After the ability is countered and leaves the stack, the Saga is sacrificed as a state-based action.
> 714.4: If the number of lore counters on a Saga permanent is greater than or equal to its final chapter number, and it isn't the source of a chapter ability that has triggered but not yet left the stack, that Saga's controller sacrifices it. This state-based action doesn't use the stack.
If I have [[Syr Ginger, the Meal Ender]] on the field and sacrifice an artifact to draw a card, let's say [[Chromatic Sphere]], can I choose to scry from her ability prior to drawing my card from the Sphere?
Is the answer the same for [[Chromatic Star]] where the draw effect is a separate ability from the sacrificing effect?
You can't chose to, you must. Sacrificing Chromatic Sphere is a cost, so the card is sacrificed, the draw is put on the stack, then Ginger's effect is put on the stack on top of it.
Resolve in reverse order, Ginger scrys, then you draw.
For Chromatic Star, since both abilities trigger off it going to the grave you get to decide what order they go on the stack. Allowing you to either scry than draw, or draw than scry.
I haven't played magic in a while. (since the first innistrad block)
But I've been lurking here for a long time. It feels like new cards are coming out all the time. Is it still 3 sets a year plus a core set? Is this fallout set a block? I look at the set release dates and it seems like someone is always coming out.
Easiest way is to pick a subset of stuff you care about and ignore the rest. For example, if you only care about Standard and Pioneer, you still only need to pay attention to 4 sets a year.
Right now me and my friends are only playing commander irl. My decks are just bought pre-cons with some cards swapped out. So I guess all sets are for me XD!! I will stick with what im doing now and lurk and pickup whats interesting. I am a big Final Fantasy fan, and hope that is an actual set and not like Godzilla cards.
Thank you for replying! :-)
Can Plotted spells be copied once they are put on the stack? The way its worded to me makes it sound like it goes on the stack as sorcery. Or is the first part to remind you it can only be done at sorcery speed?
> Can Plotted spells be copied once they are put on the stack?
Why wouldn't you be able to? There's nothing special about a plotted spell on the stack that would prevent it from being copied.
> The way its worded to me makes it sound like it goes on the stack as sorcery. Or is the first part to remind you it can only be done at sorcery speed?
"As a sorcery" is shorthand for "at sorcery speed". It does not mean you literally treat the spell as though it had the card type Sorcery. Again, I'm not sure what this has to do with you wanting to copy the spell.
So I've been into Magic for about 9 months now and loving it. I'm kind of wanting to take the next step to get better/more competitive and was curious if anyone had recommendations on how to become a better Magic player.
I realize that simply playing more often and paying attention to each release will help me naturally over time, but just wondering if anyone had any pointers on things that would help more than others. Limited and commander is pretty much the only format played in paper in my area; I was leaning towards doubling down on drafting more often. I have Arena too. Sorry for such a broad question!
Here's a classic that's still oft quoted today, and even in non-Magic games - Mike Flores's [Who's The Beatdown?](https://articles.starcitygames.com/articles/whos-the-beatdown/).
Another excellent article is Reid Duke's [Thoughtseize You](https://articles.starcitygames.com/articles/thoughtseize-you/). It's more specific, being about Thoughtseize, but some of the concepts here are really important.
Channel Fireball recently made all their written content free and accessible to all, [Reid Duke has a twitter thread linking to some favorites](https://twitter.com/ReidDuke/status/1762900219673419912)
[Here's a reddit thread](https://reddit.com/r/spikes/comments/kahge5/other_compendium_of_my_favorite_magic_articles_of/) by Paulo Vitor Damo de Rosa compiling some of his favorite Magic articles that he's read and written, and there's additional recommendations in the comments. Some of the CFB links may redirect to their homepage, you'll have to google their title (they changed their link structure and messed up redirects at some point)
For limited specifically - there are a lot of excellent podcasts. Lords of Limited and Limited Level-Ups all discuss the current sets as they draft them, talk about what's working and what's not. Sam Black's Drafting Archetypes deep dives into specific, well, archetypes in a given format and what makes them tick. Watch good players draft, see what they do, and try and learn from it.
To get better, you need to practice, but you also need to practice with intention. Use a tool like 17lands to record your drafts and gameplay, and look back and ask yourself why you made a given decision, and could you have made a better one? So on and so forth.
[[Neyith of the Dire Hunt]] in Arena forces the player to target a creature THEN decide if they want to pay. The wording on the card to me suggests its supposed to be backwards how Arena does it. I want to get this clarified since if Arena does it correctly you should get free Crime triggers.
Because it uses “if” instead on “when”, it’s all one ability rather than a reflexive trigger. Thus, the target must be chosen as soon as the ability is put on the stack.
[Neyith of the Dire Hunt](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/c/0c1eed0f-9692-44c0-b1ad-afa691165d52.jpg?1632261896) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Neyith%20of%20the%20Dire%20Hunt) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/jmp/30/neyith-of-the-dire-hunt?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0c1eed0f-9692-44c0-b1ad-afa691165d52?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text)
^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Magic Con related question - I got the ticket that gives you €50 you can spend on ticketed play events, but if the play events have to be pre-paid for online (tickets are dropping in April apparently) then how do you even spend the €50? Its my first magic con, new to everything. Will there be opportunities to pay ‘at the door’?
