Saturday School’s_Final_Exam_2004

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Archived from groups: rec.games.trading-cards.magic.rules (More info?)

Hi all,

In today's Saturday's School, question #8 says:

Lindsay has a Neurok Transmuter and one untapped Island. What mana would
Samantha need to steal Lindsay's Transmuter with Memnarch?

a) 4UUU
b) 5UUUUU
c) 7UUUU
d) 8UUUUUU
e) It's impossible to successfully use Memnarch with a Transmuter in play

According to the page, the answer is:

c) 7UUUU. Samantha uses Memnarch to make the Transmuter into an artifact
(1UU). She then tries to take the Transmuter (3U), and Lindsay responds
by activating the Transmuter's second ability. Samantha responds by
activating Memnarch again (3U). 1UU + 3U * 2 = 7UUUU.

Now, I had to go over this one a couple of times, as I think there is a
second possible answer to this one, specifically (b):

1) First Samantha turns the Transmuter into an artifact (1UU).
2) Then, she tries to take control of the Transmuter (3U).
3) In response, Lindsay activates the Transmuter's second ability
turning it into a blue permanent.
4) Samantha lets the Transmuter's ability resolve. However, while
Memnarch's second ability is still in the stack, Samantha activates
Memnarch's first ability turning the Transmuter back into an artifact (1UU).
5) Both resolves and Samantha takes control of the Transmuter.

So, it is 1UU + 3U + 1UU = 5UUUUU

Is this also possible? Did I miss something here?

Any input appreciated.


Neurok Transmuter
Creature - Human Wizard
2U
U: Target creature becomes an artifact in addition to its other types
until end of turn.
U: Until end of turn, target artifact creature becomes blue and isn't an
artifact.
2/2

Memnarch
Legendary Artifact Creature - Wizard
7
1UU: Target permanent becomes an artifact in addition to its other
types. (This effect doesn't end at end of turn.)
3U: Gain control of target artifact. (This effect doesn't end at end of
turn.)
4/5

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.trading-cards.magic.rules (More info?)

Francisco Ho <fxho@yahoo.com> wrote:
>Now, I had to go over this one a couple of times, as I think there is a
>second possible answer to this one, specifically (b):
>
>1) First Samantha turns the Transmuter into an artifact (1UU).

And lets that resolve.

>2) Then, she tries to take control of the Transmuter (3U).
>3) In response, Lindsay activates the Transmuter's second ability
>turning it into a blue permanent.
>4) Samantha lets the Transmuter's ability resolve. However, while
>Memnarch's second ability is still in the stack, Samantha activates
>Memnarch's first ability turning the Transmuter back into an artifact (1UU).
>5) Both resolves and Samantha takes control of the Transmuter.
>
>So, it is 1UU + 3U + 1UU = 5UUUUU
>
>Is this also possible? Did I miss something here?

This is possible, because the 3U ability doesn't check its target for legality
_in between_ announcement and resolution. So it's possible for the Transmuter
to briefly be a non-artifact in the middle, yet be an artifact on both ends,
satisfying both target-legality checks. So yes, this also works. (It would
not have before 6th Edition and the stack, but I'm pretty sure John isn't
somehow flashing back to those days...)

Dave
--
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