Judge’s Corner #8

Posted on Friday, November 3rd, 2017 by the Good Gamery Judge Team
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Posted in Judge's Corner, mtg


Q: I suspect that my opponent is cheating. What should I do?

A: If you think he’s cheating, here is what you should do: 1) identify your feelings; 2) tell him about your feelings; 3) take note of his reaction; 4) try to obtain physical evidence; 5) ask for the respect of honesty; 6) set boundaries for your self-care.

Q: How does the Undying ability on Geralf’s Messenger work?

A: When Geralf’s Messenger dies, if it didn’t already have a +1/+1 counter on it, it returns to the battlefield under its owner’s control and gains a +1/+1 counter. Since Geralf’s Messenger is a zombie, we can assume that it has already died before the card was printed; therefore, it is already on the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter by the time you start the game. The “target opponent loses 2 life” effect won’t apply at this time, since none of the players in the current game were your opponent at the time that Geralf’s Messenger entered the battlefield. Since Dark Ascension was printed five years ago, it is safe to assume that Geralf’s Messenger is untapped by the time the game starts.

Q: I’ve occasionally seen cards that tell me to put “counters” on my cards. What should I use for counters?

A: This depends on the type of counter called for:

+1/+1 counters represent an increase in physical strength. We recommend pomegranate seeds, acorns, or nibs of dark chocolate.

-1/-1 counters are a symbol of weakness; lemon drops, periwinkle shells, or shards of glass are more appropriate.

Poison counters are best represented by dried flowers, a lock of hair, or a lie whispered into a lover’s ear.

Q: My friend targeted my Yavimaya Barbarian and my Raging Goblin with Dead Ringers. I didn’t think either creature would be destroyed but my friend insisted that they were. Are they right?

A: Yes, your friend is correct. As the controller of the Dead Ringers, your friend makes all choices associated with the spell, including which of the two targeted creatures is the “either one” referred to in the card text; since Raging Goblin is not a color that Yavimaya Barbarian isn’t, they both are destroyed.

Q: Can I challenge a judge’s ruling?

A: Yes! To challenge a judge’s ruling you must play a Magic subgame versus their “Judge Deck.” Beware: the higher the level of the judge, the more powerful the spells in their deck!

Submit your questions to @goodgamery on Twitter using #judgescorner.

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