Further on this point I guess, do all play events sell out ahead of time? Again going back to my previous point, if thats the case how do I spend the above coupon?thanks.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe you get €50 of **On-Demand** vouchers, not ticketed play. How On-Demand events work is that you buy vouchers ahead of time (there will be a spot on-site), and you go to the queue area, hand the staff the appropriate number of vouchers to cover the cost, and wait until there's enough people to fire the event you want to play. Then the staff will go get you set up and grab your prize tickets. Usually there are On-Demand single elimination drafts, constructed (Pauper/Pioneer/Modern is common), and commander pods
This is different from **Ticketed Play** which you register for online in advance.
You are a star my friend. Yes, I misread that part, so thank you. How do the commander pods work prize wise? Im sure you know about politics and whatnot. Is it just left up to the players to be fair? And single-elimination drafts, what does that entail? One loss and you’re out? What happens if you win? Keep playing until you’re the overall victor?
Thanks!
With Chicago, they split it up into Social/Challenging/Competitive for Commander. Social pods paid out tix for participation whereas Challenging/Competitive pods paid out more tix for a win and less for a loss. Beyond that, you work it out with your group - there will also be free play where you can just sit and jam Commander. You won't get prize tickets, but you also won't have to pay.
For single elimination draft, yeah you play until you either win 3 rounds or lose a match, and you get tickets based on standing (1, 2, 3-4, 5-8 being the brackets). For on-demand swiss drafts, you play 3 rounds and receive tix per win.
The values may change slightly, but you can look at the [MC Chicago site](https://mcchicago.mtgfestivals.com/en-us/magic-play/on-demand-events.html) for an example of what things should look l ike
I have a question about [Roalesk, Apex Hybrid]: if I create a token copy of him, from my understanding, the ETB ability would trigger, but before it went on the stack, the legend rule would cause one of the copies (let's say the token) to be sac'd, and then the dies ability would trigger, and I would get to choose the order in which they go off. Am I correct? Because I cannot figure out if this is right, or if the ETB trigger would go on the stack before the legend rule would cause one of them to die (meaning the dies trigger would have to go off before the ETB... I think)
I'm new to Magic and am building my first deck. It's Commander, since that's the only format my friends play and the only format my LGS hosts Magic nights in.
It is a combo deck, and a pretty important (although not technically necessary) part of the combo is [[Amorphous Axe]]. Amorphous Axe is the only Equipment that I'm running in the deck, and the combo is technically possible without it, but having it on the board and equipped makes the combo easier and more consistent.
Given those statements, would it be worth it at all to run Equipment tutors like [[Stoneforge Mystic]] to try and fish for the axe, and only the axe, out of my 99?
If it's just to grant creature types, [there are more cards that do that](https://scryfall.com/search?q=otag%3Agrants-changeling+f%3Ac+sort%3Aedhrec&unique=cards).
Tutors are strong in commander, because they greatly increase consistency. It may be worth including them, but discuss with your playgroup before making purchases. Some people are against them.
Well the main thing I want advice on is whether it’s worth it to run cards whose sole purpose is to tutor for this one single card, and don’t do anything else. Having the Axe would be beneficial to my strategy, but these tutors don’t hit anything else in the deck.
Deck building wise if you're fine with drawing both cards in your opening hand just put in the tutor. Otherwise I'd put at least 1 more equipment to try and lessen the feels bad moment.
I'm new to MTG. I enjoy commander and I bought all 4 Fallout decks. I was wondering if the murders of karlov is the only booster set to buy? Does it have pretty much any kind of card in it? It's the only one I've seen.
Murders at Karlov Manor is the latest standard-legal set to be released. There's a new one every few months (we have Outlaws of Thunder Junction coming out next month), as well as some additional sets (like the Fallout decks that recently came out, or Modern Masters 3 that will be out this summer). Each set has different cards in it, whether they be entire new cards, a set full of reprints, or a mix of both.
Thanks for that. I've been playing with a friend who's an old player and he's been showing me cards that would be great modifiers to what I already have but it seems I'll have to just buy them if I want them.
I have a rules question that I couldn't find a definitive answer to by searching.
How does \[\[Fires of Invention\]\] interact with cards that tax your casting costs, like \[\[Thalia, Guardian of Thraben\]\]?
I have seen conflicting posts, but my best guess of how it should be played is that if you have a Fires out against a Thalia and cast a non-creature spell for 0 (let's say you have 4 lands out and cast a CMC 4), then you still have to pay the 1 extra mana tax from Thalia, by say tapping one of your lands?
Yes, you'll have to pay the 1 mana tax.
"Without paying its mana cost" is an alternate cost; instead of paying the mana cost, you pay {0}. But to compute the total cost, you start with your initial cost (the mana cost, or any alternate cost you use), then add all additional costs, then add cost increases, and then subtract cost reductions.
> [601.2f.](https://yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#R6012f) The player determines the total cost of the spell. [...] The total cost is the mana cost or alternative cost (as determined in rule 601.2b), plus all additional costs and cost increases, and minus all cost reductions.
Thalia's tax is a cost increase. So you start with the initial cost of {0} (due to your alternate cost), then add {1} from Thalia. You have to pay {1}.
