Magic Rules You Might Be Getting Wrong | The Zones

[@coreyroberson4550]

Something a lot of people get wrong - Goad. It's often casually described as "you must attack if able and can't attack me if able" so people will try to attack an opponent's planeswalker. But the actual wording is "attack each combat if able and attack a player other than you if able." They must attack a player, not a planeswalker.

[@ThisIsACommanderChannel]

That is correct. The combat restriction that Goad places on the creature does specifically state that it must attack a player if able. With how often Goad is popping up now in Magic, I think I'll do a short video covering this little detail as I can see a lot of people overlooking that part. If you want to check it out, my series is called Tough Rules & Cool Interactions. I can give you credit or if you want me to not do so then I can just mention I saw this brought up in another video on YT.

[@EDHCoffee]

Great point. Very easily misconstrued with shorthand.

[@tommieboi707]

Goad only affects creatures already on the battlefield. If an opponent casts a creature with haste after the goad sorcery is put into affect, that player does not have to attack with that creature.

[@mikemacek4470]

Dosent a plainswalker count as a player ?

[@coreyroberson4550]

@@mikemacek4470 No. Lore-wise, a player is a planeswalker, but for the mechanics of the game, they are separate things. A player is not a permanent, while a planeswalker is a type of permanent. When you attack, each creature must attack either a player or a planeswalker. When looking at the Oracle wording of a targeted spell, one that says "destroy target creature or planeswalker" cannot destroy an opponent. One that deals damage to or forces discard from "target player" cannot target a planeswalker. Only if it says "target player or planeswalker " or if it says "any target" can you choose between a player or planeswalker. And so, when goad says "a player other than you," it really means that, and a planeswalker is not an option.

[@smoothesuede4978]

I remember in my early days of playing as a kid, before "Exile" formally existed. To us, searching for a card "from outside the game" basically meant one of us got to head back to our locker and search through our shoebox of decks & and random loose cards, or borrow a card from some onlooker's deck, if they would let you. "Remove from the game" was basically saying, put the card back in the locker shoebox. Now that Exile is around and actually gets formal rules interactions, to this day I still think of Exile as "The shoe box". There is a small part of me that is still annoyed I need to consider my shoe box with more structure.

[@tattooman3603]

Okay, just for clarification for others, if you look at a card like Karn, the Great Creator, it specifically says you may "play a card from outside the game" or "in exile". This pretty much defines that the two are not the same and that yes, outside the game means you could go to your locker to get a card or borrow a card from a friend. It differentiates between exile and "outside the game." I DO like your shoebox analogy though.

[@Maccabeus87]

Thanks, Demo. Casting spells from exile, free or on impulse, especially with replacement, suspend, or X costs, would be a good topic to tackle.

[@jamesthefront2246]

Fun interaction with my new Emry deck. I hadn’t really come across this before. Turn 1: play an island, cast Lotus Petal (0 cost) I can declare that I’m going to cast Emry (cheaper by 1 because have an artifact) for two mana. I can then tap the island for one blue and sacrifice the Lotus Petal. Essentially casting Emry on turn 1. I hadn’t really seen this before as I usually just cast cards using the mana I have available and tap them before I cast, which is kind of the wrong way around.

[@pleravens]

Emblems (and a subset of other random things) live in the command zone. So, that is a place where the command zone is used in non-commander play.

[@oals29]

Dungeons as well. Your active dungeon (if any) exists in the command zone, when it finishes it goes back to outside the game.

[@henrylopez4206]

One question about “cards” that came up in a game this weekend was with Bloodchief Ascension. It’s second ability says “whenever a card is put into an opponents graveyard” so a creature token dying would not trigger this because tokens are not cards. But anything that says “when a creature dies” would still trigger when a token creature dies.

[@ScorpioneOrzion]

A token isn't a card, but on the battlefield they both are permanents. The card that reads "when a creature dies" means "when a creature permanent dies". So the token will trigger that but not a card like Bloodchief Ascension.

[@DingusPingus7000]

@@ScorpioneOrzion im pretty sure tokens technically hit the graveyard

[@Kahadi]

@@DingusPingus7000 They do hit the graveyard and thus trigger death effects (since that specifies "going to the graveyard"). But they are not cards and thus do not trigger effects like Bloodchief Ascension, which specifies "whenever a card is sent to the graveyard", not "whenever a creature dies" or "whenever a permanent is sent to the graveyard". This means that tokens do not trigger it, but just about everything else does.

[@claygillman9351]

Always love these types of videos. People get these things wrong so often. When I say people, I mean me as well. 🙂

[@ThisIsACommanderChannel]

If you enjoy videos talking about Magic rules, I shave a series you might enjoy called Tough Rules & Cool Interactions. I cover all sorts of weird rules in it.

[@matthewgallaway3675]

We all get things wrong sometimes, the game is honestly a bit over complicated

[@craig1287]

@@ThisIsACommanderChannel What do you think are the toughest rules to comprehend in Magic?

[@ThisIsACommanderChannel]

@@craig1287 The Stack isnusually the first tricky thing that Ayers encounters. After that, I'd say Priority and Replacement Effects are the next tricky things. Then there are State-Based Actions and the steps to casting a spell. And then as players get even deeper into the game, Layers are a really big Boogeyman that are super somplex but also pretty straight forward for the most part... Except when you get into dependancy.

[@craig1287]

@@ThisIsACommanderChannel Those are some really deep cuts.

[@T4N7]

I think u should've specified that a lot of the confusion between "outside the game" n "the exile zone" is cuz old cards refer to exiling things as removing them from the game but ever since the printing of the keyword word "exile" in place of that, they have been very separate n Karn, the Great Creator is a perfect example of that as his ability says to fetch an "artifact card u own from outside the game or in exile" cuz he can get from either but specifying in his wording showcases them as separate places

[@paulszki]

I'm almost 40 years old and I've been playing magic on and off since about 2000. For a time, I was even one of the people who constantly helped people with rules back when the official MTG forum still existed on wotc's page. After coming back from a longer break these videos are so important for me to catch up because it's either a good reminder on what I used to know and/or I know all the things... until I don't and I'm like "yeah, totally didn't know that". So yeah, thanks for these videos.

