If you are going to answer a question, please be 100% sure that your answer is correct. If you are just guessing or *think* you know the answer, keep it to yourself. There are plenty of judges and people who will know it correctly, and if multiple answers are given, it just confuses the person who asked.

This thread is a flame-free zone. If you can't be civil, don't respond. New players shouldn't be worried about being made fun of when they're trying to learn.

Some information for ya...

Comprehensive Rules (also available in Word, Rich Text, and PDF formats)
The complete rules for the game of Magic. Beginners should not go here; they are very intimidating.
Oracle Card Reference
The official text for every card in existence (use Gatherer for any quick questions about Oracle texts, Gatherer uses the Oracle text of all cards).
Official Tournament Rules
The official rules for sanctioned tournaments.
Basic Rulebook
Simplified rules for beginning players. If you are new to the game, you should read this and not the Comprehensive Rules.
Set FAQs
The official FAQs for each set. Look here if you have a specific question about a card.
Judge Certification Program
How to become a judge.
MTG-L mailing list archives
A good place to get official answers to rules questions, or to search for previous answers.
DCIJUDGE-L mailing list archives
The official Judge list. A good place to search for previous answers and discussion involving judging decisions, philosophy, etc. NOT rules questions. That's what MTG-L is for.

quote:

---

Originally posted by skizzikmonger:
How does Platinum Emperion work with Phyrexian mana?  Can I cast a Surgical Extraction for free, or will I have to pay B since I can't lose life?

---

From the Gatherer rulings:

quote:

---

Gatherer:
1/1/2011: You can't pay a cost that includes the payment of any amount of life other than 0 life.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by VJames83:
I have an Aether Vial with 2 counters on it. My opponent casts Brainstorm. In response, I activate Vial and put Thalia, Guardian of Thraben into play.
-Does my opponent have to pay 1 colorless extra?
-If so, what happens if he can't pay the mana?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pringlesman:
For my gauntlet of legacy decks, I write SB on the front of every sideboard sleeve. It makes playtesting easier if you aren't familar with a deck.

I've been told this is illegal for tourney play, (and I believe people when they tell me that). I just wanted to know which rule specifically does not allow this.

---

The Magic Tournament Rules, rule numbers 3.10 and 3.11.

quote:

---

MTR 3.10 Sleeves
Players may use plastic card sleeves or other protective devices on cards. If a player chooses to use card sleeves,
all sleeves must be identical and all cards in his or her deck must be placed in the sleeves in an identical manner.
If the sleeves feature holograms or other similar markings, cards must be inserted into the sleeves so these
markings appear only on the faces of the cards.
During a match, a player may request that a judge inspect an opponent’s card sleeves. The judge may disallow the
card sleeves if he or she believes they are marked, worn, or otherwise in a condition or of a design that interferes
with shuffling or game play. In the interest of efficiency, the judge may choose to delay any change of sleeves
until the end of the match.
Competitive and Professional REL tournaments impose additional restrictions on sleeves. Highly reflective backs
are not allowed; sleeves with artwork on their backs are only acceptable if there is a single color at the sleeves’
edges; sleeves with holograms across some or all of the sleeve front or back are not allowed.
When using sleeves on double-faced cards, sleeves must be completely opaque. The Head Judge is the final
authority on what sleeves are allowed.

---

quote:

---

MTR 3.11 Marked Cards
Players are responsible for ensuring that their cards and/or card sleeves are not marked during the course of the
tournament. A card or sleeve is considered marked if it bears something that makes it possible to identify the card
without seeing its face, including scratches, discoloration, and bends.
If a player’s cards are sleeved, the cards must be examined while in the sleeves to determine if they are marked.
Players should use care when sleeving their decks and should randomize their decks prior to sleeving them to
reduce the possibility of cards becoming marked with a pattern. Players should also keep in mind that cards or
sleeves may become worn and potentially marked through play during the course of a tournament.
The Head Judge has the authority to determine if a card in a player’s deck is marked. Judges may request that a
player remove his or her current sleeves or replace any of the deck’s current sleeves immediately, or before the
next round.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kyzneg:
The Magic Tournament Rules, rule numbers 3.10 and 3.11.

On a separate note, this seems like a bad idea for playtesting. I understand that there is value in playtesting with your sideboard cards in your starting hand, to see how good those cards actually are in a matchup and similar reasons, but I really think there are better ways of playtesting that kind of scenario than marking the cards (effectively) that you have in your sideboard.

---

Acctualy, it's mostly just so when people are desideboarding, they know what cards aren't main deck. It's awkward when someone is desiding and it takes them a while to remember that the net deck dredge list only plays 2 MD ichorids and 1 SB ichorid.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pringlesman:
Acctualy, it's mostly just so when people are desideboarding, they know what cards aren't main deck. It's awkward when someone is desiding and it takes them a while to remember that the net deck dredge list only plays 2 MD ichorids and 1 SB ichorid.

Also, do you think I'm marking the face or the back of the sleeve? Because I'm marking the face.

---

My opponent has a face down creature. He places a creature enchantment on said face down creature. Before combat damage is dealt, he pays the morph cost and flips the creature to expose the Exalted Angel. Does the creature enchantment stay on the Exalted Angel or does it get discarded to the GY since it is no longer on the 2/2?

A morph is the same object when it is faceup/facedown, so anything enchanting, equipping, or targeting the facedown card will still be enchanting/equipping/targeting that even if it gets turned face up. (However, things get weird if the morph was a Zoetic Cavern. Once it's turned face up, it cant be enchanted with Creature Enchantments, cant be equipped, and is not a legal target for Doom Blade etc. The enchant/equips would fall off, and the doom blade would be countered upon resolution because of an illegal target.)

__________________
"He fights you not because you have wronged him, but because you are there."

[16:17] <@BrassMan> what do you need new tech for?
[16:18] <@BrassMan> gush is unrestricted

__________________
I was sane once, it was a fleeting thing and thankfully passed quickly.

Life is all one big joke. Death is just the ultimate punchline.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Shron Von Drago:
So I was at a draft the other night and in between each game a player was sorting his mana to make sure he didn't have any "mana clumps" before shuffling. then shuffling his deck, I didn't have a problem with it being technically you can completly rebuild your deck in between games in this type of format anyway but 2 other players were complaining about it. Is it actually legal to "mana shuffle" before shuffling your deck?

As long as he's shuffling afterwards, it's technically OK. Note that he only has 3 minutes to sideboard, shuffle, and present, however.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Shron Von Drago:
So I was at a draft the other night and in between each game a player was sorting his mana to make sure he didn't have any "mana clumps" before shuffling. then shuffling his deck, I didn't have a problem with it being technically you can completly rebuild your deck in between games in this type of format anyway but 2 other players were complaining about it. Is it actually legal to "mana shuffle" before shuffling your deck?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by gaeacradle:
If I activate Havengul Lich's ability to cast target a creature in a graveyard, I can cast it. But if it dies again during the same turn, I can still cast it without reactivating the ability again, right?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mattw:
This might seem silly but say an opponent has some random 4/4 creature out. If I play a Massacre Wurm then an Elesh Norn, will it die?

---