied.

Example: You control a Birthing Pod. You cast Phantasmal Image copying an opponent's Hero of Oxid Ridge. After it resolves, you activate Birthing Pod's ability and sacrifice Phantasmal Image. You may then choose a creature with a converted mana cost equal to 5 from your library to put on the battlefield. Mana cost (and converted mana cost) are a copied value.

Example: You control a Pyromancer Ascension with 2 charge counters on it. You cast Heat Ray with X=5. After you cast Heat Ray, Pyromancer Ascension's second ability triggers and goes on the stack. Once it resolves, a copy of Heat Ray is placed on top of the stack. When it resolves, it will deal 5 damage to target creature. Copied spells on the stack copy the value of X.

Example: You cast Clone and have it copy a Protean Hyrda with 6 +1/+1 counters on it (six was value chosen for X). When Clone resolves, it will be a copy of Protean Hydra with zero +1/+1 counters and will be sent to the graveyard as state-based actions are checked. Objects that copy a permanent treat X=0 in the mana cost. Additionally, counters are not copied.

Example: You control a Batterskull and cast Phyrexian Metamorph copying the Batterskull. Once it resolves, a Germ token is created and Phyrexian Metamorph is attached to it. You may then attach Phyrexian Metamorph to another creature and return Phyrexian Metamorph to your hand (both of which are abilities of Batterskull). A copy gains all abilities (rules text) of the object it copies.

Example: You control Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas and Tumble Magnet. You use Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas' second loyalty ability targeting Tumble Magnet, and it becomes a 5/5 artifact creature. Then, you cast Phyrexian Metamorph copying Tumble Magnet. When it resolves, Phyrexian Metamorph will have 3 charge counters on it and Tumble Magnet's abilities. It will not, however, be a 5/5 artifact creature. Type-changing effects are not copied.

706.5. An object that enters the battlefield “as a copy” or “that’s a copy” of another object becomes a copy as it enters the battlefield. It doesn’t enter the battlefield, and then become a copy of that permanent. If the text that’s being copied includes any abilities that replace the enters-the-battlefield event (such as “enters the battlefield with” or “as [this] enters the battlefield” abilities), those abilities will take effect. Also, any enters-the-battlefield triggered abilities of the copy will have a chance to trigger.

Example: Your opponent controls a Sun Titan, and you have an Oblivion Ring in your graveyard. You cast Phantasmal Image copying Sun Titan. As it resolves, you may put Oblivion Ring from your graveyard onto the battlefield (Sun Titan's enters-the-battlefield triggered ability). Copies enter the battlefield as a copy, and all enters-the-battlefield triggered abilities it acquires will trigger.

This has covered the basics and most frequently asked questions about copies. If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask here.

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Phyrexian Metamorph & Leonin Relic-Warder

Background: Two cards from the Scars of Mirrodin block. Combos with any permanent with "whenever another creature enters the battlefield (under your control)" triggered abilities, such Suture Priest and Warstorm Surge. Requires understanding of triggered abilities and copiable values.

How it works: The trick is to have Phyrexian Metamorph enter the battlefield as a copy of Leonin Relic-Warder with another permanent that has a "whenever another creature enters the battlefield (under your control)" triggered ability.

706.2a A copy acquires the color of the object it’s copying because that value is derived from its mana cost. A copy acquires the abilities of the object it’s copying because those values are derived from its rules text. A copy doesn’t wind up with two values of each ability (that is, it doesn’t copy the object’s abilities and its rules text, then have that rules text define a new set of abilities).

706.5. An object that enters the battlefield “as a copy” or “that’s a copy” of another object becomes a copy as it enters the battlefield. It doesn’t enter the battlefield, and then become a copy of that permanent. If the text that’s being copied includes any abilities that replace the enters-the-battlefield event (such as “enters the battlefield with” or “as [this] enters the battlefield” abilities), those abilities will take effect. Also, any enters-the-battlefield triggered abilities of the copy will have a chance to trigger.

Since Phyrexian Metamorph gains Leonin Relic-Warder's abilities as it enters the battlefield, the first ability will trigger. Additionally, since Phyrexian Metamorph retains being an artifact, it is a legal target for the ability. Thus, as it enters the battlefield, it exiles itself. This causes the second ability to go on the stack, returning Phyrexian Metamorph and causing it's first ability to trigger again. This can be continued ad nauseam until the controller either copies another creature or artifact, or declines to copy anything (sending Phyrexian Metamorph to the graveyard for having zero toughness). For each time that Phyrexian Metamorph returns to the battlefield, the permanent on the field with the "whenever another creature enters the battlefield (under your control)" ability will trigger. For Suture Priest, this yields an arbitrarily large amount of life. For Warstorm Surge, it deals an arbitrarily large amount of direct damage.

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Sundial of the Infinite

Background: New card released in the Magic 2012 Core Set. Combos well with multiple cards, such as Mimic Vat, Glimmerpoint Stag, Oblivion Ring and Venser, the Sojourner. Requires an understanding of delayed triggered abilities.

How it works: When ending the turn with Sundial of the Infinite, any spells or abilities on the stack are exiled. This allows manipulation of cards such as Mimic Vat and Glimmerpoint Stag. The tokens created by Mimic Vat will remain on the battlefield (with haste) indefinitely and permanents exiled by Glimmerpoint Stag will remain exiled for the rest of the game.

603.7. An effect may create a delayed triggered ability that can do something at a later time. A delayed triggered ability will contain “when,” “whenever,” or “at,” although that word won’t usually begin the ability.

603.7b A delayed triggered ability will trigger only once—the next time its trigger event occurs—unless it has a stated duration, such as “this turn.”

In order for this work, timing is key. For both Mimic Vat and Glimmerpoint Stag, the delayed triggered ability is put on the stack during the end step. If Sundial of the Infinite is activated at any time prior to the end step, the end step will be skipped and the ability will trigger during the opponent's end step. The proper execution of the combo is to activate Sundial of the Infinite during the end step while the triggered ability is on the stack, exiling it. Thus, it will not trigger again.

A similar trick is used to manipulate Oblivion Ring and Venser, the Sojourner. Once Oblivion Ring is on the battlefield and a nonland permanent has been exiled, you can activate Venser, the Sojourner's first ability during the second main phase, exiling Oblivion Ring. Once this resolves, Oblivion Ring's second ability will go on the stack. It is at this moment that Sundial of the Infinite can be activated to exile the nonland permanent for the rest of the game. It should be noted that this is done during the second main phase, thus Oblivion Ring will return to the battlefield during the opponent's end step from Venser, the Sojourner's delayed triggered ability.

While Sundial of the Infinite works for abilities that trigger "at the beginning of the next end step," it will not work for abilities that trigger "at the beginning of the end step," such as Putrefax. This is because Putrefax (and other cards with this wording) will trigger at every end step. Thus, you will be unable to save the creature during your opponent's turn. Additionally, any abilities which last "until end of turn" are also unable to be broken using Sundial of the Infinite. This is noted in the reminder text on the card.

There are further applications of Sundial of the Infinite, but the ones covered in this article are relevant to the current standard format.