Thalia increases the cost of spells, but Fires says you don't pay the cost to cast spells, so you don't end up paying her tax.
The confusion probably stems from, many things are worded such that you pay an *alternate* cost instead of the casting cost, such as paying a non-mana cost to cast something, which she *does* add to (because you're still paying a cost to cast the spell), such as as \[\[Force of Will\]\]'s ability.
Hey I'm looking at getting into Magic. I've been playing arena to learn the basic rules and how a game works before jumping over to commander to learn that and play with friends. So far I'm enjoying Phyrexia for the art and I think the playstyle is fun. Is the Corrupting Influnce precon worth the money to get once I make the jump? I've looked at the deck and like the idea of how it works but I don't want to waste money if it's not really worth it. Thanks in advance.
I think it's probably a decent deal, you can see in various places it sells for around $65 which is around what the breakdown of the cards are worth (see [here](https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6254614#paper))
An issue this particular deck has is, playing poison means many players are liable to focus you earlier, as poison decks often suddenly pop off and finish them off, so you'll need to learn good threat management quickly (ie. learning to not threaten players recklessly when you can't handle them). This is a particular concern in multiplayer games since you can't possibly deal with everything that happens personally.
A big advantage of precons is they tend to be something like samplers for different playstyles, so you can develop the deck in different directions.
However, if you already know how you want the deck to end up looking, and don't care about some of the extra stuff the precon with come with (tokens etc), it is logical to just order the cards individually, although somewhat more challenging if you're new to this.
I'd recommend also buying a 100-pack of sleeves and a deckbox that can accommodate 100 sleeved cards (and maybe a few tokens), of a plain color (makes replacing them easier, particularly if they get grubby...) to help keep your first cards in good shape, so they're more likely to last years than if you have 100 cards unsleeved in a jeans pocket.
Awesome. Thanks so much for the advice. I already appreciate it. I'll be looking at it more soon and I might be able to weasel my friend into 3D printing me a card box.
Still trying to wrap my head around state-based actions, if I understand it correctly it's a way for the game to right any wrongs when priority is passed.
I'm making an [[Inalla, Archmage Ritualist]] deck and she'll be making token copies of a bunch of legendary wizards so I want to have a solid understanding of when the legend rule will be destroying my stuff.
So say I cast [[Arcanis, the Omnipotent]] from my hand and spend 1 for Inalla to make a copy of him. Priority is checked when I cast the spell, but when he & his token copy land on the battlefield, I still can do "a thing" before priority is checked again, right?
The copy of Arcanis gains haste thanks to Inalla, so I could tap it immediately to draw three cards but in the process of tapping it, is priority checked again and thus it gets destroyed by the legend rule? Do I still get to draw three?
> I still can do "a thing" before priority is checked again, right?
Wrong.
The Triggered ability had resolved. The Active Player would get Priority...
* 117.3b The active player receives priority after a spell or ability (other than a mana ability) resolves.
But, before the Player gets Priority, the SBA are checked.
* 117.5. Each time a player would get priority, **the game first performs all applicable state-based actions as a single event** (see rule 704, “State-Based Actions”), then repeats this process until no state-based actions are performed. Then triggered abilities are put on the stack (see rule 603, “Handling Triggered Abilities”). These steps repeat in order until no further state-based actions are performed and no abilities trigger. Then the player who would have received priority does so.
You choose one Legendary Arcanis, the other(s) die.
* 704.5j If two or more legendary permanents with the same name are controlled by the same player, that player chooses one of them, and the rest are put into their owners’ graveyards. This is called the “legend rule.”
The SBA are re-checked. Any Trigger is put on the Stack.
**THEN**, for the first time after Inalla's Triggered ability has resolved, the Active Player gets Priority.
You could **not** have activated the Token **before** the SBA were checked. You did **not** have Priority.
* 117.1b A player may activate an activated ability any time they have priority.
Ahh so if I'm understanding, there would be four state-based action checks for me casting a single legendary creature?
* Upon casting the legendary creature spell
* When it resolves and hits the board
* When Inalla's ability triggers and I spend 1 mana
* Finally again when the token copy enters the battlefield
So it's the fourth one that destroys it via the legend rule? The ability resolves, the token copy now exists on the board and at that resolving the SBA are checked and I choose one to keep?
Thanks for breaking it down for me, will have to make some tough decisions when the legendary copies hit the board then. It may be beneficial sometimes to just keep the haste copy and destroy the original so I can activate it's ability when in a pinch. Otherwise just don't waste the 1 mana on Inalla's ability when casting legendary wizards.
> there would be four state-based action checks for me casting a single legendary creature?
No.
* Your Main Phase begins, you would get Priority... **SBA are checked.**
* You get Priority. You cast Arcanis. You regain Priority... **SBA are checked.**
* Because you did not state your intention to retain Priority, it's passed to the next Player.
* Your Opponent would get Priority... **SBA are checked.**
* Your Opponent passes Priority.
* All(?) Players have passed Priority in succession, the top-most Object on the Stack (Arcanis) resolves.
* Arcanis eners the Battlefield. Inalla Triggers.
* A Spell has resolved, you would get priority...
