But will it be miraculous if it helps anyone? Time will tell!
Disclaimer
Most of this is conjecture and advise. We will likely get the official FAQ on Miracle tonight (Sat 4/6/12) with the website updating for Avacyn Restored's mechanics article (think Innistrad and DFCs being shown off).
I. Miracle: The Basics
Miracle COST (You may cast this card for its miracle cost when you draw it if it's the first card you drew this turn.)
Miracle is rather simple. If the first card you draw in a given turn is a miracle card, you can play it right then (instant or not*), for its miracle cost.
* It's a one-shot effect, hence why I say 'or not'. It doesn't say "cast for its miracle cost THIS TURN". The ability is using the shorthand reminder text for "cast it RIGHT NOW for its miracle cost".
II. Logistics
Needless to say, this type of mechanic causes issues in the game itself. What people call the Sylvan Library problem of "What card did you actually draw?" But it's not as bad as you think, much like using a checklist card did not break Magic into itty bitty, irrecoverable pieces that killed it off. The reason for this is: hands are private zones. Without Telepathy or Future Sight effects in play, you don't know what's in another player's hand, and therefore what they just drew.
So how do you reconcile that? Without being a cheater, the arguably best is to arguably draw each card one at a time and make it clear that the first card you draw each turn is one you'll be casting right then as a miracle or not. Generally speaking, this will be the card you draw during your draw step, and so you'll be generally saying so at that time.
It's true that there will be shady plays involving this, when paired with multi-draw spells like Blue Sun's Zenith and others, but that's where you jump in and watch your opponent like a hawk. If you must, call a Judge because you suspect foul play.
III. Interactions
Brainstorm
Yes, Brainstorm does sick things with Miracle (setting up future ones as well), but keep in mind two major points:
1) You can't cast a Miracle card if it's not in your hand anymore. The card changed zones (from hand to library) and so it's a new object and doesn't apply to the Miracle trigger if you put it back into your library from your hand, despite it being the first card you drew for the turn.
2) You pretty much have to designate on your very first card if you want to Miracle it. Otherwise, your opponent has the right to assume you are doing NO miracle cost at all. Which means you forfeit, too bad, so sad.
Multidraw and looter effects (e.g. Faithless Looting)
- See point #2 under Brainstorm. You pretty much have to commit up front with the very first card, if it qualifies for the miracle trigger of "first that turn".
In the case of looter cards, such as Faithless Looting, you will have discarded before you cast the card. Miracle doesn't appear to interrupt spell or ability resolutions, so if you have an empty hand and cast Faithless Looting, you still milled yourself for two in the end, with no gain from your miracles.
Desperate Ravings
Here we get trickier, and where logistics really makes you rub your temples. You pretty much have two problems:
1) Proving you drew the miracle card first. That basically means showing it to your opponent.
2) Not discarding it randomly.
The issue lies mostly in #1, because if you discard it in #2, it's moot as you can't cast it from the graveyard. Note that this is only an issue if you cast it before your draw step, or during your opponent's turn. I would recommend just biting the bullet and showing it to your opponent as soon as you draw it (under the above one-at-a-time recommendation), IF YOU INTEND TO MIRACLE IT. If you don't want to or can't miracle it, don't bother revealing it. The worst case scenario is that you discarded it randomly, at which point they still saw the card anyway. That's my recommendation, not Tournament Floor Rules.
IV. Miscellaneous
- Other stuff here as tricky cases come in. Doing the basics for now.
- Holler at me if something is demonstrably, flat out wrong.
In general, I would say a good practice would be to reveal the card if you are going to cast it as soon as you see it. There's no information loss, and, IMO, the text says "as you draw this card, you may pay COST and put it on the stack" (baring any discard or other things). Since your opponent does not seem to be able to respond between you drawing the card and activating miracle, there is no reason not to.
