Questions

[Freelancer]

Some questions again (yes I store them to put them all in one topic ).

1) If somebody drains my EE or Chalice when x>1 they get 0 mana correct? (somebody was arguing me with this)

2) Can I use aether vial in somebody's draw step after he drew a card? Can I use vial in any way BEFORE he gets the chance to play the card he drew?

3) If I kill a creature after declare blockers and before combat damage on the stack does it still deal damage? (I presume not, just making sure )

[Limbo]

1) X=0 everywhere, EXCEPT when EE / chalice / stroke / whatever X-spell is on the stack. So a chalice where x=2 yields 4 mana, and an EE for x=3 yields 3 mana.

2)304. Draw Step

304.1 First, the active player draws a card. This special action doesn't use the stack. Then any abilities that trigger at the beginning of the draw step and any other abilities that have triggered go on the stack. Then the active player gets priority and players may play spells and abilities.

So yes, you can use the vial, but your opponent has the chance to cast it if it can be cast / activated / cycled at instant speed as he is the person to receive priority first. So you might consider activating it during the upkeep, as that would make sure he can't cast the spell (why would you want to activate vial after him / her drawing a card?)

3) You just answered your own question... No damage on the stack results in ... no damage!
In the case that you meant that an attacking creature you control is blocked by another creature after which you destroy the blocking creature, then your attacking creature should better be having trample (as that would allow it to do damage to the opponent). Otherwise, no damage.

[Freelancer]

So if I get it right if they drain my chalice with XX=1 they get 2 mana? Because mana drain says converted mana cost, this is the mana cost in the upper right corner right? And if I remember correctly x=0 for converted mana cost. Not sure.

I want to use it during the draw step to vial out a ravenous rats, if they have no cards in hand than there is no point in casting it during there upkeep.

[Limbo]

If x = 1 for chalice, the converted mana cost (on the stack!) is x + x = 1 + 1 = 2. As soon as it has resolved, the CMC is 0, so eating a chalice with one counter with a gorilla shaman will cost 1 (x + x + 1 = 0 + 0 +1 = 1).

When you vial in the rats after his card is drawn, he can cast it if it can be cast on instant speed. If not -> empty hand.