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Rules Q&A » Post: Distended Mindbender oracle rulling.

Distended Mindbender oracle rulling.

Sept. 28, 2016 04:25:45 PM

Nikita Tarima
Judge (Level 2 (Judge Academy))

Russia and Russian-speaking countries

Distended Mindbender oracle rulling.

Aaron cast Distended Mindbender and choose Brian as a target of it triggered ability. Brian have only Lobotomy and Breaking/Entering in his hand.
On resolution of ability can Aaron choose Breaking/Entering as a card with CMC<4, and as a card with CMC>3? Rule 608.2d says that Aaron can choose Breaking/Entering twice, and do not choose Lobotomy.

But in Oracle Distended Mindbender have this rulling:
7/13/2016 You must choose two appropriate cards if able.

Aaron MUST choose both Lobotomy and Breaking/Entering?

Sept. 28, 2016 05:52:30 PM

Callum Milne
Forum Moderator
Judge (Uncertified)

Canada - Western Provinces

Distended Mindbender oracle rulling.

Aaron can choose Breaking // Entering as a card with CMC 3 or less, because it has a CMC of 2.
Aaron can also choose Breaking // Entering as a card with CMC 4 or greater, because it also has a CMC of 6.

Distended Mindbender doesn't say that the cards you choose have to be different, so Aaron may choose Breaking // Entering twice during the resolution of Distended Mindbender's ability, causing only that card to be discarded.

The ruling you quoted is not intended to imply that the two choices must be different cards, merely that if you are able to make legal choices for the ability, you must do so even if you don't like your only available choices. (For example, if you start to resolve the Mindbender's ability and find that the only cards in your opponent's hand are Loxodon Smiter and Wilt-Leaf Liege, your opponent will be getting two free creatures whether you like it or not.)

Edited Callum Milne (Sept. 28, 2016 05:53:19 PM)