I'm worried about the power levels though. Almost every card you draw is the "first card you draw this turn." For a burn deck. The new red card is basically a better Bolt. I hope they do other things with it, like alternate miracle effects! That would be cool and greatly add to it's utility, as opposed to just discounting if you cast it as you draw it
I imagine the rules text will be something more like this:
"If you would draw a card with Miracle, if it's the first card you drew this turn you may instead draw that card, reveal it, and pay it for its Miracle cost"
It's a replacement effect, therefore you COULD cast it from Desperate Ravings etc.
I think that this ability is weird but fine and, having read pages upon pages of Rumor Mill posts, I don't think that many people have a deep understanding and appreciation of rules or formatting.
Why the wording is so is, from my understanding, according to a rule in section 603.6, triggered abilities can't trigger from hidden zones, such as moving from the top of your library to your hand; however, as this is worded as a static ability, you may choose to cast the card as it is drawn, as printed.
Now, if you play Magic as one should, without taking shortcuts (particularly pertinent when you cast, say, Brainstorm), then there should be no problems with the Miracle ability. When you draw more than one card, you do exactly that; section 120.2 states that "Cards may only be drawn one at a time. If a player is instructed to draw multiple cards, that player performs that many individual card draws.".
With draw, then discard effects, well, I presume that you would draw one, then choose to play the spell or not, then repeat as necessary, then discard. Once you can play the spell and you can in fact play the spell because it's in your hand, you do; if it's no longer there, then you don't (quel dommage!).
I'm glad to see an ability that teaches players how to play properly... I think.
And as IDTW pointed out, I'm wondering how will they handle triggers from hidden zones. I heard about changing the draw step.
Oh, no.
I stopped playing Magic ages ago but I keep sort of au fait with the rules. I disliked the Magic 2010 and later rules screwing-ups, and I'm sure to dislike any changes to the draw step.
Quote from Deetwo »
Really the only way it makes sense is if you do cast it in the middle of resolving another spell. If that is true, miracle comes very simple.
Just draw your first card separately while resolving that blue sun for twenty or something and cast it right there and then if it's a miracle, then proceed to draw more.
Oh, yeah. Sorry; to my knowledge, the game (stack/priority/resolving spells) doesn't work like that.
Also, if you play Magic according the the rules,* you obviate confusion.
Pardon for my not responding earlier to this.
* Of course, the rules are sort of these changeable guidelines that can be trumped by card text, other rules, and new rules.
Quote from k-rad »
Miracle is clearly a triggered ability
k-rad, what constitutes a triggered ability? I'm fairly sure that this is a static ability.
Also, what's your source or contact on the changing the draw step news?
I really don't understand why people assume there will be problems with determining what card someone actually drew this turn. When you draw the first card of the turn either you keep it seperate from your hand(ie hand in your left hand, draw with your right) and then play it for it's miracle cost(if you can, if not put it with the rest of your hand) or you put the card straight into your hand and if it was a miracle, tough luck you just made it impossible to verify that the first card you drew this turn was a miracle so you don't get to play it for it's miracle cost. Why do people think otherwise? I'm sure the mechanics article/FAQ will clear this up for anyone who is confuse but it seems clear cut to me.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't you cast the Miracle card as soon as you draw it with Desperate Ravings? I thought it works like Cascade; you can cast a spell as another effect is resolving.
If not I think this is the best way of settling random discard & Miracle:
1) Cast Desperate Ravings, drawing 2 cards, making it obvious which card is the first drawn.
2) Peek for Miracle on the first card. If it is, proceed.
3) Announce that the first card has Miracle and set it aside. Mark it in a reversible way (e.g. put a glass bead on it).
4) Put the other cards in your hand face down on the table, making sure that the cards are distinct from one another (including the second card you drew from Ravings). Assign a number to each card.
5) Announce that you are going to roll a die until the die result matches one of the numbers assigned, and that the card whose number matches the die result will be discarded to Ravings. Then do it.
6) If the card with Miracle is not discarded, cast it if you want to.
You avoid giving information away to your opponent this way.
