Saturday School’s Final Exam 2004

By John Carter

Send your rules questions to Magic Rules Manager John Carter. Can't find the answer to your question somewhere else, like the Magic Comprehensive Rules? Maybe he's already answered it! Try the Saturday School Searchable Rules Database.

In August we opened this session of Saturday School. At the time, the closing statement was, “I hope you've been paying attention; there just might be a test.” Well, guess what, we weren't kidding. For the last two weeks there have been hints and innuendos, and now you get the real thing. So, have some fun, and let's see how you do.

First, a few rules: the questions assume sufficient mana to pay for things unless a specific amount of land or mana is stated. Any other permanents are irrelevant to the question (though I reserve the right to include irrelevant items just to be difficult). The basis for each question focuses on the two blocks legal during the current year plus a few general questions.

Browsers ready?
You may begin.

1. The converted mana cost of a Broodstar being played while you control nine artifacts is:

a) 1
b)
c)
d) 10
e)

Answer

d) 10. Affinity reduces the total cost of a spell but does not change its converted mana cost. Converted mana cost does not include color.

2. The maximum amount of damage you can deal with a Spikeshot Goblin and Roar of the Kha is:

a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
e) 5

Answer

d) 4. Activate the Spikeshot Goblin, and play Roar of the Kha with entwine in response. The Goblin untaps and becomes a 2/3. The original activation uses the Goblin's current power when the ability resolves [CR 402.6]. Since the Goblin is untapped, it can be activated a second time for an additional two damage.

3. Controlling a player's turn with Mindslaver allows you to:

a) See the player's hand
b) See the player's face down permanents
c) Have the player concede
d) Have the player activate Lethal Vapors 1000 times
e) A, B, and D

Answer

e) A, B, and D. When controlling another player's turn [CR 507] you have all the access to information they would have, and you can make all decisions for them in the game (such as activating Lethal Vapors repeatedly in response to cause many skipped turns), but you may not force an opponent to concede.

4. Paul has three cards in his library. He plays Illuminate with the blue kicker and X= 4 on a Platinum Angel he stole from Cari. What happens?

a) The Platinum Angel is put into Paul's graveyard and Paul draws three cards, then the game ends.
b) The Platinum Angel is put into Cari's graveyard and Paul draws three cards, then the game ends.
c) The Platinum Angel takes 4 damage, Paul draws three cards, the Platinum Angel is put into Paul's graveyard, and the game ends.
d) The Platinum Angel takes 4 damage, Paul draws three cards, the Platinum Angel is put into Cari's graveyard, and the game ends.
e) The Platinum Angel takes 4 damage, Paul draws three cards, the Platinum Angel is put into Cari's graveyard, and the game continues.

Answer

e) …the game continues. Platinum Angel was in play at the time when Paul attempted to draw but could not. The Angel is put into the graveyard as he should be losing, but the Angel's ability still applies. When state-based effects are rechecked, Paul has not drawn since the last time SBEs were checked [CR 420.5g].

5. Which of the following works well with Tooth and Nail?

a) Phage the Untouchable
b) The Myojins
c) Phyrexian Dreadnought
d) Furnace Dragon
e) None of the above

Answer

e) None of the above. Phyrexian Dreadnought's replacement applies no matter how it is being put into play. The rest of the cards have benefits (or avoid drawbacks) only if they were played from your hand. Being put into play is a different type of action than actually playing something, though the outcome appears to be the same.

6. Indestructible means:

a) Unable to be eliminated from play
b) Destruction effects are ignored
c) Destruction effect are prevented
d) Destruction effects are replaced by "do nothing"
e) None of the above

Answer

b) Destruction effects are ignored. This includes destruction from effects that read “destroy” and “destroy… can't be regenerated” as well as the lethal damage state-based effect. Indestructible does not prevent or replace destruction.

7. How many cards were reprinted in Darksteel?

a) One
b) Two
c) Three
d) Four
e) None

Answer

c) Three. Fireball, Inflame, and Juggernaut are all reprints. Fireball last saw print in Fifth Edition (and the Beatdown Box). Inflame debuted in Prophecy. Juggernaut was last in Revised.

