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Rules Q&A » Post: Frost Breath vs Wrap in Flames vs Ranger's Guile

Frost Breath vs Wrap in Flames vs Ranger's Guile

Sept. 18, 2013 03:46:08 AM

Philip Ockelmann
Judge (Level 2 (International Judge Program)), Scorekeeper, Tournament Organizer, IJP Temporary Regional Advisor

German-speaking countries

Frost Breath vs Wrap in Flames vs Ranger's Guile

Frost Breath Wrap in Flames Ranger's Guile.

In a recent Cranial Insertion, as well as our September Judge Meeting, we learned that if I Ranger's Guile one of two targets of Frost Breath, the now illegal target still does not untap. This makes a lot of sense when we look at 608.2b, Comprules (
608.2b. If the spell or ability specifies targets, it checks whether the targets are still legal. A target that's no longer in the zone it was in when it was targeted is illegal. Other changes to the game state may cause a target to no longer be legal; for example, its characteristics may have changed or an effect may have changed the text of the spell. If the source of an ability has left the zone it was in, its last known information is used during this process. The spell or ability is countered if all its targets, for every instance of the word “target,” are now illegal. If the spell or ability is not countered, it will resolve normally. However, if any of its targets are illegal, the part of the spell or ability's effect for which it is an illegal target can't perform any actions on that target, make another object or player perform any actions on that target, or make that target perform any actions. The effect may still determine information about illegal targets, though, and other parts of the effect for which those targets are not illegal may still affect them.

However, why does Wrap in Flames not prevent the now illegal creature from blocking under the same circumstances (according to gatherer rulings, 6/15/2010 if any of the targeted creatures is an illegal target by the time Wrap in Flames resolves, it won't be dealt damage and will be able to block. The other targeted creatures will still be affected.)

Not beeing able to block, by all means that Frost Breath creates does not untap, is not ‘performing an action on that target’ nor ‘make that target perform any actions’, it is ‘preventing that target from doing something’, something beeing either untapping or blocking.

Where is the knot in my logic here?

Sept. 18, 2013 10:08:36 AM

Daniel Kitachewsky
Judge (Uncertified)

France

Frost Breath vs Wrap in Flames vs Ranger's Guile

The ruling on Wrap in Flames isn't correct. The creature should not be able to block.

I'll notify the appropriate team, thanks.

Daniel Kitachewsky
L3, Paris, France
Rules NetRep