[@ThisIsACommanderChannel]

I took a break from Magic in 2006 and then started up again in 2018 to play EDH. I love the format for all the goofy stuff that happens. I noticed that rules questions are super common in Commander and so last year I started a series dedicated to helping to clear up some rules stuff in Magic. If you like videos like this one that Demo has made, check out my Tough Rules & cool Interactions series and if you do I welcome feedback on what you like and dislike.

[@christianstudtrucker1892]

Nice Video. We had recently a discussion about cards and tokens and why they are no cards. But this really helps, because they only exists on the battlefield :) thank you very much for that!

[@Professor_Smoak]

Greetings. New to the channel. Everything was spot on. As the judge of my playgroup, I'll be recommending your channel to keep my friends clear on rules and interactions.

[@gregboulton8230]

Love this video. The biggest thing my pkaygroup argues about is clones (especially since I love to play them). Clones that target, clones that don’t target, clones of things that are only temporarily creatures, interacting with clones or their targets, etc.

[@johninglis5519]

Excellent video. Very clear explanations and great (and v. helpful) use of examples). Minor point: the command zone does exist outside of the game of Commander. See rule 408. For example, emblems exist in the command zone in all formats. Dungeons are also in the command zone in all formats (309.2a). And of course there are games other than Commander that use the command zone. Minor points though dungeons are becoming a tiny bit more common with Baldur's Gate. Keep up the good work!

[@matthewgotz8359]

I love these videos. As someone that has been playing for almost 11 years now, I've had a pretty good idea of the rules, but this video and the video about the stack and priority have been super informative. Thank you for all the great content

[@ThisIsACommanderChannel]

If you're enjoying these rules videos from Demo, then you'll probably enjoy the series I've been doing called Tough Rules & Cool Interactions. It's a series dedicated to corner cases and weird rules. Lots of specific cards and examples. I'll be going more into State-Based Actions soon.

[@RoadkillLaharl]

Your E-wit explanation is a fantastic representation for teaching newer players to understand the stack better and know when things can be countered or when things trigger.

[@gemmen98]

I had an interesting interaction that came up where I learned that not all permanents are cards. I had the The Haunt of Hightower out while my opponent had multiple tokens he could sac to deal one damage with. I thought the tokens being sacrificed would hit the graveyard and give my creature a +1/+1 counter effectively negating the damage dealt to them, but was made aware by my opponent that the tokens were not cards and my creatures trigger would not happen. Won't forget this interaction ever again.

[@ThisIsACommanderChannel]

I've done a couple videos that touch on this in my Tough Rules & Cool Interactions series. How things are referred to differently in their different Zones, including the Zone of the Stack.

[@yopman411]

Yea it's exactly as he said tokens are creatures, they are permanents, but they are not cards.

[@HomeCookinMTG]

Fun fact, the command zone is also where things like emblems that your planeswalkers create are technically located

[@BenTX0914]

I love your content, Demo. You’re rules videos have helped my friends and I a lot. Thank you so much.

[@Tera_GX]

This is the first I'm learning about not being able to use "card from outside the game" effects. I'll discuss this with my group, but I bet we'll elect to ignore that rule. Doesn't come up often. Also took me a bit to wrap my head around trigger order, I think we've played believing turn-player decides full order. But instead turn player will always be at the bottom of the stack, resolving after other players? Man, that sounds like it may give Black some advantage.

[@samquinn2129]

It's not just in Commander that there's a Command Zone. Emblems, Planes, Phenomenon, Dungeons and Schemes all reside in the Command Zone.

[@edhdeckbuilding]

so where do emblems exist in other formats?

[@samquinn2129]

@@edhdeckbuilding Also into the Command zone. You just Cast your Commander from there.

[@samquinn2129]

@@edhdeckbuilding 114.2. An effect that creates an emblem is written “[Player] gets an emblem with [ability].” This means that [player] puts an emblem with [ability] into the command zone. The emblem is both owned and controlled by that player.

[@ScorpioneOrzion]

@@edhdeckbuilding any format planeswalkers exist

[@oneloneclone7511]

Can you touch on cascade in a video? I feel like it can get complicated with multiple instances of cascade going on.

[@veryblocky]

Do you not just do each cascade one at a time?

[@acbeaumo]

You can't have multiple instances of Cascade going on at once. If you cast spell A with Cascade then cast spell B with Cascade while spell A is still on the stack, then your stack will resolve like so: 1) Cascade for spell B, 2) resolve spell B, 3) Cascade for spell A, 4) resolve spell A.

[@veryblocky]

10:44 there isn’t any way to put an instant or sorcery onto the battlefield, as the rules state that if an effect would put an instant or sorcery onto the battlefield it instead returns to its previous zone.

[@ScorpioneOrzion]

It actually stays in the zone where it was, no movement at all.

[@raymanta5671]

Put onto the battlefield as an instant and sorcery? No. Can they be put onto the battlefield with things like manifest, morph or the new Minotaur guy? Yes.

[@quelfth4413]

At 10:57 there definitely is not a way to put an instant or sorcery on the battlefield because there are multiple rules explicitly preventing this. There's a rule saying they can't enter the battlefield and a rule saying that if they are ever on the battlefield you put them into your graveyard as a state-based action. So no, there's certainly no way to make this happen. (I mean, maybe if they were flipped down as a morph creature, that isn't really the same though.)

[@josephjohns4699]

As a note the command zone exists in normal magic too. Emblems live there.

[@darian235]

Can you go into detail about how Collier the vast triggers work. If she puts an angel into play tapped and attacking that states whenever this creature attacks do such and such how does that work.?

[@ripleycastle5668]

Serious question from a slightly newer player. With the example of Bane, lord of darkness, the second effect says to “put” a creature card on the battlefield. How does putting work? Is it the same as effects that let you cast a card without paying its mana cost or do I still need to pay its mana cost to actually use it and the card is acting more like a place setter that is partly inactive due to not being formally cast?

[@TheCharismaed]

Thank you for great information. I realized I wasn’t so precise about zones and interactions on my games. I have a question about it; can you also explain where you put “phasing” with regards to zones. I recently seen a combo with Opolescence / Out of Time. Didn’t even know that something like vanishing commanders completely out of game was possible.

