Magic Rules Update

[The Atog Lord]

Up on magicthegathering.com.

http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/feature/46a

As with any change to the rules of this game, this is quite worth reading.

After reading the different sections, I have a few comments.

It appears that "Bands with Other" finally does what it always seemed like it should do.

I'm not sure about the new rules on Phasing. According to the article, the phased out permanent is treated as though it did not exist. Wouldn't that cause any Auras on it to fall into the graveyard, unless they were explicitly saved somehow? Otherwise they're trying to enchant a permanent which is not in play, which should result in their going to the graveyard.

Finally, why doesn't Imprison stop Llanowar Elves from tapping for mana? It clearly should, by its printed wording.

[Yare]

Finally, why doesn't Imprison stop Llanowar Elves from tapping for mana? It clearly should, by its printed wording.

I would presume it has to do with mana abilities resolving immediately, whereas the triggered ability that's supposed to stop it uses the stack. Of course, the English language has a lot of words, so I figure this could have been saved somehow.

I'll be reading all the changes later today, hopefully.

[wiley]

103.4
This is the new mulligan rule. Mulligans are now taken in rounds, essentially. In turn order, everyone announces whether or not they're going to take a mulligan, then everyone who said "yes" does so at the same time. Then the people who took mulligans repeat the process. If you've got a Serum Powder in your hand, you use it at the time you would say "yes" or "no," then you say "yes" or "no" once you've got your new hand.

There is a fairly important piece for all dredge players.

106
This is a new section about mana. The most notable item is what's not here: mana burn. Each player's mana pool is now cleared at the end of each step and each phase (as opposed to just the end of each phase), but this no longer causes life loss. Additionally, each time a player passes priority or spends mana, if any mana remains in that player's mana pool, he or she must announce what mana is still there.

Important for all combo players out there.

[Norm4eva]

106
This is a new section about mana. The most notable item is what's not here: mana burn. Each player's mana pool is now cleared at the end of each step and each phase (as opposed to just the end of each phase), but this no longer causes life loss. Additionally, each time a player passes priority or spends mana, if any mana remains in that player's mana pool, he or she must announce what mana is still there.

Important for all combo players out there.

In my experience, combo players were doing this anyway?  But yeah making a rule of it is not a bad idea, I mean if someone's combo depends on recurring effects to generate tons of mana, we ought to all be able to say just how much mana is floating around out there.

EDIT: They went out of their way for Waylay and Co, again.  I'm just saying it for the lulz now, I don't own any Waylays anymore, but dammit.  I can't tell the difference between functional errata, power level errata, restorative errata or anything else anymore, because most of it is subjective and depends much on what's in play, what's been played, etc etc etc - see their Coal Stoker example for weird ass, pointless interaction tripe.  Which EOTs are 'supposed' to be EOTs?  Differentiating between "beginning of end step" and "beginning of cleanup step" obviously just gives them a cleaner version of substance and allows for more intricacies in regard to EOT effects, but what does that have to do with only certain cards already in print?  Blah.  It's just sad, that's all.

EDIT2: So wait wait wait - Phasing causes permanents to "cease to exist, temporarily", but has nothing to do with being Exiled?  Isn't it then, actually, temporarily removed from the game?  after they got rid of RFG, they go and... whatever.

[wiley]

In my experience, combo players were doing this anyway?  But yeah making a rule of it is not a bad idea, I mean if someone's combo depends on recurring effects to generate tons of mana, we ought to all be able to say just how much mana is floating around out there.

Many combo players use dice and whatnot, some state the amount of mana all the time and a very small amount keep it in their head.  This only really affect a minority of people, however, it is still something to note that you now must do this at any competitive tournament.

It also stops the shenanigans that were going around the boards about not telling your opponent you had a mana floating to screw with their mana leak effect.

Their errata policies have been a mess ever since they started doing it.  More publicity on the issue both on boards and from the website itself has slowly started to give people a hint of how screwed up it already is.

He still hasn't fully explained phasing.  I'd bet that there is more to the rule than what he put up there but we will have to wait until tomorrow to see it.  *prays phasing comes back*

[Godder]

I bring a pad of A4 lined paper if I'm playing combo, and keep track of storm and mana on that, which is a lot easier, albeit more time-consuming. It has really helped me with tight play, though, because I'm fully aware of the important stuff at all times.