Furthermore, it's not against the rules to lie about information in hidden zones. If the first card doesn't have Miracle and you want to psych your opponent out, go ahead.
Wait a minute. I know what this ability reminds me of; Panglacial Wurm. (I didn't ever like this card because I found that it blew my mind.)
Quote from k-rad »
The word "at", "when", or "whenever". It's at the beginning of the ability in regular triggers, so I have no idea why they moved it to the middle of the sentence in the reminder text. I don't think that it's a static ability, because they would have just used "while" or "as" to avoid confusion. Instead, they used one of the words that identifies a triggered ability.
Looks like Deetwo checked this before my reply here. As initially suspected, it's a static ability.
Quote from Deetwo »
116.1. Unless a spell or ability is instructing a player to take an action, which player can take actions at any given time is determined by a system of priority.
Hold up. For the moment, let's say that this is irrelevant, that this is a given, or that I'm saying something to the contrary.
608.2f If an effect gives a player the option to pay mana, he or she may activate mana abilities
before taking that action. If an effect specifically instructs or allows a player to cast a spell
during resolution, he or she does so by putting that spell on top of the stack, then continuing to
cast it by following the steps in rules 601.2a–h, except no player receives priority after it’s cast.
The currently resolving spell or ability then continues to resolve, which may include casting
other spells this way. No other spells can normally be cast and no other abilities can normally be
activated during resolution.
So, what you're saying here is that you would cast the spell during the drawing of cards, but the spell resolves in entirety before the Miracle spell starts to do so, right?
They could have used the word "as," but they chose not to. It definitely involves a triggered ability.
My conjecture for how it works:
Quote from "This is complete guessing" »
Miracle is a keyword that represents two abilities. The first is a static ability that functions while the card with miracle is in a player's library. The second is a triggered ability that functions when the first ability is applied. "Miracle [cost]" means "If a player would draw this card, and it would be the first card that player draws in a turn, that player draws it, but may play with it revealed in his or her hand until the end of the current step or phase" and "When this card is revealed this way, its owner may cast it by paying [cost] rather than paying its mana cost."
Assuming I'm right (and I'm confident that I'm close, based on the word "when"), the way looting works is very straightforward. You draw the cards, revealing the Miracle if you have the intention of using it. Then you discard the cards or put them on top of your library. Then the triggered ability goes on the stack and when it resolves, if you still have the Miracle in hand, you can cast it for the Miracle cost. If you accidentally discarded it to the looting effect, tough toenails.
Given how similar the Miracle reminder text is to Madness, it's quite possible that it works the same way, with both a replacement effect *and* a triggered ability. In that case, the interaction with Desperate Ravings would work this way:
1. Cast Ravings
2. "Draw" first card. Peek at it it to see if it's a Miracle card.
3. If it is and you want to cast it for its Miracle cost, you can apply a replacement effect that exiles the card instead and sets up a triggered ability to cast it.
4. Continue resolving Desperate Ravings, drawing your second card and discarding a card at random from your hand. Since the Miracle card is exiled, it's not a candidate for discard.
5. Once Ravings has completely finished resolving, put the Miracle trigger on the stack to cast the card from exile.
6. Since the ability instructs you to cast the card during its resolution (and no other time), it ignores timing restrictions when it resolves, allowing you to cast any card with Miracle, even if it's not an instant.
Yeah, that's basically my suggestion, except I just had the card get revealed instead of exiled.
I'm pretty sure one of us has it right.
The problem with having the card be revealed instead of exiled is precisely with Looter effects. If you already have a copy of a given Miracle card in hand, then it's the first one drawn from looter effects, the game has no way of knowing whether you're casting the one you drew or the one that was already in your hand. If you discard the one you drew, it is cheating to cast the one you already had, but there's no method of verification.
To avoid the most rules headaches, the card must be exiled instead of revealed.
Unless, of course, they're taking this opportunity to make Sylvan Library work as well...