[@helderboymh]

A permanent that is phased out stays on the battlefield, the game just treats it as if it doesn't exist. So no card can interact with it except for cards that specifically talk about phased out cards. Hope that helped.

[@HomeCookinMTG]

The guy who throught wishes could grab stuff the command zone/exile might be remembering the rules before they changed "removed from the game" to "exile". I believe this ruling changed in 2011 or something like that but prior to that you used to be able to burning wish for a burning wish you casted previously

[@skate14eras]

Not sure if you talked about it in a previous video, but a good topic would be discussing the “tapped and attacking)” not triggering actual attack triggers.

[@edhdeckbuilding]

doing combat next

[@magiccardmaster9921]

Question with myr welder if you activate its effect to banish a artifact from the gy and then blink it or make it leave the field like a bounce would myr welder remember what it exiled before it left play or would the card forget what it exiled with its ability? Not 100% sure on this and wanted to double check

[@Natedogg2]

It's a different object after it leaves the battlefield and returns, so it has no link to the cards that were exiled previously.

[@ThisIsACommanderChannel]

No, it wouldn't 'remember' any of the previous artifacts that it had removed. Whenever a permanent changes zones and returns to the BF it is now a new Object with no memory of anything previously. These abilities are linked which is why they won't work. However Dauthi Voidwalker is phrased in a way that does allow it to come back to the BF and be able to see things previously removed. I've done a couple videos in my Tough Rules & Cool Interactions series coving Liked Abilities if you want to check them out for more info on how all that stuff works.

[@craig1287]

@@Natedogg2 Are you Nate Dog on Judge Apps? If so, you're a machine man. Answering questions like crazy.

[@Natedogg2]

@@craig1287 Yes, I answered rules questions there (and elsewhere on the internet).

[@craig1287]

@@Natedogg2 Thanks for all you do! You have helped thousands of players.

[@stevencowan37]

So in games where we have complex interactions, my friends and I will actually make a physical stack "zone" so we can determine what happens more easily - it gives a good visual of where things are on the stack. Also in formats/decks where I don't have a sideboard, we'll either pull from collections or (more often because we're goofy) pull cards from other games that can't actually do anything.

[@BenjaminIMeszaros]

“Outside the game” is a thing in commander. Official rules state that for tournaments “outside the game” means your sideboard and, in any other format or play style, outside the game means a card you own that isn’t physically in your starting deck. What zone a physical card in your starting deck inhabits won’t change the fact that it’s a part of the game, and therefore in the game.

[@chrisgebben2043]

i do have question how do you know if cards can can trump timing restrictions because for example "Hidetsugu, Devouring Chaos" and "containment construct" may have abilitiy at instant speed that damages and lets you play cards but i heard timing still applys and yet some other stuff with similar word can beat it (like madness)

[@Natedogg2]

Hidetsugu gives you a time frame you can play the card in - "this turn". Since it's giving you a time frame to play it, it doesn't change when you can play the card. Same with the Construct - it also uses "this turn", so it does not change when you can cast it. If it doesn't give you a time frame to cast it in (for example, cascade), then you're casting it when that spell or ability is resolving or not at all. And since it's giving you permission to cast it, it gets around normal timing restrictions.

[@forloveofthepage2361]

The way you say Mario caught me off guard and made me laugh. Don't know why I felt the need to say that, but I'm still chuckling about it.

[@garrettbowman8125]

Is there a Level Up ability focused deck teck floating around out there? Just curious

[@OverkillpG]

good video, very clear explanations

[@ThisIsACommanderChannel]

If you don't mind, I have a series called Tough Rules & Cool Interactions in which I cover Magic rules. I'd love to get some feedback on those videos and see what you think about them.

[@edekolwaski617]

Could you explain a full turn with the steps in between and when I give up priority?

[@dangusmedia]

I'm a bit confused on how blinking/flickering and phasing work, especially when other things are involved. Is there a difference between blinking and phasing? What happens to what happens to equipments, counters, enchantments, auras, configured creatures? You mentioned the exiled cards in this video, so that part is answered.

[@helderboymh]

Yes the difference between blinking and phasing is this: Blinking you leave the battlefield, go to the exile zone, and then come back to the battlefield ( either right away or at the beginning of the next end step, depending on how the card is worded) With phasing you stay on the battlefield but alsong as the permanent is phased out the game treats that permanent ( and everything that's attached to it) as if it doesn't exist. Nothing can effect that card except for card that specifically talk about phased out permanents. This has two big difference: 1)Only blinking causes enter the battlefield effects (etb) to happen etb effects on a card that phases out don't trigger when that card phases back in. 2) a permanent that is blinked actually leaves the battlefield and comes back. But since it actually left the battlefield everything that it had on it or was attached to it (such as counters, auras and equipment) falls of when it leaves and won't be on it when it returns. Phased out permanents stay exactly the same, and phase back in the exact same way they phased out. Those are the two biggest differences between the two. There are a couple more but these are the two most important ones. Another small difference is that a token can only exist on the battlefield, so if it gets blinked, it goes to the exile zone and then stop existing, you therefore can't return the token to the battlefield and it's gone forever. A phased out permanent stays on the battlefield so tokens can phase in and out.

[@chrisgebben2043]

i might need to clarify the "infernal tribute" question for newer players and its a quickie you can't sac stuff you don't control. but if you use a Threaten/Blatant Thievery/Gilded Drake effect (basically theft effects) on your opponent things your gaining control of it which will make it a legal target for sacing since you now control it. infact the last example with exiled card with or without counters like etrata and rayami this is another cause and point of why "Dauthi voidwalker" is beyond OP because that creature is a third one because it's looking for cards with Void counters in exile.

[@SvviftDeath]

It may seem obvious but one that a friend of mine constantly gets wrong is Priority. He can not grasp how priority works and when players can respond to changes in steps/phases, abilities on the stack, or casting. He will constantly jump in whatever scenario is going on and play removal when there is no priority or try to counter when he is second to last or last in turn order to do so. This cause him to foolishly show what he has in hand and we always have to backpedal to allow priority to resolve. Worse is he will then, more often then not, decide not to respond when priority is passed to him last. This can really mess with other players as someone else might've responded had they not known he already had a response but then he pass priority without doing anything anyway.

