Checking some rules :)

[GRUNT]

I was wondering if you guys could answer a few questions for me....I've tried searching for the answers myself, but can't find them anywhere else online.

Firstly- I quit magic around Exodus. I've only recently started picking the game up again with Ravnica, and even then, I'm budgeting myself ;). Apparently, a lot of rules have changed since I left, such as me being able to block with a Rainbow Efreet, deal damage, then phase out, killing the other creature, but letting my efreet live.

Apparently, the rules on protection was changed as well, for when last I left it, as long as the spell didn't target a creature with protection specifically, protection won't save it. Like, a black knight won't live if I cast a wrath of god. However, I recently read in an article at www.wizards.com/magic that Bathe in Light can protect your creatures from Pyroclasm- is this true? Would protection from Black prevent a creature from being hurt by pestilence?

Also, if my opponent casts a Hunted Horror, then casts a Necroplasm on the same turn, do my 3/3 protection from black tokens die at the end of his turn? (because the necroplasm will have 0 counters on it, and all creatures with converted mana cost 0 or less will be destroyed, which includes the tokens)

And just to make sure the rules are still the same as when I left them, a black creature can't block a creature with protection from black, right?

Also, Rishadan Port confuses me, I hear it's a very good card, but you're basically using two lands (you need to pay 1 mana to use the Port's ability) to lock down just one, and if you try to prevent me from using a land, can't I tap it for mana as a fast effect, anyway?

Also, why is Sakura-Tribe Elder a so-called 'auto-include' in any green deck?

Also, another small conundrum. There is a Kami of the Crescent moon in play, as well as 2 howling mines. I have 2 cards in my library and it's near the end of my turn. My opponent has 5 cards in his library. The situation is such that in the next turn he has (he only gets one turn or two because he'll draw out...), regardless of whether he gets one or two more turns, he can't kill me with what he has, but he knows I'll draw out sooner. However, I cast Meditate. Do I win? :P

[Einsteinmonkey]

Originally posted by GRUNT+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GRUNT)</div><div class='quotemain'>Firstly- I quit magic around Exodus. I've only recently started picking the game up again with Ravnica, and even then, I'm budgeting myself ;). Apparently, a lot of rules have changed since I left, such as me being able to block with a Rainbow Efreet, deal damage, then phase out, killing the other creature, but letting my efreet live.[/b]
Yup, 6E rules change.


Originally posted by GRUNT+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GRUNT)</div><div class='quotemain'>Apparently, the rules on protection was changed as well, for when last I left it, as long as the spell didn't target a creature with protection specifically, protection won't save it. Like, a black knight won't live if I cast a wrath of god. However, I recently read in an article at www.wizards.com/magic that Bathe in Light can protect your creatures from Pyroclasm- is this true? Would protection from Black prevent a creature from being hurt by pestilence?[/b]
This isn't a rules change.

Remember that Protection also prevents damage from the source. Wrath of God isn't covered by Protection, but since Pyroclasm deals damage, even though it doesn't target, the damage ends up being prevented with Protection.


Originally posted by GRUNT
Also, if my opponent casts a Hunted Horror, then casts a Necroplasm on the same turn, do my 3/3 protection from black tokens die at the end of his turn? (because the necroplasm will have 0 counters on it, and all creatures with converted mana cost 0 or less will be destroyed, which includes the tokens)
They die. Same case as Wrath of God.


Originally posted by GRUNT
And just to make sure the rules are still the same as when I left them, a black creature can't block a creature with protection from black, right?
Yep.


Originally posted by GRUNT
Also, Rishadan Port confuses me, I hear it's a very good card, but you're basically using two lands (you need to pay 1 mana to use the Port's ability) to lock down just one, and if you try to prevent me from using a land, can't I tap it for mana as a fast effect, anyway?
When you have an extra land, you can tap down your opponent's land, slowing them down a turn. It's used, for example, in Goblins.
And your opponent's use of the mana is limited if the Port is activated during his upkeep.

<!--QuoteBegin-GRUNT@
Also, why is Sakura-Tribe Elder a so-called 'auto-include' in any green deck?[/quote]
It's strictly better than Rampant Growth, as it provides a 1/1 chump blocker into the deal. This combination makes it a solid card, defending for usually a turn and then netting you a land.

<!--QuoteBegin-GRUNT
Also, another small conundrum. There is a Kami of the Crescent moon in play, as well as 2 howling mines. I have 2 cards in my library and it's near the end of my turn. My opponent has 5 cards in his library. The situation is such that in the next turn he has (he only gets one turn or two because he'll draw out...), regardless of whether he gets one or two more turns, he can't kill me with what he has, but he knows I'll draw out sooner. However, I cast Meditate. Do I win? :P[/quote]
As Meditate says 'Draw four cards. You skip your next turn." you have to draw the cards, so you'll draw the first two and then lose because you can't draw the third.