I'm wondering how they would template a card designed to hose Miracle cards. My hope is that they keyword "hard-casting" somehow at some point so that they can print counterspells that can specifically hate out spells cast with alternate costs, so it's not specific to Miracle but it does successfully prevent Miracle spells at a discount.
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Thanks to Gabgabdevo for the awesome sig image!
I'm always looking for foil Madcap Skills and Ghitu Fire-Eater, [trade thread link forthcoming]
Here are the official rules, courtesy of Del Laugel:
702.91. Miracle
702.91a Miracle is a static ability linked to a triggered ability (see rule 603.10). "Miracle [cost]" means "You may reveal this card from your hand as you draw it if it's the first card you've drawn this turn. When you reveal this card this way, you may cast it by paying [cost] rather than its mana cost."
702.91b If a player chooses to reveal a card using its miracle ability, he or she plays with that card revealed until that card leaves his or her hand, that ability resolves, or that ability otherwise leaves the stack.
I think this would have been simpler as a replacement effect, but I can understand not wanting it to be for purposes of looter cards.
For example if you have a merfolk looter in play and no cards in your hand, if this was worded as a replacement effect you could use the looters ability and if it was a miracle drawn you could cast it. With the static/triggered ability combo you can't.
702.91a Miracle is a static ability linked to a triggered ability (see rule 603.10). "Miracle [cost]" means "You may reveal this card from your hand as you draw it if it's the first card you've drawn this turn. When you reveal this card this way, you may cast it by paying [cost] rather than its mana cost."
702.91b If a player chooses to reveal a card using its miracle ability, he or she plays with that card revealed until that card leaves his or her hand, that ability resolves, or that ability otherwise leaves the stack.
Can we get the first post updated with this new information?
Maybe we can come up with examples to ask/answer to cover most of the basics then and put them in the first post as well. How's this for a start:
I drew my first card for the turn as I normally do during the game and it's a miracle, can I cast it for its miracle cost?
If you have revealed the card before it touched any of the other cards in your hand you may cast it immediately for its miracle cost.
If you picked up the card and put it into your hand with the cards you already had you cannot cast it for its miracle cost. This is to prevent players from casting a Miracle that you already had.
If I would draw multiple cards and the first one is a miracle, can I cast it? (Using Consecrated Sphynx as an example)
If you revealed the first card before it touched any of the cards already in your hand AND before you looked at the second card, then yes. Reveal it, leave it face up, then draw the second card, and you can then cast it for its miracle cost.
If you looked at the second card before you revealed this you may not cast it for its miracle cost. This is to prevent players from trying to pass the second card off as the first, as well as to prevent them from gaining potential strategic information about the second card.
What if I am forced to discard it before I can cast it (using Desperate Ravings as an example)?
If you drew correctly in a similar fashion to the above example AND didn't discard this card to the the effect from Desperate Ravings AND kept the card revealed the entire time that Desperate Ravings was resolving you can cast it for it's miracle cost. Note that the card must stay revealed while choosing a card randomly from your hand for you to be able to cast it.
Meaning you'll want to use a dice or something similar to select which card at random to discard. You don't want to put them face down, shuffle them and have an opponent chose one of the cards. This is to prevent players who happen to have two copies of the same miracle from being able to pass of the one they already had as the one they just drew.
If my opponent has revealed the card with Miracle correctly and wants to cast it, can I make him discard it first? (using Esper Charm as an example)
When the card is revealed it sets up a triggered ability. If you have an instant spell or ability that causes your opponent to discard the Miracle while the trigger is on the stack you may cast it, and if the opponent discards the spell they may not cast it.
Can I counter a spell cast with its miracle cost?
Yes. When a card is revealed with Miracle it puts a triggered ability onto the stack.
This triggered ability can be countered with an effect like Stifle. If the ability is countered the miracle card goes into the players hand like normal.
If the triggered ability is not countered, the player may cast the spell with its Miracle cost and you will have priority to cast Mana Leak or another spell to counter it.