[@goofydragon8023]

Hello Demo, my question is about a spell like "time stop" that removes the stack and removes all triggered abilities and ends the current turn. If a player had a commander that exiles itself and comes back at the end of the turn. If that player lets their commander go into exile and then I play time stop that would remove that commander from the game permanently right? Because you can only put it in the command zone when it changes zones and the player let it go into exile and the trigger to bring it back is gone so it just stays in exile. I think I'm understanding that right.

[@helderboymh]

Usually it says "at the beginning of the next end" step, since there was no end step it'll just happen during the end step in the next turn, since that is the first end step that happend.

[@helderboymh]

Just a tip, if you have a question about a card you can look them up on gather and if you scroll down you'll see the ruling on the card (explanations of how the card works) In this case "Unless Time Stop is cast during the Ending phase, any “at the beginning of the end step”-triggered abilities don't get the chance to trigger on the turn Time Stop is cast. These abilities will trigger at the beginning of the next end step."

[@goofydragon8023]

So I just have to wait and cast during the end step while the commander returning is on the stack and since time stop is an instant I can do that.

[@helderboymh]

@@goofydragon8023 correct.

[@annoyingcontrolplayer7321]

Does Evelyn the Covetous work like Riami with collection counters? It has a lot more red tape on it's card text than Riami does

[@edhdeckbuilding]

it does. but just has to be exiled by you.

[@memnarchprogenitus9839]

One questions: I have God-Eternal Kefnet in play and cast 'Into the Story' at an opponents turn. So I draw my first card in turn with 'into the Story'. Is it correct that GEK triggers as soon as i draw the first card and i need to reveal it before drawing (seeing) the other three cards, but 'into the Story' resolves first completely before the reveald card gets copied because an ability/spell can't be interrupt while it resolves?

[@edhdeckbuilding]

yes you draw all 3 cards at the same time. but the first one you will have to reveal as you draw it.

[@memnarchprogenitus9839]

@@edhdeckbuilding thanks man 👍

[@giorejuacheng]

Hi. Greetings from Guatemala. Thank you for the videos. Very helpful!! I would like to know how to use or pay For using Crackle with power with Hinata in play. I don’t really understand how much do I have to pay and hoy much damage can I cause . Thank you very much!!

[@Natedogg2]

When you cast the Crackle, you first choose how many targets the spell has. Then, based on that information, Hinata can reduce the cost of the spell. Hinata can reduce the total cost, but doesn't reduce the cost of each X in the cost of the spell, and all Xs in the cost have to be the same number. For example, let's say you want to cast the Crackle with 4 targets (and dealing 20 damage to each target). That means X will be 4, and the cost starts at {4}{4}{4}{R}{R}, or 12RR. Since it has 4 targets, Hinata reduces the cost by 4, and you'll end up paying 8RR to cast it. tl;dr - Hinata will effective "cover" one of the Xs in the cost, but you'll still have to pay for the other two Xs like normal.

[@giorejuacheng]

@@Natedogg2 Thank you very much!! 💪🏼🤗

[@josephcraig9655]

This has to be a favorite really so keep it up

[@ThisIsACommanderChannel]

If you really like these sorts of videos that cover Magic rules and such, check out my Tough Rules & Cool Interactions series which is dedicated to weird rules and how certain cards interact with each other.

[@dapperghastmeowregard]

Fun fact, Emblems are placed in the Command Zone as well. Apparently so are Schemes, Planes, and Vanguard (insert Santa Clause aging gif) cards.

[@raymanta5671]

Dungeons are as well.

[@soullessslacker]

I'm always getting this mixed up, especially in my Jaxis deck: Sacrifice it at the beginning of the next end step. When's the next end step? Is it right after the battle or is it at the end of the end phase.

[@helderboymh]

It's right after the second main phase.

[@61ERock]

With commanders having the option to return to the command zone any time it moves zones could you in theory return it to the command zone after it leaves the stack as it's switching zones from the stack to the battlefield?

[@helderboymh]

A commander going to the command zone doesn't happen or isn't an option after just any game zone change. Here are is the rule for how end when you can return a commander to your command zone: If a commander is in a graveyard or in exile and that card was put into that zone since the last time state-based actions were checked, its owner may put it into the command zone. If a commander would be put into its owner’s hand or library from anywhere, its owner may put it into the command zone instead

[@sergiolopez426]

Thanks demo. Very entertaining to watch these kinds of vids. 👏👏

[@thisone45]

Been having a weird amount of trouble lately with players understanding the stack and priority. Specifically: that a permanent entering the battlefield cannot be responded to, and That removing a permanent doesn't stop its activated or triggered abilities from making it to the stack.

[@edhdeckbuilding]

i can't believe how much i've got that question. so many players out there think that removing the source of an ability removes the activation. i'll have to reiterate that one again.

[@ThisIsACommanderChannel]

Yeah, it's not easy explaining Priority to someone, especially mid game. A lot of times players may think you're just trying to take advantage of them or confuse them. I have a series on my channel called Tough Rules & Cool Interactions and I'm thinking of doing a sort of 'back to basics' videos that cover less specific corner cases of rules and instead more broad things like those two you've mentioned. Though I did cover what it means to be 'Sorcery speed' in one episode already that touches on Priority.

[@Babagita]

“Question” If its Night time on the field and you play “Valki God of lies” look at your opponents hand and you see for example a “brutal cathar” do you steal the nightbound version of the card ? And even if you steal a card at day with VALKI and it becomes night does the card you stole with the daybound nightbound ability triggers ?

[@Raaayyyyyyyyyy]

Day/nightbound only happens on the battlefield.

[@gilliganallmighty3]

Simplest way to explain the flashback question: once you declare that you are casting a spell, no matter where the card is before the declaration, the card is a spell on the stack, amd no longer in the graveyard. Its the same as not being able to destroy a permanent that is being sacrificed. Wishes used to grab cards that were removed from the game. Then they changed "removed from the game" became "exile" and they changed "from outside the game" to only apply to your sideboard.

