It’s my opinion that every serious tournament player should know the rules well enough to pass the Level 1 Judge test. Even if there are good Judges around, you’re better off knowing than doubting. It’s just one fewer thing for you to worry about; if you know you’re not going to get rules cheesed, you can concentrate on the important play decisions you have to make.
A while back I said that I’d do this occasionally; here’s the occasion. This little quiz is tricky, so pay attention. If you’re not a certified Judge and can answer all of them correctly, you should apply to the Certification Program. We could use you.
- It’s Shelley’s Draw Step, and she has two cards left in her library. She knows that top card is a Legacy Weapon. Kathy controls a Millstone. After Shelley puts her draw action on the stack, Kathy activates the Millstone. Will Shelley lose the game during this turn?
- Yes. The Legacy Weapon doesn’t trigger until after Shelley’s draw resolves. She loses the game as a State-Based effect because she is forced to draw a card that she can’t.
- Yes. Before the Legacy Weapon’s replacement ability kicks in, Shelley’s library becomes empty. She loses the game as a State-Based effect.
- No. The Millstone resolves, putting both cards in the graveyard. The Legacy Weapon triggers and goes on top of the stack. It resolves, going back into the library. Shelley successfully draws a card, which is the Legacy Weapon.
- No. The Millstone resolves, putting both cards in the graveyard. The Legacy Weapon’s ability modifies this, putting it back in the library instead. Shelley successfully draws a card, which is the Legacy Weapon.
- No. The Millstone resolves. Shelley reveals the first card, sees that it’s a Legacy Weapon, and shuffles it back in the library. She then reveals the next card. If it’s the Legacy Weapon, she shuffles it back in again. If it’s not, she puts the card in the graveyard. Either way, she successfully draws a card.
- True or false: Duress is a valid target for Misdirection.
- Adam has a City of Brass, Adarkar Wastes, and a Rune of Protection: Land in play. He wants to tap his lands for mana without taking any damage. Assuming he taps for white mana, which of the following is true:
- He can use the mana from both to activate the Circles of Protection.
- He can use the mana from the City of Brass but not the Adarkar Wastes to activate the Circles of Protection.
- He can use the mana from the Adarkar Wastes but not the City of Brass to activate the Circles of Protection.
- He can’t use the mana from either to activate the Circles of Protection
- Gini has a Crimson Acolyte and Alabaster Leech in play. Ferrett targets the Leech with Urza’s Rage with Kicker. Gini responds by using the Acolyte’s ability, targeting the Leech. What happens?
- When Urza’s Rage goes to resolve, the Leech has Protection from Red, making it an invalid target. The Rage fizzles.
- When Urza’s Rage goes to resolve, the Leech has Protection from Red, meaning red damage is prevented would normally be prevented. Since the damage can’t be prevented, the Rage resolves normally, destroying the Leech.
- When Urza’s Rage goes to resolve, the Leech has Protection from Red, making it an invalid target. Normally, this would counter the spell, but since Urza’s Rage can’t be countered, it resolves normally, destroying the Leech.
- When Urza’s Rage goes to resolve, the Leech has Protection from Red, making it an invalid target. The Rage is countered.
- When Urza’s Rage goes to resolve, the Leech has Protection from Red, making it an invalid target. Normally, this would counter the spell, but since Urza’s Rage can’t be countered, it resolves normally. Since the Leech has Protection from Red, the damage is prevented.
- True or False: Bind (a green spell) cannot counter the activation of Spectral Lynx’s regeneration ability, because the Lynx has Protection from Green.
- Jessica controls a Spectral Lynx and a Desolation Giant (a 3/3 creature). Sara has enchanted the Lynx with Shackles. She announces Orim’s Thunder with Kicker, targeting her own Shackles and the Giant. She responds by activating the Shackles. What happens?
- The Orim’s Thunder resolves, destroying the Shackles and doing three damage to the Giant, because the converted mana cost of Shackles is three while it’s in play. The Shackles’ activation does nothing because it’s no longer in play.