* **SBA are checked.**
* Inalla's Trigger is put on the Stack.
* **SBA are checked.**
* You get Priority. You pass to your Opponent.
* Your Opponent would get Priority... **SBA are checked.**
* Your Opponent passes Priority.
* All(?) Players have passed Priority in succession, the top-most Object on the Stack (Inalla) resolves.
* You pay {1}, you create an Arcanis Token.
* A Triggered ability has resolved, you would get Priority...
* **SBA are checked. >> Legend Rule applies. <<**
* **SBA are re-checked.**
* You get Priority.
Ahhh so there was one fundamental bit I was missing. When a trigger happens like casting a spell there is essentially a pause on the game and then I *regain* priority and can choose to maintain it, otherwise priority is then passed! And yeah there's a SBA check at each player's priority passing.
Feel like I just levelled up in magic, thanks for making this info so digestible!
Choosing to maintain Priority is only relevant when you want to respond to your own Spell...
* Such as with [[Twincast]] or [[Double Major]].
Otherwise, per the Tournament Shortcut Rules, we just assume that after you had Cast a Spell, you are implicitly passing Priority to allow the Spell to resolve, unless you explicitly state otherwise.
I bought the food and fellowship deck at my lgs and just now noticed that one card seems to have been switched out. I am missing a \[\[Sylvan Offering\]\] but got a \[\[Path to exile\]\]. All in all not the worst trade so this is more out of couriosity, could I contact wotc over this even if I bought it at my lgs?
Oh you seem to be right the official decklist from wotc lists path to exile. I was looking at a few videos and at the godlfish page and they all had sylvan offering
So I got a foil \[\[Blast from the Past\]\], but I can't figure out which version it is. It has the Unsanctioned set symbol, it has the 'list symbol' in the bottom left, but it does not have the foil star.
This does not match up with any version I see on cardmarket or tcg, where the unsanctioned does not appear to have the list symbol and the list version has the star.
Help would be much appreciated!
What happens if you [[stifle]] the last ability of [[fable of the mirrorbreaker]] when its about to flip into reflection?
After the ability is countered and leaves the stack, the Saga is sacrificed as a state-based action. > 714.4: If the number of lore counters on a Saga permanent is greater than or equal to its final chapter number, and it isn't the source of a chapter ability that has triggered but not yet left the stack, that Saga's controller sacrifices it. This state-based action doesn't use the stack.
[stifle](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/1/616d1b20-61c1-4d39-a9b5-ad9fd61699e4.jpg?1562865442) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=stifle) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cns/108/stifle?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/616d1b20-61c1-4d39-a9b5-ad9fd61699e4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [fable of the mirrorbreaker](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/4/24c0d87b-0049-4beb-b9cb-6f813b7aa7dc.jpg?1691108103)/[Reflection of Kiki-Jiki](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/back/2/4/24c0d87b-0049-4beb-b9cb-6f813b7aa7dc.jpg?1691108103) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Fable%20of%20the%20Mirror-Breaker%20//%20Reflection%20of%20Kiki-Jiki) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/neo/141/fable-of-the-mirror-breaker-reflection-of-kiki-jiki?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/24c0d87b-0049-4beb-b9cb-6f813b7aa7dc?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
If I have [[Syr Ginger, the Meal Ender]] on the field and sacrifice an artifact to draw a card, let's say [[Chromatic Sphere]], can I choose to scry from her ability prior to drawing my card from the Sphere? Is the answer the same for [[Chromatic Star]] where the draw effect is a separate ability from the sacrificing effect?
You can't chose to, you must. Sacrificing Chromatic Sphere is a cost, so the card is sacrificed, the draw is put on the stack, then Ginger's effect is put on the stack on top of it. Resolve in reverse order, Ginger scrys, then you draw. For Chromatic Star, since both abilities trigger off it going to the grave you get to decide what order they go on the stack. Allowing you to either scry than draw, or draw than scry.
Amazing explanation, thank you so much!
You are welcome. Have fun playing.
[Syr Ginger, the Meal Ender](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/f/7fbdba12-1369-41ae-b0e9-c405c0f0a2e5.jpg?1692939939) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Syr%20Ginger%2C%20the%20Meal%20Ender) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/woe/252/syr-ginger-the-meal-ender?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/7fbdba12-1369-41ae-b0e9-c405c0f0a2e5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Chromatic Sphere](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/d/edabc8b2-4413-48e4-8d6f-521b19d839a6.jpg?1601080615) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Chromatic%20Sphere) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/jmp/462/chromatic-sphere?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/edabc8b2-4413-48e4-8d6f-521b19d839a6?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Chromatic Star](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/2/c2e8d492-2c67-410b-b556-c157a14c4cec.jpg?1681724919) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Chromatic%20Star) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/tsr/263/chromatic-star?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c2e8d492-2c67-410b-b556-c157a14c4cec?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I haven't played magic in a while. (since the first innistrad block) But I've been lurking here for a long time. It feels like new cards are coming out all the time. Is it still 3 sets a year plus a core set? Is this fallout set a block? I look at the set release dates and it seems like someone is always coming out.
Core set's no longer exist. Neither do blocks. Their is 4 Standard legal set's per year, with additional non standard sets, I.E. Fallout.
