Split Cards Question

trancenental · Joined: 27 Oct 2006 Posts: 6

If an effect or spells asks the converted mana cost of a split card, how do you figure it?

For example, let's say I have a Dark Confidant in play and I reveal a Dead/Gone, do I chose which life total to loose? And if that's the case, is that card "locked" into that... I know once you play a split card it's locked into being whichever side you play, but if you haven't used it yet, would something like this lock it into one side or the other?

Thanks!

Magx · Joined: 07 Sep 2004 Posts: 332

if you reveal a split card with confident, you take BOTH converted mana cost as damage. and it's not "locked" into that spell. When you will play it later (if you are not dead from that damage ), you will be able to choose whatever side you want to

massOass · Joined: 10 Mar 2006 Posts: 6

However, if you where to flip say a "Boom // Bust" with counterbalance you would be able to choose either 6 or 2, just b/c of the way Counterbalance is worded but confidant does suck for split cards.

Later,

MassO

Magx · Joined: 07 Sep 2004 Posts: 332

Wow.. I didn't know that though.. seems stupid.. why would you be able to choose for counterbalance but not for Confidant ?

mTk-Away · Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 63

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/daily/af116

Great article about split cards rulings.

massOass · Joined: 10 Mar 2006 Posts: 6

Counterbalance
Whenever an oppen. plays a spell, you may reveal the top card of your library. If you do, counter that spell, if it has the SAME converted mana cost as that spell.

Dark Confidant

At the begining of your upkeep, reveal the top card of your library and put that card into your hand. You lose life EQUAL to its converted mana cost.

The "Same" and Equal" is what makes the difference. Dark Confidant with the "equal" makes the split cards add thier Mana cost where as the Balance states Same cmc, so your able to choose. If counterbalance were to state equal, instead it would add both sides of the split card together instead of you choosing.

Mtg is really getting complicated when one word can change the entire reations of 2 cards that nearly do the same thing with different effects. That being said, in the future players might have to be a English professor in order to play the game. Anyway, have fun with the split card thing

MassO

onecleanceli · Joined: 27 Mar 2005 Posts: 228

I personally kind of like how the rules are right now... when they did they started coming out with all kinds of weird ruling, like with sunforger being able to go get cards that werent even red/white due to split cards and things like that

Magx · Joined: 07 Sep 2004 Posts: 332

ChaosUnion · Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 1

If you reveal a split card for Dark Confidant or Counterbalance, it uses the same ruling.

505.5. An effect that asks for a particular characteristic of a split card while it’s in a zone other than the stack gets two answers (one for each of the split card’s two halves).

For Dark Confidant, you will at the same time lose life equal to the CMC of each half of the split card. For example, if you reveal Dead // Gone, you will lose 1 and 3.

For Counterbalance, it will add the CMC of each half of the split card. For example, if your opponent plays a WoG and you reveal a Dead//Gone, the WoG will get counter.

sonicqaz · Joined: 02 May 2006 Posts: 338

Magx,

I think he means that the guy would get a split card (like Odds/Ends) with Sunforger, and then that player would use the Ends half of the card upon resolution. And yes, that does work.

sc4rs · Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 389

Ignore what ChaosUnion said, he is wrong.

The link to the Wizard's site explains it well. The Counterbalance asks "Is the converted mana cost of the spell 4?" And the spell replied "It is 1" and "It is 3", neither of which is 4. Therefore, the Wrath would NOT be countered.

When Dark Confidant asks, he asks "How MUCH is the converted mana cost of the spell?" So when it gets back "It is 1" and "It is 3," THEN it adds them together, and you lose 4 life. The converted mana cost is NOT 4, it is "3 and 1".

sonicqaz · Joined: 02 May 2006 Posts: 338

Yea, I skipped over ChaosUnion's message but he is wrong.

GTKID · Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 38

Correct, counterbalance asks the question is the converted mana cost = to the spells and it will get back answers like yes/no yes/yes no/no. It only needs one yes to be right. Confidant doesnt add because it says equal too, it checks and the answer to its question is x and y, you then lose x life and lose y life.