#rules cited

[magicjudge]

Could we get a rundown on copiable characteristics please?

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, color indicator, card type, subtype, supertype, rules text, power, toughness, and/or loyalty), as modified by other copy effects, by its face-down status, and by “as . . . enters the battlefield” and “as . . . is turned face up” abilities that set power and toughness (and may also set additional characteristics). Other effects (including type-changing and text-changing effects), status, and counters are not copied.

The rule itself explains it fairly well, I think. If you have any follow-up questions, please let me know.

[magicjudge]

If the player that is the monarch loses by non-combat means, what actually happens to the monarchy?

716.4 If the monarch leaves the game, the active player becomes the monarch at the same time as that player leaves the game. If the active player is leaving the game or if there is no active player, the next player in turn order becomes the monarch.

[magicjudge]

Question: Is there a strict difference between "casting" a spell and "playing" a spell? I've seen both terms used in the rules text, so I was curious. Thanks :)

CastTo take a card from where it is (usually the hand), put it on the stack, and pay its costs, so that it will eventually resolve and have its effect.

Play1. To play a land is to put a land onto the battlefield as a special action. 2. To play a card is to play that card as a land or cast that card as a spell, whichever is appropriate.3. (Obsolete) Casting a spell used to be known as playing a spell. Cards with that text have received errata in the Oracle card reference.4. (Obsolete) Activating an activated ability used to be known as playing an activated ability.5. (Obsolete) The battlefield used to be known as the in-play zone. Cards that were printed with text that contains the phrases “in play,” “from play,” “into play,” or the like are referring to the battlefield and have received errata in the Oracle card reference.

[magicjudge]

This is more of a general question on terminology. Is whatever text that is in the Text box that is not flavor text considered an "ability"? Are separate paragraphs of text considered separate abilities?

112.3 There are four general categories of abilities:112.3a Spell abilities are abilities that are followed as instructions while an instant or sorcery spell is resolving. Any text on an instant or sorcery spell is a spell ability unless it’s an activated ability, a triggered ability, or a static ability that fits the criteria described in rule 112.6.112.3b Activated abilities have a cost and an effect. They are written as “[Cost]: [Effect.] [Activation instructions (if any).]” A player may activate such an ability whenever he or she has priority. Doing so puts it on the stack, where it remains until it’s countered, it resolves, or it otherwise leaves the stack. See rule 602, “Activating Activated Abilities.”112.3c Triggered abilities have a trigger condition and an effect. They are written as “[Trigger condition], [effect],” and include (and usually begin with) the word “when,” “whenever,” or “at.” Whenever the trigger event occurs, the ability is put on the stack the next time a player would receive priority and stays there until it’s countered, it resolves, or it otherwise leaves the stack. See rule 603, “Handling Triggered Abilities.”112.3d Static abilities are written as statements. They’re simply true. Static abilities create continuous effects which are active while the permanent with the ability is on the battlefield and has the ability, or while the object with the ability is in the appropriate zone. See rule 604, “Handling Static Abilities.”

[magicjudge]

How does Mairsil, the Pretender work with Jace, Vryn's Prodigy? if I have more than 5 cards in my graveyard will it effectively flicker him?

All you’re going to do here is strand Mairsil in exile, which is giving him a taste of his own medicine but not exactly what you were going for.

What happens here is that Mairsil exiles himself and then stays exiled because it can’t return to the battlefield transformed and so it doesn’t return to the battlefield at all.

711.8a If a player is instructed to put a card that isn’t a double-faced card onto the battlefield transformed, that card stays in its current zone. This is a change from previous rules.

[magicjudge]

Are all cards in all zones objects?

Yes, all cards are objects, as are abilities on the stack, copies of spells on the stack, etc.

109.1 An object is an ability on the stack, a card, a copy of a card, a token, a spell, a permanent, or an emblem.

[magicjudge]

I don't fully understand how the Dusk//Dawn and Snapcaster Mage interaction you mentioned works. How could it "grant" a flashback cost of 5WWWW, but you not have to pay that to flash it back? I understand not having to pay that for Dawn, due to aftermath, but how can you get away with flashing back Dusk by paying anything other than the flashback cost it was granted? Can you point me to where in the comprehensive rules that is supported? Thank, judge!

Right, so Snapcaster Mage grants Dawn /// Dusk flashback with a flashback cost equal to its mana cost. When it’s in the graveyard, its mana cost is 5WWWW, so that’s what its flashback cost is there.

However, the value of this flashback cost is constantly re-evaluated as per CR 702.1b: “An effect that grants an object a keyword ability may define a variable in that ability, such as X or its “[keyword ability] cost,” based on characteristics of that object or other information about the game state. For these abilities, the value of that variable is constantly reevaluated.”

When we go to cast the card from the graveyard, we choose which half we’re casting as we put it on the stack. When we choose to put Dusk on the stack, the flashback cost granted by Snapcaster Mage is now only 2WW because that’s Dusk’s mana cost on the stack, since the characteristics of Dawn are treated as though they don’t exist as per CR 708.3b. So when you choose to pay the flashback cost, that’s the alternate cost that’s locked in at that time.

[magicjudge]

so if my opponent casts an unsummon on a face down morph creature I have to reveal it? I was under the impression it was only if it was destroyed, is it for leaving the battlefield to any zone?

Any time it leaves the battlefield (or the game ends for its owner).

707.9 If a face-down permanent moves from the battlefield to any other zone, its owner must reveal it to all players as he or she moves it. If a face-down spell moves from the stack to any zone other than the battlefield, its owner must reveal it to all players as he or she moves it. If a player leaves the game, all face-down permanents and spells owned by that player must be revealed to all players. At the end of each game, all face-down permanents and spells must be revealed to all players.