8. Lindsay has a Neurok Transmuter and one untapped Island. What mana would Samantha need to steal Lindsay's Transmuter with Memnarch?

a)
b)
c)
d)
e) It's impossible to successfully use Memnarch with a Transmuter in play

Answer

. Samantha uses Memnarch to make the Transmuter into an artifact (

). She then tries to take the Transmuter (

), and Lindsay responds by activating the Transmuter's second ability. Samantha responds by activating Memnarch again (

x 2 =

9. Can Arcbound Reclaimer return itself to the top of your library?

a) Yes, if you pay costs in the correct order
b) No, it's impossible

Answer

b) No. Targets are chosen before costs are paid. At the time the target for the ability would be chosen, the Reclaimer still has counters on it. Even if costs were able to be paid first, the Reclaimer wouldn’t be put into the graveyard until SBEs had checked—after the entire ability had been played.

10. Can Quicksilver Elemental copy and use the ability granted by a Leonin Bola that is equipped to an opponent's creature?

a) Yes, but the Bola will become unattached once the Elemental is activated
b) Yes, as often as you can untap the Elemental
c) No, the copied ability was created by the Elemental, not by the Bola, so it doesn’t have anything to unattach
d) No, you cannot unattach equipment from a creature you don't control
e) No, the Elemental cannot copy the granted ability

Answer

a) Yes, but the Bola will become unattached from whichever creature it’s equipping once the Elemental is activated. Leonin Bola grants an ability to the equipped creature. Quicksilver Elemental can copy the grant ability. Activating the Bola requires only that it be attached somewhere. As part of the costs for activating the ability the equipment becomes unattached.

11. The Sunburst mechanic owes its origin to which card?

a) Saproling Burst
b) Glissa Sunseeker
c) Emblazoned Golem
d) Chariot of the Sun
e) Sunscape Master

Answer

c) Emblazoned Golem. The Mycosynth Golem's best friend is the direct ancestor of the Sunburst mechanic. Instead of kicker's additional cost with Emblazoned Golem (which Mycosynth Golem can reduce to great effect), Sunburst puts the multiple colors benefit directly into the cost of a card. Both Sunburst and Kicker are very ineffective when using reanimation effects though.

12. Fist of Suns allows a Myojin to get a divinity counter.

a) Yes
b) No

Answer

a) Yes. Using to pay for a spell's mana cost doesn't change the fact it's being played and being played from your hand.

13. Eric is playing against Rob. Eric plays Serum Visions with Future Sight in play. What card(s) will Rob get to see?

a) All the cards Eric sees
b) The top card of the library once the Serum Visions resolves
c) The top card of the library, the card just below that when Eric draws, and the top card once Eric is done scrying
d) The top card of the library, the card just below that when Eric draws
e) The top card of the library and the top card once Eric is done scrying

Answer

c) The top card of the library, the card just below that when Eric draws, and the top card once Eric is done scrying. Rob will see all the cards except the second card down while scrying. If Eric puts that second card on top, it will be seen. If Eric leaves the second card second or puts it on the bottom, Rob will never see it.

14. How much mana would a player need to spend with a Gorilla Shaman to destroy an Engineered Explosives with one charge counter on it?

a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
e) 5

Answer

a) 1. The value of X in a mana cost equals 0 if the card is in play [CR Glossary: X]. 1 + 0 + 0 = 1.

15. Nick has a large amount of mana and attacks Jay with a Myr Quadropod. Nick can deal lethal damage to Jay if he switches the Quadropod's power and toughness. Jay does not have any creatures to declare as blockers. When is the best time for Jay to play a Shock targeting the Quadropod?

a) Before declining to block
b) In response to Nick's first switch
c) After resolving the first switch but before stacking damage
d) After the first switch and after damage is stacked
e) After declaring no blockers, waiting for Nick to switch, resolving the switch and passing priority again

Answer

b) In response to Nick's first switch. If Jay uses the Shock early, Nick will not switch the P/T and will whittle more of Jay's life away. If Jay waits for the first switch to resolve, Nick can switch the P/T again to survive the Shock. Jay passing priority after the first switch has resolved and stacking damage after the switch has resolved are functionally identical—both result in Jay losing. If jay Shocks in response to the first switch, then no matter how many times Nick could activate the switch ability the first one to resolve will result in a lethally damaged 4/1 Quadropod.

