RTR FAQ

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

The newest Magic the Gathering set, Return to Ravnica will be hitting game tables around the world shortly after midnight this Friday 28th September and officially launched the next weekend (5th October, 2012).  With the new set, there are always questions to be had.  To this end, we here at MTG Realm want to bring to your attention, the Return to Ravnica Frequently Asked Questions (linky here) documents which, if reviewed, should make your PreRelease play more effecient and more enjoyable.  Speaking of the PreRelease, if you do not know where you can go to game, click on over to locator.wizards.com to find a store near you.  Also make sure to peruse the selection of Return to Ravnica english / chinese singles, foils and sets at MTG Mint Card.

Anywhoos - onto the FAQs . . .

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Cycle: Guildgates
The Return to Ravnica set introduces a new land subtype: Gate. Each guild has a Gate card with Guildgate in its name that taps for mana of either of that guild’s colors.  Gate is not a basic land type.

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Cycle: Keyrunes
Each guild has a Keyrune, an artifact that taps for mana of either of that guild’s colors and can become a creature.  Until the ability that turns the Keyrune into a creature resolves, the Keyrune is colorless.

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Cycle: Cards that “Can’t Be Countered”
The Return to Ravnica set includes a cycle of cards that can’t be countered.  Each of these rare multicolored spells with the ability to not be (conventionally) countered. A spell that can’t be countered by spells or abilities can be targeted by spells and abilities that try to counter it.

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Returning Themes: Guilds and Guildmarks
If a card in the Return to Ravnica set is associated with a guild, it features the appropriate guildmark in the background of its text box. These guildmarks have no effect on game play.

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Returning Mechanic: Hybrid Cards
These are cards with Hybrid mana costs.  Each hybrid mana symbol represents a cost which can be paid with one of two colors. The hybrid mana symbol can be of any combination of two colors, or any color of mana and two generic mana.

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Returning Cycle: Ravnica “Dual Lands”
There are five nonbasic lands in the Return to Ravnica set that each have two basic land types - Blood Crypt (b/r), Hallowed Fountain (w/), Overgrown Tomb (b/g), Steam Vents (u/r), and Temple Garden (g/w).

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Azorius Keyword Action: Detain
Reminder text on these cards are 'Until your next turn, that creature can’t attack or block and its activated abilities can’t be activated.'  Activated abilities include a colon and are written in the form “[cost]: [effect].  If a creature is already attacking or blocking when it’s detained, it won’t be removed from combat.  If a noncreature permanent is detained and later turns into a creature, it won’t be able to attack or block.

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Izzet Keyword: Overload
Reminder text here is 'You may cast this spell for its overload cost. If you do, change its text by replacing all instances of “target” with “each.”.  If you don’t pay the overload cost of a spell, that spell will have a single target. If you do pay the overload cost, the spell won’t be 'targetting' meaning it can get around 'hexproof' critters (can't be the target of spells and abilities).

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Rakdos Keyword: Unleash
These cards will have the text 'You may have this creature enter the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. It can’t block as long as it has a +1/+1 counter on it.'  You make the choice to have the creature with unleash enter the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter or not as it’s entering the battlefield. At that point, it’s too late for a player to respond to the creature spell by trying to counter it, for example.  Putting a +1/+1 counter on a creature with unleash that’s already blocking won’t remove it from combat. It will continue to block.

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Golgari Keyword: Scavenge
These will have text with 'Scavenge (Cost ?) - (Cost ?, Exile this card from your graveyard: Put a number of +1/+1 counters equal to this card’s power on target creature. Scavenge only as a sorcery.)'.  Somewhat similar to the flashback mechanic.

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Selesnya Keyword Action: Populate
The reminder text will be 'Put a token onto the battlefield that’s a copy of a creature token you control.'.  You can choose any creature token you control. If a spell or ability puts a token onto the battlefield under your control and then instructs you to populate (as Coursers’ Accord does), you may choose to copy the token you just created, or you may choose to copy another creature token you control.  If you control no creature tokens when instructed to populate, you won’t put a token onto the battlefield.
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Also - there is a large section with card specific rules / notes / explanations within the document, look here to find a card which you may have questions about.

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