[GRUNT]

Alright, thanks for the clarification! Hope you dont mind a couple more questions :P.

Can I unattach sunforger as an instant? I know I can only equip as a sorcery, but I don't know if I can unattach at instant-speed :P.

Oh yeah, and if I have a Sneak Attack in play, and I pay 1 red mana to cast a Viashino Sandstalker and attack with it, at the end of my turn, do I need to sacrifice it, or return it to my hand? o_0

[Einsteinmonkey]

Originally posted by GRUNT+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GRUNT)</div><div class='quotemain'>Alright, thanks for the clarification! Hope you dont mind a couple more questions :P.

Can I unattach sunforger as an instant? I know I can only equip as a sorcery, but I don't know if I can unattach at instant-speed :P.[/b]
Yep, you can use its ability at instant speed because it doesn't say otherwise.

<!--QuoteBegin-GRUNT
Oh yeah, and if I have a Sneak Attack in play, and I pay 1 red mana to cast a Viashino Sandstalker and attack with it, at the end of my turn, do I need to sacrifice it, or return it to my hand? o_0[/quote]
You can choose which way you want to stack the end of turn effects since you control both cards. You would probably choose to put the Sneak Attack trigger on the stack first, and then the Sandstalker trigger, so that the Sandstalker's triggered ability would resolve first, returning it to your hand. Then it's not in play when Sneak Attack's triggered ability resolves so you can't sacrifice it.

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by GRUNT
Alright, thanks for the clarification! Hope you dont mind a couple more questions :P.

Can I unattach sunforger as an instant? I know I can only equip as a sorcery, but I don't know if I can unattach at instant-speed :P.

Oh yeah, and if I have a Sneak Attack in play, and I pay 1 red mana to cast a Viashino Sandstalker and attack with it, at the end of my turn, do I need to sacrifice it, or return it to my hand? o_0

I'll take these.

You can unnatach sunforger as an instant because there is no rules text saying you can't.

With Viashino sandstalker, they both trigger at the end of turn step. So at the EOT step, both abilities go on the stack, sinse they are your abilities, you get to chose in which order they go in. The one you put on the bottom of the stack is the one that resolves last. So if you put the sneak attack on the bottom and sandstalker's trigger on top, you can safely get back your sandstalker.

I dont think Einstein Monkey clearly told you about protection

Protection from X means that it can't be dealt damage, enchanted, targetted, or blocked by X. Pyroclasm won't kill it because (even tho its not targetting) it is dealing red damage. Wrath of god will kill a pro. white creature because it's not dealing damage or targetting. But say, a 2/2 pro. black would die to hideous laughter because its not damage or targetting either.

EDIT

Argh, i was too slow.

[Ultima66]

Okay, for Protection, just remember DEBT.

D- Damage
E- Enchanted or equipped
B- Blocked
T- Targetted

[GRUNT]

Originally posted by Einsteinmonkey

As Meditate says 'Draw four cards. You skip your next turn." you have to draw the cards, so you'll draw the first two and then lose because you can't draw the third.

Actually, it says "Skip your next turn: Draw four cards". But I'd still lose, right? :P

Thanks for the speedy replies, all! :)

[Einsteinmonkey]

Originally posted by GRUNT+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GRUNT)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-Einsteinmonkey

As Meditate says 'Draw four cards. You skip your next turn." you have to draw the cards, so you'll draw the first two and then lose because you can't draw the third.

Actually, it says "Skip your next turn: Draw four cards". But I'd still lose, right? :P

Thanks for the speedy replies, all! :)[/b][/quote]
Yup. I was quoting the oracle wording - the up to date wording.

[Streetz]

Einstein.. would you like to head the RULES forum? If you say yes.. then I will make it.

[Neuromancer]

I might help out in that forum too if I'm needed 8)

[Einsteinmonkey]

We have a rules forum now?

[Maleficent]

Can I change my creatures' types to "Shrine" (via Imagecrafter or the like) to count for Hondens?

[lionden_56]

No. This question was brought up in a Saturday School article (I don't feel like looking it up right now). I might later. You have to name a real creature type. Since there are no honden creatures, it doesn't work.
Edit: here's the exact link. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/daily/jc32 Its the question about 3/4 down the page, next to the pic of Conspiracy.

[Maleficent]

Sooo how about turning your enchantments into creatures (Opalescence maybe) and then changing them? lol

[Einsteinmonkey]

Honden still isn't a creature type. If there was some magical card which doesn't exist that changed Enchantment types, then it could work, but Imagecrafter and the like can't make creature types that don't exist.