Alpha 40 League Rules Documentation

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3	Alpha 40 Facebook Group - Home of the A40 League & Format!
4	MTG CE/ICE Collectors - Home of the MTG40 League & Format! (Base set, with reprints modern rules)
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6	Alpha 40 Discord Discussion Channel
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8	Alpha 40 League Video Trailer - AMAZING!
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10	League Play General Rules:
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12	Alpha 40 League Deck Construction Rules - Updated 6.1.24
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14	Alpha Rulebook - Magic: the Gathering - PDF Transcript of the Original Alpha Rulebook
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16	Alpha Rulebook - Magic: the Gathering - Wizards of the Coast Website Link
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18	Alpha Set Card Images - All Card Pictures - Courtesy of Scryfall
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20	Card Clarifications: The 2nd Tab of this document lists, in detail, how each and every card in the Alpha set will operate in Alpha 40 League Rules play. If there is no description next to a card listing, it is because no clairification was necessary.
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22	FAQ & Play Examples: (WORK IN PROGRESS) The 3rd Tab of this document will provide answers to commonly asked play related questions and show examples of how some interactions should be resolved within the rules.
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24	Mulligan update: The mulligan step is inserted just after the draw step of the first players turn. If you have 1 or fewer lands or 1 or fewer spells in your hand you can show your opponent and take a single free mulligan. If after a first mulligan your next hand is also 1 or fewer spells or 1 or fewer lands, you may mulligan again but drawing one card less than the previous draw (6 to 5 to 4 etc). Prior Rule: Any hand with at least 1 land and 1 spell must always be kept. You may look at your opening hand of 7 cards and mulligan them away for a new hand of 7 if the hand is all lands or all spells. You must show your opponent your hand if you do so. If after a first mulligan your next hand is also all spells or all lands, you may mulligan again but drawing one card less than the previous draw (6 to 5 to 4 etc).
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26	Mana Burn: Damage is taken from Mana Burn for unused mana in your mana pool at the end of each phase.
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28	Monthly League Participation: League play pods will be created monthly. Signups happen each month in the Alpha 40 Facebook Group under a post created for that month. You will play everyone in your pod and report wins/losses on the monthly pairings post, best 2 out of 3. The top players out of each pod will be grouped at months end to determine the monthly winner.

	A	B	C
1	Card Name	Clarification - Alpha 40 League Rules	Restriction
2	Air Elemental		Uncommon: Max 6
3	Ancestral Recall		Power Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
4	Animate Artifact	"Summoning Sickness" Rules Apply if Animate Artifact is cast on an artifact that was cast during the current turn.	Uncommon: Max 6
5	Animate Dead	"Summoning Sickness" Rules Apply if Animate Dead is cast on a creature during the current turn.	Uncommon: Max 6
6	Animate Wall	"Summoning Sickness" Rules Apply if Animate Wall is cast on an Wall that was cast during the current turn.	Rare: Max 3
7	Ankh of Mishra		Rare: Max 3
8	Armageddon		Destruction Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
9	Aspect of Wolf		Rare: Max 3
10	Bad Moon		Rare: Max 3
11	Badlands	Is considered to be both, Swamp & Mountain, and is susceptible to any effect that interacts with either.	Restricted List: Limit 1 of this Card Allowed
12	Balance	A creature with "Protection from White" Cannot be destroyed by Balance, but is counted as part of the creature calculation portion of the spell. If another player has zero creatures, the creature with "Protection from White" survives automatically. If another player has one creature, and you have two creatures (one of which has "Protection from White" then you HAVE to keep the creature that has "Protection from White" and your other creature is automatically chosen to be destroyed since the creature with "Protection from White" cannot be destroyed by Balance.	Destruction Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
13	Basalt Monolith		Uncommon: Max 6
14	Bayou	Is considered to be both, Swamp & Forest, and is susceptible to any effect that interacts with either.	Restricted List: Limit 1 of this Card Allowed
15	Benalish Hero
16	Berserk		Uncommon: Max 6
17	Birds of Paradise	Note: Mana added from Tapping may be of any color.	Rare: Max 3