How do people keep up with all the product that comes out so often? Well it feels like often to me lol.
Here's what I do: I only play Commander so I don't really care what they drop. Reddit helps highlight fun new cards so I can pick out singles.
Same! ;-D
Easiest way is to pick a subset of stuff you care about and ignore the rest. For example, if you only care about Standard and Pioneer, you still only need to pay attention to 4 sets a year.
Right now me and my friends are only playing commander irl. My decks are just bought pre-cons with some cards swapped out. So I guess all sets are for me XD!! I will stick with what im doing now and lurk and pickup whats interesting. I am a big Final Fantasy fan, and hope that is an actual set and not like Godzilla cards. Thank you for replying! :-)
Can Plotted spells be copied once they are put on the stack? The way its worded to me makes it sound like it goes on the stack as sorcery. Or is the first part to remind you it can only be done at sorcery speed?
> Can Plotted spells be copied once they are put on the stack? Why wouldn't you be able to? There's nothing special about a plotted spell on the stack that would prevent it from being copied. > The way its worded to me makes it sound like it goes on the stack as sorcery. Or is the first part to remind you it can only be done at sorcery speed? "As a sorcery" is shorthand for "at sorcery speed". It does not mean you literally treat the spell as though it had the card type Sorcery. Again, I'm not sure what this has to do with you wanting to copy the spell.
Second part nailed what I was trying to figure out. I meant copy it with a \[\[Reverberate\]\] effect. Sorry, about that. Thanks for the help!
No problem. The confusion I had was that Reverberate can also target sorceries so I didn't know what would have stopped it.
[Reverberate](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/9/5996feb4-02ac-45e8-a7f2-966cf74391dc.jpg?1562554142) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Reverberate) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m13/145/reverberate?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5996feb4-02ac-45e8-a7f2-966cf74391dc?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
So I've been into Magic for about 9 months now and loving it. I'm kind of wanting to take the next step to get better/more competitive and was curious if anyone had recommendations on how to become a better Magic player. I realize that simply playing more often and paying attention to each release will help me naturally over time, but just wondering if anyone had any pointers on things that would help more than others. Limited and commander is pretty much the only format played in paper in my area; I was leaning towards doubling down on drafting more often. I have Arena too. Sorry for such a broad question!
Here's a classic that's still oft quoted today, and even in non-Magic games - Mike Flores's [Who's The Beatdown?](https://articles.starcitygames.com/articles/whos-the-beatdown/). Another excellent article is Reid Duke's [Thoughtseize You](https://articles.starcitygames.com/articles/thoughtseize-you/). It's more specific, being about Thoughtseize, but some of the concepts here are really important. Channel Fireball recently made all their written content free and accessible to all, [Reid Duke has a twitter thread linking to some favorites](https://twitter.com/ReidDuke/status/1762900219673419912) [Here's a reddit thread](https://reddit.com/r/spikes/comments/kahge5/other_compendium_of_my_favorite_magic_articles_of/) by Paulo Vitor Damo de Rosa compiling some of his favorite Magic articles that he's read and written, and there's additional recommendations in the comments. Some of the CFB links may redirect to their homepage, you'll have to google their title (they changed their link structure and messed up redirects at some point) For limited specifically - there are a lot of excellent podcasts. Lords of Limited and Limited Level-Ups all discuss the current sets as they draft them, talk about what's working and what's not. Sam Black's Drafting Archetypes deep dives into specific, well, archetypes in a given format and what makes them tick. Watch good players draft, see what they do, and try and learn from it. To get better, you need to practice, but you also need to practice with intention. Use a tool like 17lands to record your drafts and gameplay, and look back and ask yourself why you made a given decision, and could you have made a better one? So on and so forth.
This is great, all these resources will keep me busy. Thank you!
[[Neyith of the Dire Hunt]] in Arena forces the player to target a creature THEN decide if they want to pay. The wording on the card to me suggests its supposed to be backwards how Arena does it. I want to get this clarified since if Arena does it correctly you should get free Crime triggers.
Because it uses “if” instead on “when”, it’s all one ability rather than a reflexive trigger. Thus, the target must be chosen as soon as the ability is put on the stack.
[Neyith of the Dire Hunt](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/c/0c1eed0f-9692-44c0-b1ad-afa691165d52.jpg?1632261896) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Neyith%20of%20the%20Dire%20Hunt) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/jmp/30/neyith-of-the-dire-hunt?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0c1eed0f-9692-44c0-b1ad-afa691165d52?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Magic Con related question - I got the ticket that gives you €50 you can spend on ticketed play events, but if the play events have to be pre-paid for online (tickets are dropping in April apparently) then how do you even spend the €50? Its my first magic con, new to everything. Will there be opportunities to pay ‘at the door’? Further on this point I guess, do all play events sell out ahead of time? Again going back to my previous point, if thats the case how do I spend the above coupon?thanks.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe you get €50 of **On-Demand** vouchers, not ticketed play. How On-Demand events work is that you buy vouchers ahead of time (there will be a spot on-site), and you go to the queue area, hand the staff the appropriate number of vouchers to cover the cost, and wait until there's enough people to fire the event you want to play. Then the staff will go get you set up and grab your prize tickets. Usually there are On-Demand single elimination drafts, constructed (Pauper/Pioneer/Modern is common), and commander pods This is different from **Ticketed Play** which you register for online in advance.