16. Which of the following creature types went extinct in 2004?

a) Clone
b) Legend
c) Nekrataal
d) Wall
e) B and D

Answer

b) Legend. With Champions of Kamigawa, creatures that were Legends lost the Legend creature subtype and gained the Legendary supertype. Walls lost the rules baggage with their creature type and gained the defender ability, but Walls still exist.

17. What major section of the rules was changed with the introduction of Champions of Kamigawa?

a) Bushido
b) Rampage
c) Soulshift
d) Targeting
e) Winning and losing the game

Answer

d) Targeting. With the introduction of Splice, Champions of Kamigawa made spells able to target the same object multiple times. Spells may now target something once per occurrence of the word “target”. ”. Bushido and Soulshift weren’t changed; they were added.

18. Dan attacks with a Kashi-Tribe Reaver and Keiga, the Tide Star. Becky blocks with Kami of Old Stone and a 5/5 flying token. When Keiga's leaves play trigger resolves, Dan takes the Kami. Will Dan be able to untap the Kami on his turn?

a) Yes, of course
b) Yes, but only if he takes the Kami on his turn
c) No, the Kami is remains tapped until he skips an untap
d) No, the Kami untaps on Becky's turn since she controlled it
e) It's Dan's choice depending on how he stacks the triggers

Answer

c) No, the Kami remains tapped until he skips an untap. The creature is affected during the next untap its controller enters. Who the controller is doesn’t lock in when the ability resolves.

19. Time Stop causes the game to progress to what step or phase?

a) The game goes to the end of that turn's second Main phase
b) The game goes to the End of Turn step
c) The game goes to the Cleanup step
d) The game goes to the next player's Beginning phase
e) The game goes to the next player's Untap step

Answer

c) The game goes to the Cleanup step. After removing object from the stack and checking state-based effects the game proceeds to the cleanup step [CR 509.1c].

20. In Magic terms, what is Arcane?

a) A type
b) A subtype
c) A spell type
d) A and C
e) B and C

Answer

e) B and C. Arcane is a subtype of instants and sorceries. Arcane is the first of a new class of subtypes known as a “spell type”.

21. State-based effects:

a) Are controlled by the active player
b) Are checked as the last action every turn
c) Are checked every step or phase
d) Destroy creatures with zero or less toughness
e) Constantly apply

Answer

b) Are checked as the last action every turn. SBEs are not controlled by any player. They check only when a player gets priority or as the last action of Cleanup (the Untap does not include a SBE check). Zero toughness creatures are put in the graveyard, not destroyed. [CR 420]

22. What is the minimum number of minutes for a DCI sanctioned round of Magic?

a) Untimed
b) 40 minutes
c) 50 minutes
d) 60 minutes
e) It's up to the tournament organizer

Answer

b) 40 minutes. DCI rounds have a 40 minute minimum [MFR 112]. Premier events such as PTQs and Prereleases are contracted at 50 minutes, and the Pro Tour uses 60 minute rounds, but local events can be as short as 40 minutes per round. Final matches are best left untimed at all levels.

23. When is a spell or ability is put on the stack and considered played?

a) When announced
b) When costs are paid
c) When announced and when costs are paid respectively
d) Once the player has received priority
e) Once the player passes priority

Answer

c) When announced and when costs are paid respectively. Being put on the stack is part of announcing the spell [CR 409.1a]. Once costs are paid, the spell is officially played [CR 409.1i]. No player gets priority in between these steps, but it's where all the normal choices for a spell or ability are made.

24. Converted mana cost never changes.

a) Yes
b) No

Answer

a) Yes. Converted mana cost normally never changes, but if something has an X in the cost and if it's on the stack, then the X variable will be set to the value chosen while playing the spell or ability [CR 409.1b]. In all other zones, the X is defined as always being 0 [CR Glossary: X].

Time's up.

Make sure your name is… oh wait, they didn't let me give you bubble forms to fill out. Ah well, maybe if we do well the school board will let us do more complicated tests in the future. I hope this year wasn't too grueling. I won't make any promises about 2005 though.

Enjoy your holidays (if you haven't already that is). For this column, the next two weeks will be special retro content (rather than pure reprint columns). I'll be back in January when we'll be handling your questions again and looking forward to the Betrayers of Kamigawa previews and prereleases.

Class dismissed. Happy holidays!

--Carter

Posted in Feature on December 18, 2004

Saturday School’s Final Exam 2004

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