18	Black Knight		Uncommon: Max 6
19	Black Lotus		Fast Mana Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
20	Black Vise		Moderated List: Limit 3 of this Card Allowed
21	Black Ward		Uncommon: Max 6
22	Blaze of Glory		Rare: Max 3
23	Blessing	Note: Any bonuses added from this card only last until the end of turn. Please see "Mana Enhanced Power/Toughness" under "Creature Abilities" in the Alpha Rulebook. Can only be used to buff the enchanted creature (Note: Alpha enchantments use 'target creature' to mean 'the enchanted creature)	Rare: Max 3
24	Blue Elemental Blast
25	Blue Ward		Uncommon: Max 6
26	Bog Wraith		Uncommon: Max 6
27	Braingeyser		Draw Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
28	Burrowing		Uncommon: Max 6
29	Camouflage		Uncommon: Max 6
30	Castle	Creatures gain this bonus only when they are both: Untapped, and not currently participating in an attack during the attack phase of a turn.	Uncommon: Max 6
31	Celestial Prism		Uncommon: Max 6
32	Channel		Restricted List: Limit 1 of this Card Allowed
33	Chaos Orb	You may only choose one card to hit. You may reposition the one card you choose to your liking or use a 'stand in' for webcam games. As per the rulebook a spell or effect destroying an artifact will not stop its effect if activated unless it is an interrupt.	Destruction Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
34	Chaoslace		Rare: Max 3
35	Cop Blue	To activate you must be able to choose a Blue card in play or being played to protect from for activation.
36	Cop Green	To activate you must be able to choose a Green card in play or being played to protect from for activation..
37	Cop Red	To activate you must be able to choose a Red card in play or being played to protect from for activation.
38	Cop White	To activate you must be able to choose a White card in play or being played to protect from for activation..
39	Clockwork Beast	Note: If "Clockwork Beast" is copied with "Clone", "Copy Artifact" or "Vesuvian Doppelganger" the copy will have the same number of counters as the original "Clockwork Beast" has currently at the time of being copied.	Rare: Max 3
40	Clone	Creates a creature copy that includes the following characteristics: Power, Toughness, Name, Casting Cost, Color, Creature Type, Abilities as well as any Counters in the same quantity that are currently on the creature being copied. "Clone" does not copy any current enchantment cards, any current amount of damage, or any temporary effects or conditions (Effects which would normally end at the end of the turn) of the creature that has been selected to be copied. If "Cloning" a "Vesuvan Doppleganger" it becomes an identical copy to a "Vesuvan Doppleganger" including the form of the creature that the "Vesuvan Doppleganger" is currently copying. Note: "Cloning" an artifact that has been animated via "Animate Artifact" creates a stand alone creature copy of that artifact, but not the "Animate Artfiact" enchantement itself.	Uncommon: Max 6
41	Cockatrice		Rare: Max 3
42	Consecrate Land		Uncommon: Max 6
43	Conservator		Uncommon: Max 6
44	Contract from Below		Banned
45	Control Magic		Uncommon: Max 6
46	Conversion	Note: Any "Dual Land" that is in part a "Mountain" will become a normal "Plains".	Uncommon: Max 6
47	Copper Tablet	Does damage to both players during each players' upkeep if untapped.	Moderated List: Limit 3 of this Card Allowed
48	Copy Artifact	Treat this copy as an exact duplicate of a non creature artifact card being copied as though it had just been cast (i.e. Comes into Play Tapped). If copying an "Artifact Creature", "Copy Artifact" will act exactly as "Clone" (See Above) except that it will also count as an Enchantment (And therefore be effected by any cards that effect Enchantments) as well as counting as a Creature.	Restricted List: Limit 1 of this Card Allowed
49	Counterspell		Moderated List: Limit 3 of this Card Allowed
50	Craw Wurm
51	Creature Bond
52	Crusade	Note: This card is Not banned. Alpha 40 is considered a "Time Capsule" Format. It should be understood that anyone choosing to play this card is NOT doing so with any ill meaning or intent.	Rare: Max 3
53	Crystal Rod	May be activated any number of times per spell cast. Mana must be spent at the time of the spell being cast alongside with the spell's Mana cost. If the spell is countered then any Mana spent this way is considered expended and no life is gained as the spell was not successfully cast. Can target interrupts as they are cast.	Power Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
54	Cursed Land	Does 1 damage during each players' upkeep.	Uncommon: Max 6
55	Cyclopean Tomb	Errata Issued for necessary mana cost. Casting Cost = 4 Colorless Mana.	Rare: Max 3
56	Dark Ritual	Note: Mana generated from "Dark Ritual" cannot be used to activate "Throne of Bone" in order to gain life from the casting of "Dark Ritual" itself.