[@spencercurtis86]

in mtg arena there have been times where people cast to return something from the game and I have been able to target them in the graveyard. For instance if they want to return a creature from the graveyard and they spend the mana and they target lets say Toxrill, I can in response cast Turn the Earth and shuffle those cards into their decks. They spent the mana and nothing happened because the card is no longer in the graveyard. Is arena rules just different? Thanks

[@gilliganallmighty3]

@@spencercurtis86 that's how it should happen, when casting a spell from the anywhere, as soon as casting the spell is declared, the card moves from whatever zone it originated to the stack there is no chance to interrupt this. But whenever you target a card with a spell or ability that would change its zone, the target remains in the original zone until the spell/ability resolves. This leaves a window for interaction such as countering, and making the target illegal, by for example changing its card type, or moving it to another zone.

[@dlordactual]

So if you have an enhcantment creature in card in your hand or on top of the library is it both types or just a creature or just an enchantment? Specifically how would this work with God creatures that require devotion to become a creature? Is it a creature or enchantment on the stack especially if the devotion is met? I also have another question regarding Hauken's Insight. When you tap and pay to transform when can someone destroy it? If the transform resolves do they have to wait until I play something from it to destroy it or can they cast the destroy enchantment as soon as I pay to transform cause wouldn't it not be an enchantment yet?

[@helderboymh]

It's always a creature and an enchantment except when it's in the battlefield and you don't have devotion then it's not a creature but still an enchantment. In general: Text on permanent cards only has an effect when the card is on the battlefield (unless specified otherwise).

[@helderboymh]

For the second question, They can destroy it ( with enchantment removal) after the ability resolves, if you activate the ability on the front side and it's on the stack it can't be destroyed with enchantment removal yet. Then after the ability resolves the active player gets priority first and they can do something, if the active player is the player that controls the insight, this means they can use the second ability before anyone has an opportunity to destroy it.

[@xplod3r]

So this has been confusing me for a bit maybe you can answer this. If an attacking creature with double strike and trample is blocked and the blocker dies from first strike damage does the blocking player then take the full attacking creatures power during normal combat phase because of the trample? I hope you can understand what I am asking, was a bit hard to communicate in text. Great video.

[@helderboymh]

Yes. The player will take full damage during the normal combat damage step.

[@PrimalRockSlapper]

If someone casts a creature spell with a cast trigger (like Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger) could I counter it with rebuff the wicked if they target my stuff?

[@Natedogg2]

Rebuff the Wicked can only target a spell that targets a permanent you control. Ulamog (the spell) doesn't target. It has a triggered ability that targets, but the ability is not a spell. So Rebuff the Wicked won't let you counter Ulamog or its cast trigger.

[@yopman411]

The thing that makes Eldrazi so good is that you cannot stop cast triggers, even if you counter it the card was still cast. It's ordered like this, Ulamog is cast when it is cast the "when you cast" ability goes in the stack and countering Ulamog leaves the cast ability on the stack.

[@toddmiller2812]

I have asked this before and have no clarification as of yet. Can anyone tell me if you search for a basic land, can you search for a duel land that says it is an Island and a Swamp? Some of those expenses duel lands say they are 2 types of basic land. I just want to know if they can be searched for if a spell or ability let's you search for a basic land?

[@edhdeckbuilding]

no. a basic land has the supertype "basic". if it doesn't say basic you can't get it.

[@helderboymh]

I did give you a clarification on that.

[@mikemacek4470]

My play groups keeps useing banned cards for the comander how do i get around this or do i just stop playing with them ? Any sugestions would be nice

[@stevenfairhaven6388]

If I put a enchanted creature cannot be the target of spells or abilities does that mean I cannot target it with a spell or inability to make it stronger or does that forbid me from making any more additions to its power

[@helderboymh]

It means you cannot target it with spell or abilities. This means anything that uses the word "target" can not chose that enchanted creature as it's target. To note: when you cast an enchantment with enchantment creature, part of casting it is to target the creature you are going to put it on. This means you also can't cast anymore enchant creature enchantments onto that creature. Hope that helps.

[@markc6571]

I think I know the answer to this, but, does Dauthi Voidwalker forget the cards exiled with Void counters on them? Or can you still cast those cards when Dauthi Voidwalker returns to the battlefield?

[@helderboymh]

For his activated ability all he looks for is a card in exile owned by the opponent with a void counter on them . So any voidwalker can cast any cards in exile with a void counter on them ( technically he does "forget" as in the cards in exile aren't exiled by the returned void walker but it doesn't matter as the activated ability is only looking for cards in exile with a counter on them)

[@JazMan2001]

How does “Goad” work 1v1 is the creature able to attack you?

[@Natedogg2]

Goad means two things: must attack if able, and must attack a player other than the player who goaded it if able. If you're in 1v1, then the goaded creature must attack the player who goaded it.

[@italgod]

I have a question. I have a Myrkul, Lord of Bones and a Destiny Spinner under my control. It's my turn and on main phase 1 I decide to pay for Destiny Spinner's ability. I target my land and go to combat. I attack with my X/X land creature and my opponent blocks killing my land creature. Does Myrkul's ability of creating a token copy of the land happen? Also could I still tap it for mana if it does?

[@ScorpioneOrzion]

Depending on the land, if the land has the tap ability written on it, you can, if it does not you cannot. (A basic forest for example, will not be a forest then)

[@Natedogg2]

Since it was a creature when it died, Myrkul will trigger and you can exile it to make a copy of it. Whether or not the land can tap for mana depends on the land. The token is just an enchantment, it's not a land, so it can't have basic land types. So if the land has mana abilities because it had a basic land type (for example, you animated a Forest), then it won't have that ability since it doesn't have that basic land type (so the Forest in this example wouldn't have the Forest subtype, and thus could not tap for green mana). But if the land was something like Yavimaya Coast, its mana abilities are not tied to a basic land type, so it will still have those activated abilities.

[@italgod]

@@Natedogg2 Thank you very much!

[@italgod]

@@ScorpioneOrzion Thank you

[@caasIsirhC]

Argh! Absolutely made this mistake in Rakdos Chainer with Flayer of the Hatebound and this video made me realise it. I am now not sure if it's worth it now the effectiveness is restricted to reanimation effects only.

