Article 215 - Common Ruling Misconceptions

Stand Back. It's NFG's Articleness of Rulinginated.

How do my babies. How do indeed. After playing at the Five Civilizations tournament, and judging too. I really think its necessary to write about common ruling misconceptions..especially this one.

YOU MUST UNTAP YOUR CARDS AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR TURN, BEFORE YOUR DRAW.

But if you don't, it's not big deal. There are currently no penalties for this. Therefore, black hearted judges such as myself, can't do anything about it. I myself, draw first, then worry about untapping.
The reason it doesn't matter is because

A. Doesn't affect the game.
B. No one cares. Unless they are losing.
C. We aren't DCI.
D. Doesn't affect the game. I repeated. I know. Please refer to B if you have a problem with me repeating A.


Now, hears the most common rulings I come across.


Little Timmy McNoob : How does the "triple breaker" ability work?

Awesome Person : It works a lot like "double breaker."
When a creature that has "triple breaker" attacks your opponent and isn't blocked, it breaks 3 of his shields. That number is locked in, so the creature breaks 3 shields even if a "shield trigger" spell such as Terror Pit (from Base Set) destroys it. If your opponent has only 1 or 2 shields left, a creature that has "triple breaker" breaks those shields, but then you'll have to make another unblocked attack to win the game.

Little Susie McIdiot : Does the new Ambush Scorpion have summoning sickness?

Awesome Person : Yes. Whenever you put a new creature into the battle zone, it gets summoning sickness whether you summoned it or not. The exceptions to this rule are evolution creatures and creatures that have "speed attacker," which don't get summoning sickness at all.

Heres the one I get asked the most.

Crapnut McBowdaggit : A few spells in this set (Searing Wave, Snake Attack, and Volcanic Arrows) have a line that says "Choose one of your shields and put it into your graveyard." Can I cast one of these spells if I have no shields left? Will it make me lose the game?

Awesome Person : You can cast these spells if you have no shields left. Whenever you cast one of these spells (or any spells), you follow each one of its instructions line-by-line if you can. First, follow the first instruction on the card. Then, if you have any shields, choose one of them and put it into your graveyard. If you have no shields, just skip this part. It isn't an attack, so you don't lose the game.


Ok. Here's some quick clarification on small stuff.

Emeral cannot add a shield without picking one up.
Errr, that's not the technical way to say that, but it sums it up. Basically, if you don't have a shield already down, then you shouldn't play Emeral, hoping to get its effect.

Double Breakers break one shield at a time, along with Triples. No, you cannot see what the other shield is, before activating your other shield.

If you name is Monte Eads, you win. GG.

Ok, thats it for today. I'm gonna do an article on Terms next.

Don't Play Blue Green!