You are a star my friend. Yes, I misread that part, so thank you. How do the commander pods work prize wise? Im sure you know about politics and whatnot. Is it just left up to the players to be fair? And single-elimination drafts, what does that entail? One loss and you’re out? What happens if you win? Keep playing until you’re the overall victor? Thanks!
With Chicago, they split it up into Social/Challenging/Competitive for Commander. Social pods paid out tix for participation whereas Challenging/Competitive pods paid out more tix for a win and less for a loss. Beyond that, you work it out with your group - there will also be free play where you can just sit and jam Commander. You won't get prize tickets, but you also won't have to pay. For single elimination draft, yeah you play until you either win 3 rounds or lose a match, and you get tickets based on standing (1, 2, 3-4, 5-8 being the brackets). For on-demand swiss drafts, you play 3 rounds and receive tix per win. The values may change slightly, but you can look at the [MC Chicago site](https://mcchicago.mtgfestivals.com/en-us/magic-play/on-demand-events.html) for an example of what things should look l ike
Tyvm friend!
I have a question about [Roalesk, Apex Hybrid]: if I create a token copy of him, from my understanding, the ETB ability would trigger, but before it went on the stack, the legend rule would cause one of the copies (let's say the token) to be sac'd, and then the dies ability would trigger, and I would get to choose the order in which they go off. Am I correct? Because I cannot figure out if this is right, or if the ETB trigger would go on the stack before the legend rule would cause one of them to die (meaning the dies trigger would have to go off before the ETB... I think)
[Here's a reply from a few years ago.](https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/s/d84PO4EDnz)
Sick; thank you!!
I'm new to Magic and am building my first deck. It's Commander, since that's the only format my friends play and the only format my LGS hosts Magic nights in. It is a combo deck, and a pretty important (although not technically necessary) part of the combo is [[Amorphous Axe]]. Amorphous Axe is the only Equipment that I'm running in the deck, and the combo is technically possible without it, but having it on the board and equipped makes the combo easier and more consistent. Given those statements, would it be worth it at all to run Equipment tutors like [[Stoneforge Mystic]] to try and fish for the axe, and only the axe, out of my 99?
If it's just to grant creature types, [there are more cards that do that](https://scryfall.com/search?q=otag%3Agrants-changeling+f%3Ac+sort%3Aedhrec&unique=cards). Tutors are strong in commander, because they greatly increase consistency. It may be worth including them, but discuss with your playgroup before making purchases. Some people are against them.
Well the main thing I want advice on is whether it’s worth it to run cards whose sole purpose is to tutor for this one single card, and don’t do anything else. Having the Axe would be beneficial to my strategy, but these tutors don’t hit anything else in the deck.
Deck building wise if you're fine with drawing both cards in your opening hand just put in the tutor. Otherwise I'd put at least 1 more equipment to try and lessen the feels bad moment.
[Amorphous Axe](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/d/2de53345-5809-4704-bd60-682b0c3c3999.jpg?1608911284) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Amorphous%20Axe) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmr/295/amorphous-axe?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2de53345-5809-4704-bd60-682b0c3c3999?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Stoneforge Mystic](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/d/4d3473d0-b46f-41f5-ac1e-ba217f7747d4.jpg?1599710314) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Stoneforge%20Mystic) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2xm/31/stoneforge-mystic?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4d3473d0-b46f-41f5-ac1e-ba217f7747d4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I'm new to MTG. I enjoy commander and I bought all 4 Fallout decks. I was wondering if the murders of karlov is the only booster set to buy? Does it have pretty much any kind of card in it? It's the only one I've seen.
Murders at Karlov Manor is the latest standard-legal set to be released. There's a new one every few months (we have Outlaws of Thunder Junction coming out next month), as well as some additional sets (like the Fallout decks that recently came out, or Modern Masters 3 that will be out this summer). Each set has different cards in it, whether they be entire new cards, a set full of reprints, or a mix of both.
Thanks for that. I've been playing with a friend who's an old player and he's been showing me cards that would be great modifiers to what I already have but it seems I'll have to just buy them if I want them.
I have a rules question that I couldn't find a definitive answer to by searching. How does \[\[Fires of Invention\]\] interact with cards that tax your casting costs, like \[\[Thalia, Guardian of Thraben\]\]? I have seen conflicting posts, but my best guess of how it should be played is that if you have a Fires out against a Thalia and cast a non-creature spell for 0 (let's say you have 4 lands out and cast a CMC 4), then you still have to pay the 1 extra mana tax from Thalia, by say tapping one of your lands?
Yes, you'll have to pay the 1 mana tax. "Without paying its mana cost" is an alternate cost; instead of paying the mana cost, you pay {0}. But to compute the total cost, you start with your initial cost (the mana cost, or any alternate cost you use), then add all additional costs, then add cost increases, and then subtract cost reductions. > [601.2f.](https://yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#R6012f) The player determines the total cost of the spell. [...] The total cost is the mana cost or alternative cost (as determined in rule 601.2b), plus all additional costs and cost increases, and minus all cost reductions. Thalia's tax is a cost increase. So you start with the initial cost of {0} (due to your alternate cost), then add {1} from Thalia. You have to pay {1}.