[@spencercurtis86]

On arena player's have tried to return creatures from the graveyard to the battlefield and in response I have cast turn the earth to shuffle them back into the player's deck, they still spent the mana but the creatures don't come back. I am confused, same with rotten reunion or maybe I am just mistaken

[@helderboymh]

This is because they cast a spell or Activate and ability that allows them to return some from the graveyard. They pay the cost and then That spell or ability goes on the stack and then it response you can remove the card that would be returned from the graveyard. And so when the ability or spell resolves it tries to return the car but it's no longer there so it won't. The cost is then already payed a long time ago ( before they out it on the stack) and this won't be undone. This is why they pay the cost but don't get it back from the graveyard. Note this only works for cards or abilities that return cards from the graveyard to the battlefield. If you have a card that you can **cast** from the graveyard, this won't work since part of casting the card is moving it from the graveyard and putting it on the stack. And so when you can respond to it it's already on the stack and so if they decide to cast it you won't be able to respond and remove it from the graveyard. The disturb ability is an example of cards that can be cast from the graveyard.

[@spencercurtis86]

@@helderboymh THANK YOU. I see the casting it from graveyard aka flashback is different. I misunderstood him. Thank you for the amazing explanation

[@krazoanfox]

I saw one glaring issue. With your upkeep answer. When multiple players have things that trigger during upkeep. The active player abilities hit the stack first. Then the non active player hits after. Meaning that the nonactive player abilities will resolve first.

[@helderboymh]

Wich is exactly what he says 3:47

[@krazoanfox]

@@helderboymh I never saw anything talking about the active player. As a judge. Just wanted to keep everyone honest

[@helderboymh]

@@krazoanfox "if it's your turn, your abilities go on the stack first" He doesn't use the term active player but that's fine. What he says is fully correct.

[@krazoanfox]

@@helderboymh either way its great info

[@helderboymh]

@@krazoanfox either way it's not a glaring issue.

[@raze667]

There's a little bit misleading in your section on "cards" and "permanents". Permanents on the battlefield do not stop being "cards" once they reach there. Cards are still cards, insofar as they are not tokens. This is why cards like serfris do not trigger when a token dies, because tokens are not "cards." Furthermore, permanent "cards" in the any other zone are still "permanents" in those zones except the stack. Permanent cards in your graveyard are still "permanents." Essentially the main information that should be conveyed by your section is that the only zone "cards" cease being "cards" is on the stack. You may also want to indicate the difference between "cards," "tokens," and "copies." As copies on the stack function a bit differently than traditional spells.

[@raze667]

@@shadowfate05 another interesting point is that sefris is not a leave the battle field ability, if there's a board wipe she won't see the rest of the cards hitting the bin either.

[@haroun1760]

So if I understand correctly, Flayer of the Hatebound will also not work with Chainer, Nightmare Adept? Because you may cast a creature...

[@helderboymh]

Correct. Casting will always mean it goes to the stack before moving to another zone.

[@haroun1760]

@@helderboymh would have never known, I have it in my Chainer deck which came in the same pre-con Mercilles Rage.

[@DmanDominate]

Demo! My brothers and dad all play 4-way EDH, board wipes are always present. Does a creature that gives protection from sorceries protect from boardwipes? I figure no as long as they are doing "destroyed" and not like "13 Damage"

[@edhdeckbuilding]

protection works against damage and targeting. won't do anything against most boarwipes.

[@DmanDominate]

@@edhdeckbuilding thank you! Keep up the good work

[@treeblast]

Can you explain how the copy mechanic works? Why does a Mindlink Mech crewed by a Scute Swarm create a 4/3 Scute Swarm with flying, but a Scute Swarm with Serpentine Ambush creates a 1/1 normal Scute Swarm? Both effects says that the target creature becomes something until end of turn, but they have very different outcomes when copied.

[@helderboymh]

The ruling on scute swarm: "The token copy won't copy counters or damage marked on Scute Swarm, nor will it copy other effects that have changed Scute Swarm's power, toughness, types, color, and so on. Normally, this means the token will simply be a Scute Swarm, but if any copy effects have affected the original Scute Swarm, the token will take those into account" But why do the rules treat these two situations differently? One word: layers. Layers are one of the most complicated aspects of magic. But it comes down to this the mind link becomes a copy, but a copy that has a P/T of 4/5. It doesn't become a copy and then it's P/T becomes 4/5, part of it becoming a copy is that it has a different P/T. Where as a ambush changes the P/T, but the card itself hasn't changed. its the difference between painting a horse black and white and a zebra. If you clone both only the zebra will make a back and white clone. If you want more specifics there is a video called judges coner #88 all about layers.

[@treeblast]

@@helderboymh Very helpful, thank you!

[@OniTreefolk]

Keep making these, they're wonderful

[@draculwalker1892]

Great video as alwayz 🍺🤘🏻do love these kind of videoz! You rock brother!

[@NewOldEBM]

idk if you've already done it but talking about priority/responses would probably be super helpful for people

[@helderboymh]

He does talk about it in both his previous videos I think.

[@09Dragonite]

Don't certain cards check the stack for "permanent" spells? I mean, it still notates the spell on the stack as a spell, but it is considered a "permanent spell on the stack" right? Like Lithoform Engine is great example, it's checking for any permanent type, just on the stack prior to entering the battlefield. So those spells are "permanent spells on the stack" but not permanents in play yet. Just checking for clarity, mostly for the sake of assisting others with some complicatedly nuanced spells like Sudden Substitution that plays around with specific card types on the stack.

[@shjoncampbell6754]

Question about Garth. If an opponent were to gain control of Garth, does that reset which cards have/havent been copied and cast?

[@helderboymh]

Just a tip, if you have a question about a card you can look them up on gather and if you scroll down you'll see the ruling on the card (explanations of how the card works) In this case: 6/18/2021 " Each Garth One-Eye keeps track of card names chosen for itself, but not for other Garth One-Eyes. (Garths One-Eye?) If Garth One-Eye leaves the battlefield and returns, or you control another copy of it, it won't remember the choices made during earlier activations. However, if another player gains control of Garth One-Eye, it will remember choices made for it."

[@shjoncampbell6754]

@@helderboymh When we looked that up on gatherer we couldnt find that ruling. But thanks

[@helderboymh]

@@shjoncampbell6754 oh that's Weird, it's where I got it from. You're welcome btw :)

[@floriankaeder]

When I exile cards with tibalt, cosmic impostor and It gets bounced I can still cast them because of the emblem, right?