Can I use an instant mana generation spell to pay a cards Miracle cost? (like Dark Ritual or Manamorphose)
Yes. The miracle trigger goes on the stack. At this point you may cast a Dark Ritual and use the mana it generates to pay the cost of a miracle spell.
What about Lion's Eye Diamond?
No. The miracle trigger goes on the the stack. If you activate the Lion's Eye Diamond ability now, you'll have to discard your hand, including the card with Miracle. Since the card isn't in your hand anymore you can't cast it.
I'm fairly sure that around 5 years from now, Wizards will require all players to bring their own rulebook prior to tournaments to address these expansion-specific abilities that keep on piling up every quarter
Tell me how they're going to attract newer players with these kinds of miracle shenanigans. Simplicity, where are you when we need you the most?
Surely the player could set aside and mark the first drawn card, then during the randomisation of the discard, you could make the set aside card either 6 or 1 (or whatever you'd like to use).
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I draw a Miracle card naturally during my step as the first card of my turn. I look at the first card, see it is a Miracle and reveal it. It does not touch my hand.
I do not have enough mana to cast Miracle right now (not enough lands). Can I play a land, then proceed to cast the Miracle card for the Miracle cost (whilst keeping the Miracle card revealed on the table)?
Also, lets say I do not have sufficient lands to cast the Miracle card until the next turn. Does the Miracle cost 'wear off'?
Ie. My question is – during what time periods may I cast a card for its Miracle cost?
I draw a Miracle card naturally during my step as the first card of my turn. I look at the first card, see it is a Miracle and reveal it. It does not touch my hand.
I do not have enough mana to cast Miracle right now (not enough lands). Can I play a land, then proceed to cast the Miracle card for the Miracle cost (whilst keeping the Miracle card revealed on the table)?
Also, lets say I do not have sufficient lands to cast the Miracle card until the next turn. Does the Miracle cost 'wear off'?
Ie. My question is – during what time periods may I cast a card for its Miracle cost?
The answer is, you must cast it right away, during the draw step of the turn you drew it. You can't play a land first or wait until next turn.
More detail: As soon as you draw the card with Miracle a triggered ability will go on the stack. You can't play a land while that triggered ability is on the stack, for two reasons (1, it's still your draw step; 2, there is something on the stack). When the triggered ability resolves, you get the chance to cast the Miracle for its miracle cost. If you can't do it at that time, you don't get a second chance (though the card does stay in your hand, of course, and you can cast it for its regular cost).
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Disclaimer
Most of this is conjecture and advise. We will likely get the official FAQ on Miracle tonight (Sat 4/6/12) with the website updating for Avacyn Restored's mechanics article (think Innistrad and DFCs being shown off).
I. Miracle: The Basics
Miracle COST (You may cast this card for its miracle cost when you draw it if it's the first card you drew this turn.)
Miracle is rather simple. If the first card you draw in a given turn is a miracle card, you can play it right then (instant or not*), for its miracle cost.
* It's a one-shot effect, hence why I say 'or not'. It doesn't say "cast for its miracle cost THIS TURN". The ability is using the shorthand reminder text for "cast it RIGHT NOW for its miracle cost".
II. Logistics
Needless to say, this type of mechanic causes issues in the game itself. What people call the Sylvan Library problem of "What card did you actually draw?" But it's not as bad as you think, much like using a checklist card did not break Magic into itty bitty, irrecoverable pieces that killed it off. The reason for this is: hands are private zones. Without Telepathy or Future Sight effects in play, you don't know what's in another player's hand, and therefore what they just drew.
So how do you reconcile that? Without being a cheater, the arguably best is to arguably draw each card one at a time and make it clear that the first card you draw each turn is one you'll be casting right then as a miracle or not. Generally speaking, this will be the card you draw during your draw step, and so you'll be generally saying so at that time.