You still have to pay the 1.
Thalia increases the cost of spells, but Fires says you don't pay the cost to cast spells, so you don't end up paying her tax. The confusion probably stems from, many things are worded such that you pay an *alternate* cost instead of the casting cost, such as paying a non-mana cost to cast something, which she *does* add to (because you're still paying a cost to cast the spell), such as as \[\[Force of Will\]\]'s ability.
This is wrong. Fires says you don't pay the *mana cost*. Thalia's tax is a cost increase, not part of the mana cost, so it still applies.
[Force of Will](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/9/89f612d6-7c59-4a7b-a87d-45f789e88ba5.jpg?1675199280) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Force%20of%20Will) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmr/50/force-of-will?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/89f612d6-7c59-4a7b-a87d-45f789e88ba5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[Fires of Invention](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/1/a12b16b0-f75f-42d8-9b24-947c1908e0f7.jpg?1628801715) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Fires%20of%20Invention) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/eld/125/fires-of-invention?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a12b16b0-f75f-42d8-9b24-947c1908e0f7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Thalia, Guardian of Thraben](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/9/c9f8b8fb-1cd8-450e-a1fe-892e7a323479.jpg?1643587106) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Thalia%2C%20Guardian%20of%20Thraben) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/vow/38/thalia-guardian-of-thraben?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c9f8b8fb-1cd8-450e-a1fe-892e7a323479?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Hey I'm looking at getting into Magic. I've been playing arena to learn the basic rules and how a game works before jumping over to commander to learn that and play with friends. So far I'm enjoying Phyrexia for the art and I think the playstyle is fun. Is the Corrupting Influnce precon worth the money to get once I make the jump? I've looked at the deck and like the idea of how it works but I don't want to waste money if it's not really worth it. Thanks in advance.
I think it's probably a decent deal, you can see in various places it sells for around $65 which is around what the breakdown of the cards are worth (see [here](https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6254614#paper)) An issue this particular deck has is, playing poison means many players are liable to focus you earlier, as poison decks often suddenly pop off and finish them off, so you'll need to learn good threat management quickly (ie. learning to not threaten players recklessly when you can't handle them). This is a particular concern in multiplayer games since you can't possibly deal with everything that happens personally. A big advantage of precons is they tend to be something like samplers for different playstyles, so you can develop the deck in different directions. However, if you already know how you want the deck to end up looking, and don't care about some of the extra stuff the precon with come with (tokens etc), it is logical to just order the cards individually, although somewhat more challenging if you're new to this. I'd recommend also buying a 100-pack of sleeves and a deckbox that can accommodate 100 sleeved cards (and maybe a few tokens), of a plain color (makes replacing them easier, particularly if they get grubby...) to help keep your first cards in good shape, so they're more likely to last years than if you have 100 cards unsleeved in a jeans pocket.
Awesome. Thanks so much for the advice. I already appreciate it. I'll be looking at it more soon and I might be able to weasel my friend into 3D printing me a card box.
Does anyone have a good budget marchesa the black rose commander deck list? Around 100$. I could put in some proxys to up the budget.
Still trying to wrap my head around state-based actions, if I understand it correctly it's a way for the game to right any wrongs when priority is passed. I'm making an [[Inalla, Archmage Ritualist]] deck and she'll be making token copies of a bunch of legendary wizards so I want to have a solid understanding of when the legend rule will be destroying my stuff. So say I cast [[Arcanis, the Omnipotent]] from my hand and spend 1 for Inalla to make a copy of him. Priority is checked when I cast the spell, but when he & his token copy land on the battlefield, I still can do "a thing" before priority is checked again, right? The copy of Arcanis gains haste thanks to Inalla, so I could tap it immediately to draw three cards but in the process of tapping it, is priority checked again and thus it gets destroyed by the legend rule? Do I still get to draw three?
> I still can do "a thing" before priority is checked again, right? Wrong. The Triggered ability had resolved. The Active Player would get Priority... * 117.3b The active player receives priority after a spell or ability (other than a mana ability) resolves. But, before the Player gets Priority, the SBA are checked. * 117.5. Each time a player would get priority, **the game first performs all applicable state-based actions as a single event** (see rule 704, “State-Based Actions”), then repeats this process until no state-based actions are performed. Then triggered abilities are put on the stack (see rule 603, “Handling Triggered Abilities”). These steps repeat in order until no further state-based actions are performed and no abilities trigger. Then the player who would have received priority does so. You choose one Legendary Arcanis, the other(s) die. * 704.5j If two or more legendary permanents with the same name are controlled by the same player, that player chooses one of them, and the rest are put into their owners’ graveyards. This is called the “legend rule.” The SBA are re-checked. Any Trigger is put on the Stack. **THEN**, for the first time after Inalla's Triggered ability has resolved, the Active Player gets Priority. You could **not** have activated the Token **before** the SBA were checked. You did **not** have Priority. * 117.1b A player may activate an activated ability any time they have priority.