[@helderboymh]

Yes, this is exactly why it creates an emblem isntead of just being a line of text on tibalt.

[@fatbeard8072]

Thanks, you gave me some idea's for a Commander Deck of mine I need to upgrade..

[@lawmobilegaming4896]

Content = 11/10. Well done.

[@laharlfan71]

Timing Question: Can i use Titan's Nest's Mana ability while resolving Tasigur's Ability ie removing one of the 2 cards he flips onto the graveyard so my opponent is left with only one card they can choose? I'm iffy on this one

[@helderboymh]

No. The putting of the cards in the gy is part of the resolution. To be able to put an ability on the stack you have to pay the cost. Then every player gets the opportunity to respond. Then the ability resolves and part of that is putting cards in the graveyard, as long as a spell or ability is resolving you can't activate abilities or cast spells. You'll have to wait after it has resolved.

[@laharlfan71]

@@helderboymh But it's a mana ability, it doesnt use the stack or priority, that's the tricky bit

[@GorrTGB]

@@laharlfan71 a player cant take any actions while a spell is resolving. Including mana abilities. And you still need priority to activate a mana ability. 605.3a A player may activate an activated mana ability whenever they have priority, whenever they are casting a spell or activating an ability that requires a mana payment, or whenever a rule or effect asks for a mana payment, even if it’s in the middle of casting or resolving a spell or activating or resolving an ability.

[@laharlfan71]

@@GorrTGB "even if it’s in the middle of casting or resolving a spell or activating or resolving an ability." This says it can, just not sure it applies here

[@GorrTGB]

@@laharlfan71 that is only if payment is required. If no payment is required then it cannot be done.

[@ThisIsACommanderChannel]

Oh hey, I covered a lot of these things in some episodes of my Tough Rules & Cool Interactions. Like Ep 24, using a spell like Bane's Contengency to counter a Counterspell that is targeting your Commander being cast. It will work in countering the Counterspell but you will not get the bonus effect because it specifically says that you must counter something that targets your "Commander" and not "Commander spell" which it is while on the Stack.

[@coltonsimpson3523]

If I block with "Wall of Tears" in my Arcades deck, and it kills the attacking creature during combat. Will Wall of Tears ability cause the attaching creature to return to it's owners hand at the end of combat?

[@Natedogg2]

No. It only returns to their hand if it's still on the battlefield at the end of combat. If it died in combat, it will not return.

[@tkessel3866]

Is there any rule that says where i have my zones or how i have to tap or untap. For example morph cards are not allowed to move is that also for other cards or zones I have a friend who untaps his stuff upside down its triggers me and now i m asking is this legal ^^'

[@helderboymh]

Technically it's against the rules yes. 701.21a To tap a permanent, turn it sideways from an upright position. There are no official places for your zones as long as it's clear Wich card are in Wich zone. (cards exiled with another permanent are for example sometimes placed under that permanent instead of with the rest of the exiled cards) If you are in a tournament and think an opponent is deliberately doing weird things with the zone (for example switching the position from the exile and graveyard between two games) you have every right to call a judge, and you should do so as it's important that a judge knows this as it can help established a pattern. If you are playing with friends, just ask them.

[@KerriWise23]

So for cards outside the game in a game of commander, do companions start outside the game or do they start in the command zone?

[@Natedogg2]

Companions start the game outside the game. They do not start in the command zone.

[@KerriWise23]

@@Natedogg2 okay, so if they start outside the game, and since outside the game does not exist in commander, then you shouldn't be able to use companions. But apparently you can. Doesn't make any sense, outside the game stuff doesn't work except for this one exception.

[@helderboymh]

@@KerriWise23 cards that refer to cards outside the game don't work. Companions don't refer to cards outside the game. They just happen to start the game outside the game and for 3 mana you can make them part of the game by putting then into your hand.

[@luketargett2233]

Another awesome video, thanks!

[@Adam-Madman]

It would be nice to see a video about rules when two effects contradict each other :)

[@veryblocky]

The ruling is that can’t effects take precedence over can effects

[@Adam-Madman]

@@veryblocky That's true, but I'm almost sure sometimes it's not that easy to distinguish

[@ThisIsACommanderChannel]

@@Adam-Madman Can you provide me some examples? Are you talking about having multiple Replacement Effects out? Cards that say "if X, then do Y instead"?

[@Adam-Madman]

@@ThisIsACommanderChannel for example if you have Asmodeus the Archfiend and there's some stax effect on the board that says you can draw only one card. Asmodeus exiles cards instead of drawing, but his second ability is draw seven cards... So would you exile one card, or seven?

[@ThisIsACommanderChannel]

@@Adam-Madman I have a video series called Tough Rules & Cool Interactions and while I have made one episode on Replacement Effects, I haven't made one that covers something specifically like this. So, I'll just have to try and answer you via this text. If there are multiple replacement effects applying to the same game action or event, then the affected player gets to pick the order in which those two (or more) Replacement Effects apply, this means that one happening first could make it so that the next one wouldn't even be able to apply now. What it sounds like you're mentioning here might be different. It sounds like here you're saying something like you're opponent has out a Narset, Parter of Veils and you're trying to draw the 7 cards from Asmodeus? If that's the case, then the Static Effect placing a restriction on your card draw would 'beat' the Replacement Effect on the Asmodeus and it would just cause you to only draw 1 card and then that 1 card would be replaced with the Exile instead effect. I hope this helps you out. I'll probably have a video on this sort of thing with other examples soon.

[@andrewtaylor5883]

This is less of a question but more of an ethical question: Have you ever scooped to allow the remaining players to gain a tactical advantage against the player clearly in the lead? For example Lifegain on the Stack or Deals Damage trigger? It's a morally gray area and is rough to discuss but what's your experience in this area??

[@helderboymh]

This happens regularly. Or something similar, when you are about to lose the game or are in an unwinnable position and you actively do things, play cards and such to hinder one opponent or to actively help one opponent. This is quite common I believe. Sometimes you help one player so much that they (basically) can't lose the game anymore, this is called king making ( you make someone else the king on your way out) this is quite frowned upon. Its Not really ethical or unethical as it depends what you have agreed upon with your playgroup. You can make house rules that it's not allowed or not allowed to be to much (you can only hurt or help people a little bit)

[@andrewtaylor5883]

@@helderboymh I've heard that term before!