- The Shackles’ ability resolves and it returns to her hand. The Orim’s Thunder is then countered on resolution because its primary target is invalid.
- The Shackles’ ability resolves and it returns to her hand. The Orim’s Thunder resolves. It does nothing in regard to the Shackles and deals 0 to the Giant, because when it tries to read the converted mana cost of the Shackles, it’s no longer in play and therefore returns a value of 0.
- The Shackles’ ability resolves and it returns to her hand. The Orim’s Thunder resolves. It does nothing in regard to the Shackles and deals three to the Giant, because the converted mana cost of Shackles is three regardess of what zone it’s in.
- The Shackles returns to her hand because it’s part of the activation cost of the ability. The Orim’s Thunder resolves, destroying the Shackles and doing 0 damage to the Giant, because the converted mana cost of Shackles is 0 because it’s it’s no longer in play.
- True or false: The baseline penalty for Failure to Agree on Reality is a Warning for both players.
- Rob controls a Lashknife Barrier and a Desolation Giant (a 3/3 creature). Jeff plays Orim’s Thunder with Kicker, targeting the Lashknife Barrier and the Giant. What happens?
- The Barrier is destroyed and the damage is dealt simultaneously. The Giant takes two damage and survives.
- The Barrier is destroyed, then the damage is dealt to the Giant. Since the Barrier is no longer in play, its replacement effect no longer affects the damage. The Giant takes three and is destroyed.
- The Barrier is destroyed, then the damage is dealt to the Giant. Since the damage was locked in on resolution of the Thunder, the Giant takes three and survives.
- The Barrier is destroyed, then the damage is dealt to the Giant. Since the game sees this is a single event, the Barrier’s replacement effect will change the damage from three to two. The Giant survives.
- The Barrier is destroyed and the damage is dealt simultaneously. The Giant takes 3 damage and is destroyed.
- True or False: A player can waive a penalty that his opponent is about to receive.
- True or False: Losing the game because of poison counters is a State-Based effect.
Legacy Weapon reads”If ~this~ would be put into a graveyard from anywhere, reveal ~this~ and shuffle it into its owner’s library instead.”
Adarkar Wastes reads: {Tap}: Add one colorless mana to your mana pool. ; {Tap}: Add {W} or {U} to your mana pool. ~this~ deals 1 damage to you.
City of Brass reads: Whenever ~this~ becomes tapped, it deals 1 damage to you. ; {Tap}: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.
Crimson Acolyte: 1/1, Protection from Red. ; {W}: Target creature gains protection from red until end of turn.
Alabaster Leech: 1/3. ; White spells you play cost {W} more to play.
Urza’s Rage reads Kicker {8}{R} (You may pay an additional {8}{R} as you play this spell.) ; ~this~ can’t be countered by spells or abilities. ; ~this~ deals 3 damage to target creature or player. If you paid the kicker cost, instead ~this~ deals 10 damage to that creature or player and the damage can’t be prevented.
Orim’s Thunder reads: 2W. Kicker R. Destroy target artifact or enchantment. If you paid the kicker cost, ~this~ deals damage equal to that artifact or enchantment’s converted mana cost to target creature.
Shackles. Enchant Creature. 2W. Enchanted creature doesn’t untap during its controller’s untap step. ; {W}: Return ~this~ to its owner’s hand.
Lashknife Barrier (cost 2W) reads: If a source would deal damage to a creature you control, it deals that much damage minus 1 to that creature instead.
Orim’s Thunder reads: 2W. Kicker R. Destroy target artifact or enchantment. If you paid the kicker cost, ~this~ deals damage equal to that artifact or enchantment’s converted mana cost to target creature.
I’ll put up the answers after returning from Worlds. I hope that keeps your mind working for a while. If you stay sharp, you’re less likely to run afoul of the depredations of others.
And that’s my Final Judgement.
Sheldon K. Menery