It's true that there will be shady plays involving this, when paired with multi-draw spells like Blue Sun's Zenith and others, but that's where you jump in and watch your opponent like a hawk. If you must, call a Judge because you suspect foul play.
III. Interactions
Brainstorm
Yes, Brainstorm does sick things with Miracle (setting up future ones as well), but keep in mind two major points:
1) You can't cast a Miracle card if it's not in your hand anymore. The card changed zones (from hand to library) and so it's a new object and doesn't apply to the Miracle trigger if you put it back into your library from your hand, despite it being the first card you drew for the turn.
2) You pretty much have to designate on your very first card if you want to Miracle it. Otherwise, your opponent has the right to assume you are doing NO miracle cost at all. Which means you forfeit, too bad, so sad.
Multidraw and looter effects (e.g. Faithless Looting)
- See point #2 under Brainstorm. You pretty much have to commit up front with the very first card, if it qualifies for the miracle trigger of "first that turn".
In the case of looter cards, such as Faithless Looting, you will have discarded before you cast the card. Miracle doesn't appear to interrupt spell or ability resolutions, so if you have an empty hand and cast Faithless Looting, you still milled yourself for two in the end, with no gain from your miracles.
Desperate Ravings
Here we get trickier, and where logistics really makes you rub your temples. You pretty much have two problems:
1) Proving you drew the miracle card first. That basically means showing it to your opponent.
2) Not discarding it randomly.
The issue lies mostly in #1, because if you discard it in #2, it's moot as you can't cast it from the graveyard. Note that this is only an issue if you cast it before your draw step, or during your opponent's turn. I would recommend just biting the bullet and showing it to your opponent as soon as you draw it (under the above one-at-a-time recommendation), IF YOU INTEND TO MIRACLE IT. If you don't want to or can't miracle it, don't bother revealing it. The worst case scenario is that you discarded it randomly, at which point they still saw the card anyway. That's my recommendation, not Tournament Floor Rules.
IV. Miscellaneous
- Other stuff here as tricky cases come in. Doing the basics for now.
- Holler at me if something is demonstrably, flat out wrong.
Past Ruminations
Links are broken, will fix in near future.
- Kaladesh
- Zendikar
- Rise of the Eldrazi
- Alara Reborn
- Innistrad <- Personal Favorite
- Dark Ascension
- Avacyn Restored
- Theros
- Return to Ravnica
- Tarkir
Past Ruminations
Links are broken, will fix in near future.
- Kaladesh
- Zendikar
- Rise of the Eldrazi
- Alara Reborn
- Innistrad <- Personal Favorite
- Dark Ascension
- Avacyn Restored
- Theros
- Return to Ravnica
- Tarkir
I'm worried about the power levels though. Almost every card you draw is the "first card you draw this turn." For a burn deck. The new red card is basically a better Bolt. I hope they do other things with it, like alternate miracle effects! That would be cool and greatly add to it's utility, as opposed to just discounting if you cast it as you draw it
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"If you would draw a card with Miracle, if it's the first card you drew this turn you may instead draw that card, reveal it, and pay it for its Miracle cost"
It's a replacement effect, therefore you COULD cast it from Desperate Ravings etc.
Why the wording is so is, from my understanding, according to a rule in section 603.6, triggered abilities can't trigger from hidden zones, such as moving from the top of your library to your hand; however, as this is worded as a static ability, you may choose to cast the card as it is drawn, as printed.
Now, if you play Magic as one should, without taking shortcuts (particularly pertinent when you cast, say, Brainstorm), then there should be no problems with the Miracle ability. When you draw more than one card, you do exactly that; section 120.2 states that "Cards may only be drawn one at a time. If a player is instructed to draw multiple cards, that player performs that many individual card draws.".
With draw, then discard effects, well, I presume that you would draw one, then choose to play the spell or not, then repeat as necessary, then discard. Once you can play the spell and you can in fact play the spell because it's in your hand, you do; if it's no longer there, then you don't (quel dommage!).