[@helderboymh]

@@andrewtaylor5883 haha nice. Now you know what it means. Like I said this really comes down to what is agreed upon between players. And do talk about it or people might leave a game with a bad taste in their move or the feeling that they got completely screwed.

[@EvertfromNederland]

MTG has got to be the only game where so many players are oblivious to certain rules yet are still able to play and have a good time.

[@edhdeckbuilding]

that's so true.

[@toewoe]

You should make one of these just for the rule monstrosity that 2 headed giant is

[@kevonryan7667]

I have a question that i have encountered recently, im playing tergrid god of fright and my friend had golden gardian. He sac golden gardian whild i had tergrid on field n we argued that i would get golden gardian or not. Plz help

[@helderboymh]

I assume he activated the ability of golden guardian? If that the case then it depends who's turn it is, both of them will trigger when he is sac'ed and then the trigger of the active player ( the player who's turn it is) will go on the stack first and then the non active player. Then the stack wil resolve from the top and the trigger from the non active player wil resolve first. So the non active player will get him.

[@thcatbob]

Me and my magic pod all started playing within the last 6 months... we just learned TODAY that blocking creatures doesn't cause them to tap 🤯😵

[@ThisIsACommanderChannel]

You know, that's actually a super common belief for new players. Especially if you're mostly playing amongst each other. Once you start branching out to LGSs and playing with other groups, you start playing against others who will hopefully politely correct you on some of the errors that a lot of newer players typically make. If you want to help grow your rules knowledge even more, I have a series called Tough Rules & Cool Interactions that is dedicated to clearing up weird rules and such. If you doncheck it out, feel free to give me some feedback.

[@edhdeckbuilding]

talking about combat in the next video.

[@thcatbob]

@@edhdeckbuilding looking forward to it your videos are giving us alot to think about and learning new ways to interact with cards.

[@ehpiii_music]

Breaking the stack? Veyran, Voice of Duality. Twinning staff. Pyromancer's goggles. Into mind's desire.

[@kevinj4002]

You used the example of equipping grafted wargear to an opponent's creature, but equip abilities specifically target creatures you control. Edit: adren apparently does this lol

[@helderboymh]

1:18 he is specifically talking about a deck with Ardenn. That other card on screen isn't just for decorating. He also explains this in the video.

[@kevinj4002]

@@helderboymh I thought I knew what arden said, since there's an arden rograk player in my home play group, so I didn't read the card when it popped up on screen. Apparently, I did not know what Arden says on it lol.

[@helderboymh]

@@kevinj4002 ahh yeah I know the feeling.

[@JoeyjojoShabadoo7]

Here’s an interesting one: I could’ve sworn that, way back in the day (90s), if you tapped a creature that you were blocking with, it dealt no combat damage as a result. My younger current playgroup insist this was never the case. Curious Demo your thoughts?

[@helderboymh]

This is correct, way back when magic started this was the case but I believe this was changed pretty fast .

[@helderboymh]

From the wizards of the coast web site: "TAPPED CREATURES DEAL NO DAMAGE Change: Under Fifth Edition rules, tapped blocking creatures dealt no damage in combat. Under Sixth Edition rules, they do." 1999 it was changed. That way later then I would have guessed.

[@JoeyjojoShabadoo7]

@@helderboymh Ha! I knew it! Thanks much 👌

[@Bladeluce]

Do Emblems exist in the command zone? Does it exist outside Commander?

[@Natedogg2]

Emblems exist in the command zone.

[@shaden489]

The command zone actually exists in all formats its where emblems go amongst other things

[@joranmoore5663]

I just had a quick question. Can I have both a Conspiracy card *and* my Commander in the Command Zone?

[@helderboymh]

Yes

[@ericdoan9949]

Wait wait wait. "From outside the game." Doesn't that mean exactly what it states? Like if I were at a card shop, would I be able to select a card from the display case??

[@helderboymh]

In casual magic yes. In official tournaments it means your sideboard.

[@robertmendez8383]

Can you explain mana/ priority bullying?

[@helderboymh]

If someone plays a very important spell possibly game winning and I have card that can stop it. I can keep pass priority then tell players I have the card to stop him and because using a mana ability creates a new round of priority, I can "force" other players to tap a land and start a new round of priority. I can keep passing until they are tapped out and they are "forced" to tap a land because if the spell resolves they wil lose any ways, and the only way to possibly stop it is to give me priority. it's a super non issue I believe. It's not a problem in casual multiplayer, Do this once in your local play group and everyone will frown at you or just not tap lands and lose instead. Do it twice and you can look for a new play group. It's only a problem basically in competitive EDH, that's just because EDH isn't a format designed for a competitive environment.

[@robertmendez8383]

@@helderboymh ok how it works thanks I thought it would be cool if Demo brought it up in a video.

[@helderboymh]

@@robertmendez8383 it's super niche, it doesn't rarely comes up and it's only for competitive play I don't really think it needs to be addressed. It was brought up as an issue wizards should fix for tournament play.

[@robertmendez8383]

@@helderboymh sure all that is fair but I just thought it was an interesting interaction that the viewers would enjoy Demo explaining

[@theycallmelittletoe]

Captains hook is the card that does the job in Arden

[@BeWrong666]

This is good :) hoping rule codes would be included next time

[@ThisIsACommanderChannel]

Yeah, I'm surprised Demo isn't including them. In my series Tough Rules & Cool Interactions if I'm covering any specific rules then I provide the citation from the Comprehensive Rules so that anyone who encounters these kinds of issues in their playgroups can easily pull up the rules in the future and show them to the person they're playing with.

[@jyl-6655]

These aren’t zones in the traditional sense but cards with time counters on them and cards that are phased out have what I can only describe as their own zone. Those could be some good rules to cover here.

[@ThisIsACommanderChannel]

Phased isn't a zone but is a state, just like how a tapped permanent is in the tapped state. For time counters, are you talking about cards with Suspend? Which those are in a Zone other than the Battlefield, they are in Exile.

[@GamerGrimm]

Don’t forget the absolutely-removed-from-the-freaking-game-forever zone. That’s a very very important zone ;)