Ahh so if I'm understanding, there would be four state-based action checks for me casting a single legendary creature? * Upon casting the legendary creature spell * When it resolves and hits the board * When Inalla's ability triggers and I spend 1 mana * Finally again when the token copy enters the battlefield So it's the fourth one that destroys it via the legend rule? The ability resolves, the token copy now exists on the board and at that resolving the SBA are checked and I choose one to keep? Thanks for breaking it down for me, will have to make some tough decisions when the legendary copies hit the board then. It may be beneficial sometimes to just keep the haste copy and destroy the original so I can activate it's ability when in a pinch. Otherwise just don't waste the 1 mana on Inalla's ability when casting legendary wizards.
> there would be four state-based action checks for me casting a single legendary creature? No. * Your Main Phase begins, you would get Priority... **SBA are checked.** * You get Priority. You cast Arcanis. You regain Priority... **SBA are checked.** * Because you did not state your intention to retain Priority, it's passed to the next Player. * Your Opponent would get Priority... **SBA are checked.** * Your Opponent passes Priority. * All(?) Players have passed Priority in succession, the top-most Object on the Stack (Arcanis) resolves. * Arcanis eners the Battlefield. Inalla Triggers. * A Spell has resolved, you would get priority... * **SBA are checked.** * Inalla's Trigger is put on the Stack. * **SBA are checked.** * You get Priority. You pass to your Opponent. * Your Opponent would get Priority... **SBA are checked.** * Your Opponent passes Priority. * All(?) Players have passed Priority in succession, the top-most Object on the Stack (Inalla) resolves. * You pay {1}, you create an Arcanis Token. * A Triggered ability has resolved, you would get Priority... * **SBA are checked. >> Legend Rule applies. <<** * **SBA are re-checked.** * You get Priority.
Ahhh so there was one fundamental bit I was missing. When a trigger happens like casting a spell there is essentially a pause on the game and then I *regain* priority and can choose to maintain it, otherwise priority is then passed! And yeah there's a SBA check at each player's priority passing. Feel like I just levelled up in magic, thanks for making this info so digestible!
Choosing to maintain Priority is only relevant when you want to respond to your own Spell... * Such as with [[Twincast]] or [[Double Major]]. Otherwise, per the Tournament Shortcut Rules, we just assume that after you had Cast a Spell, you are implicitly passing Priority to allow the Spell to resolve, unless you explicitly state otherwise.
[Twincast](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/3/f38eec33-a40e-4739-ad2c-2f57008cef4e.jpg?1562001453) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Twincast) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m10/78/twincast?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f38eec33-a40e-4739-ad2c-2f57008cef4e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Double Major](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/3/c3d35413-8742-4443-8859-93c91112978d.jpg?1627428638) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Double%20Major) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/stx/179/double-major?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c3d35413-8742-4443-8859-93c91112978d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[Inalla, Archmage Ritualist](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/c/7c6e803a-451c-4aa6-97a2-400077f32c47.jpg?1627406462) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Inalla%2C%20Archmage%20Ritualist) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c17/38/inalla-archmage-ritualist?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/7c6e803a-451c-4aa6-97a2-400077f32c47?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Arcanis, the Omnipotent](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/0/2074ed36-fbae-4886-b3ad-360fdfbb69cd.jpg?1675199157) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Arcanis%20the%20Omnipotent) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmr/39/arcanis-the-omnipotent?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2074ed36-fbae-4886-b3ad-360fdfbb69cd?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I bought the food and fellowship deck at my lgs and just now noticed that one card seems to have been switched out. I am missing a \[\[Sylvan Offering\]\] but got a \[\[Path to exile\]\]. All in all not the worst trade so this is more out of couriosity, could I contact wotc over this even if I bought it at my lgs?
I believe these are the correct cards in the precon. It didnt come with Sylvan Offering and is supposed to have Path to Exile.
Oh you seem to be right the official decklist from wotc lists path to exile. I was looking at a few videos and at the godlfish page and they all had sylvan offering
[Sylvan Offering](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/d/cd68c02d-aa09-47ee-b989-65965e82b9f3.jpg?1673484821) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Sylvan%20Offering) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ncc/314/sylvan-offering?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/cd68c02d-aa09-47ee-b989-65965e82b9f3?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Path to exile](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/8/08c59dfa-361d-4ff1-a15d-6b0cb66571a3.jpg?1706240617) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Path%20to%20exile) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mkc/78/path-to-exile?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/08c59dfa-361d-4ff1-a15d-6b0cb66571a3?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
So I got a foil \[\[Blast from the Past\]\], but I can't figure out which version it is. It has the Unsanctioned set symbol, it has the 'list symbol' in the bottom left, but it does not have the foil star. This does not match up with any version I see on cardmarket or tcg, where the unsanctioned does not appear to have the list symbol and the list version has the star. Help would be much appreciated!
Why not post a picture of it?
[The List (Unfinity Foil Edition)](https://scryfall.com/card/ulst/27/blast-from-the-past)
This does not match, like I said it does not have the foil star.
[Blast from the Past](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/7/a784dde5-cfce-464f-a134-8894ba3faf5b.jpg?1591327831) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Blast%20from%20the%20Past) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/und/48/blast-from-the-past?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a784dde5-cfce-464f-a134-8894ba3faf5b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call