I'm glad to see an ability that teaches players how to play properly... I think.
I stopped playing Magic ages ago but I keep sort of au fait with the rules. I disliked the Magic 2010 and later rules screwing-ups, and I'm sure to dislike any changes to the draw step.
Oh, yeah. Sorry; to my knowledge, the game (stack/priority/resolving spells) doesn't work like that.
Also, if you play Magic according the the rules,* you obviate confusion.
Pardon for my not responding earlier to this.
* Of course, the rules are sort of these changeable guidelines that can be trumped by card text, other rules, and new rules.
k-rad, what constitutes a triggered ability? I'm fairly sure that this is a static ability.
Also, what's your source or contact on the changing the draw step news?
If not I think this is the best way of settling random discard & Miracle:
1) Cast Desperate Ravings, drawing 2 cards, making it obvious which card is the first drawn.
2) Peek for Miracle on the first card. If it is, proceed.
3) Announce that the first card has Miracle and set it aside. Mark it in a reversible way (e.g. put a glass bead on it).
4) Put the other cards in your hand face down on the table, making sure that the cards are distinct from one another (including the second card you drew from Ravings). Assign a number to each card.
5) Announce that you are going to roll a die until the die result matches one of the numbers assigned, and that the card whose number matches the die result will be discarded to Ravings. Then do it.
6) If the card with Miracle is not discarded, cast it if you want to.
You avoid giving information away to your opponent this way.
Furthermore, it's not against the rules to lie about information in hidden zones. If the first card doesn't have Miracle and you want to psych your opponent out, go ahead.
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Big Johnny.
Looks like Deetwo checked this before my reply here. As initially suspected, it's a static ability.
Hold up. For the moment, let's say that this is irrelevant, that this is a given, or that I'm saying something to the contrary.
So, what you're saying here is that you would cast the spell during the drawing of cards, but the spell resolves in entirety before the Miracle spell starts to do so, right?
My conjecture for how it works:
Assuming I'm right (and I'm confident that I'm close, based on the word "when"), the way looting works is very straightforward. You draw the cards, revealing the Miracle if you have the intention of using it. Then you discard the cards or put them on top of your library. Then the triggered ability goes on the stack and when it resolves, if you still have the Miracle in hand, you can cast it for the Miracle cost. If you accidentally discarded it to the looting effect, tough toenails.
1. Cast Ravings
2. "Draw" first card. Peek at it it to see if it's a Miracle card.
3. If it is and you want to cast it for its Miracle cost, you can apply a replacement effect that exiles the card instead and sets up a triggered ability to cast it.
4. Continue resolving Desperate Ravings, drawing your second card and discarding a card at random from your hand. Since the Miracle card is exiled, it's not a candidate for discard.
5. Once Ravings has completely finished resolving, put the Miracle trigger on the stack to cast the card from exile.
6. Since the ability instructs you to cast the card during its resolution (and no other time), it ignores timing restrictions when it resolves, allowing you to cast any card with Miracle, even if it's not an instant.
I'm pretty sure one of us has it right.
The problem with having the card be revealed instead of exiled is precisely with Looter effects. If you already have a copy of a given Miracle card in hand, then it's the first one drawn from looter effects, the game has no way of knowing whether you're casting the one you drew or the one that was already in your hand. If you discard the one you drew, it is cheating to cast the one you already had, but there's no method of verification.
To avoid the most rules headaches, the card must be exiled instead of revealed.
Unless, of course, they're taking this opportunity to make Sylvan Library work as well...
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Thanks to Gabgabdevo for the awesome sig image!
I'm always looking for foil Madcap Skills and Ghitu Fire-Eater, [trade thread link forthcoming]
For example if you have a merfolk looter in play and no cards in your hand, if this was worded as a replacement effect you could use the looters ability and if it was a miracle drawn you could cast it. With the static/triggered ability combo you can't.
