August controls an Ogre Slumlord, and November controls a Serra Angel. August casts Artificial Evolution on Ogre Slumlord, changing “Rats” to “Goblins” during resolution. August then casts Tarfire targetting Serra Angel. Does Tarfire have deathtouch? Alternatively Tarfire is cast first, and then in response casting Artificial Evolution targeting Tarfire to change “Goblin” into “Rat” for the same effect.

After discussing it briefly with some fellow judges we came to the conclusion that Tarfire would have deathtouch as August controls Tarfire as a spell on the stack and nothing indicates that Ogre Slumlord is limited to permanents on the battlefield, but I would like to confirm the official ruling on this.

It does not. It's covered by this rule:

109.2. If a spell or ability uses a description of an object that includes a card type or subtype, but doesn’t include the word “card,” “spell,” “source,” or “scheme,” it means a permanent of that card type or subtype on the battlefield.

The Slumlord only affects Rats (or, in your example, Goblins) on the battlefield. It will not affect Goblin spells or Goblin cards in any other zone. So no, Tarfire would not have deathtouch.

Nathan Long
Wizards.Com Boards Netrep