[[b]B]DCI Level 2 Judge[/B][/b]Maybe we can come up with examples to ask/answer to cover most of the basics then and put them in the first post as well. How's this for a start:
I drew my first card for the turn as I normally do during the game and it's a miracle, can I cast it for its miracle cost?
If you have revealed the card before it touched any of the other cards in your hand you may cast it immediately for its miracle cost.
If you picked up the card and put it into your hand with the cards you already had you cannot cast it for its miracle cost. This is to prevent players from casting a Miracle that you already had.
If I would draw multiple cards and the first one is a miracle, can I cast it? (Using Consecrated Sphynx as an example)
If you revealed the first card before it touched any of the cards already in your hand AND before you looked at the second card, then yes. Reveal it, leave it face up, then draw the second card, and you can then cast it for its miracle cost.
If you looked at the second card before you revealed this you may not cast it for its miracle cost. This is to prevent players from trying to pass the second card off as the first, as well as to prevent them from gaining potential strategic information about the second card.
What if I am forced to discard it before I can cast it (using Desperate Ravings as an example)?
If you drew correctly in a similar fashion to the above example AND didn't discard this card to the the effect from Desperate Ravings AND kept the card revealed the entire time that Desperate Ravings was resolving you can cast it for it's miracle cost. Note that the card must stay revealed while choosing a card randomly from your hand for you to be able to cast it.
Meaning you'll want to use a dice or something similar to select which card at random to discard. You don't want to put them face down, shuffle them and have an opponent chose one of the cards. This is to prevent players who happen to have two copies of the same miracle from being able to pass of the one they already had as the one they just drew.
If my opponent has revealed the card with Miracle correctly and wants to cast it, can I make him discard it first? (using Esper Charm as an example)
When the card is revealed it sets up a triggered ability. If you have an instant spell or ability that causes your opponent to discard the Miracle while the trigger is on the stack you may cast it, and if the opponent discards the spell they may not cast it.
Can I counter a spell cast with its miracle cost?
Yes. When a card is revealed with Miracle it puts a triggered ability onto the stack.
This triggered ability can be countered with an effect like Stifle. If the ability is countered the miracle card goes into the players hand like normal.
If the triggered ability is not countered, the player may cast the spell with its Miracle cost and you will have priority to cast Mana Leak or another spell to counter it.
Can I use an instant mana generation spell to pay a cards Miracle cost? (like Dark Ritual or Manamorphose)
Yes. The miracle trigger goes on the stack. At this point you may cast a Dark Ritual and use the mana it generates to pay the cost of a miracle spell.
What about Lion's Eye Diamond?
No. The miracle trigger goes on the the stack. If you activate the Lion's Eye Diamond ability now, you'll have to discard your hand, including the card with Miracle. Since the card isn't in your hand anymore you can't cast it.
[[b]B]DCI Level 2 Judge[/B][/b]Tell me how they're going to attract newer players with these kinds of miracle shenanigans. Simplicity, where are you when we need you the most?
Surely the player could set aside and mark the first drawn card, then during the randomisation of the discard, you could make the set aside card either 6 or 1 (or whatever you'd like to use).
I draw a Miracle card naturally during my step as the first card of my turn. I look at the first card, see it is a Miracle and reveal it. It does not touch my hand.
I do not have enough mana to cast Miracle right now (not enough lands). Can I play a land, then proceed to cast the Miracle card for the Miracle cost (whilst keeping the Miracle card revealed on the table)?
Also, lets say I do not have sufficient lands to cast the Miracle card until the next turn. Does the Miracle cost 'wear off'?
Ie. My question is – during what time periods may I cast a card for its Miracle cost?
More detail: As soon as you draw the card with Miracle a triggered ability will go on the stack. You can't play a land while that triggered ability is on the stack, for two reasons (1, it's still your draw step; 2, there is something on the stack). When the triggered ability resolves, you get the chance to cast the Miracle for its miracle cost. If you can't do it at that time, you don't get a second chance (though the card does stay in your hand, of course, and you can cast it for its regular cost).