57	Dark Pact		Banned
58	Death Ward
59	Deathgrip		Uncommon: Max 6
60	Deathlace		Rare: Max 3
61	Demonic Attorney		Banned
62	Demonic Hordes	"BBB" = 3 Black Mana. You can use the tap ability before choosing to pay or not pay BBB, but if you do not pay BBB during the upkeep you will lose a land of your opponent's choice."	Rare: Max 3
63	Demonic Tutor		Draw Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
64	Dingus Egg		Rare: Max 3
65	Disenchant	"Discarded" = Destroyed
66	Disintegrate
67	Disrupting Scepter	First line should read: "Opponent must discard one card of his or her choice from their hand." - "Disrupting Scepter" does not force opponent to remove any cards from their "Territory".	Restricted List: Limit 1 of this Card Allowed
68	Dragon Whelp		Uncommon: Max 6
69	Drain Life	"B" = Black Mana
70	Drain Power		Rare: Max 3
71	Drudge Skeletons
72	Dwarven Demolition Team		Uncommon: Max 6
73	Dwarven Warriors
74	Earth Elemental		Uncommon: Max 6
75	Earthbind
76	Earthquake		Restricted List: Limit 1 of this Card Allowed
77	Elvish Archers	Plays as it is printed: "1/2 First Strike"	Rare: Max 3
78	Evil Presence	Note: Any "Dual Land" that this card is cast on will become a normal "Swamp".
79	False Orders
80	Farmstead		Rare: Max 3
81	Fastbond		Power Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
82	Fear
83	Feedback	Does 1 damage during each players' upkeep.
84	Fire Elemental		Uncommon: Max 6
85	Fireball
86	Firebreathing	Note: Any bonuses added from this card only last until the end of turn. Please see "Mana Enhanced Power/Toughness" under "Creature Abilities" in the Alpha Rulebook.
87	Flashfires		Uncommon: Max 6
88	Flight
89	Fog
90	Force of Nature	"GGGG" = 4 Green Mana	Rare: Max 3
91	Forcefield		Rare: Max 3
92	Forest
93	Fork	"Fork", being an "Interrupt", will resolve immediately to make the copy of the spell it is "Doubling". The copy then acts exactly as the original spell in all ways including it's "Speed" as if it was another card of that spell being cast.	Restricted List: Limit 1 of this Card Allowed
94	Frozen Shade	Note: Any bonuses added from this card's ability only last until the end of turn. Please see "Mana Enhanced Power/Toughness" under "Creature Abilities" in the Alpha Rulebook.
95	Fungusaur	Damage done to "Fungusaur" via multiple Fast Effect sources or "Source Instances" (I.E. Pestilence) during the same exchange will follow the rules under "Timing" in the Alpha Rulebook. If "Pestilence" is activated multiple times in the same simultaneous exchange, it will kill the "Fungusaur" before any of it's "+1/+1" Counters are applied. Alternatively, you can use "Pestilence" multiple times, but as separate exchanges allowing each activation to conclude before initiating the next, then the "Fungusaur" will gain a +1/+1 Counter for each point of damage at the conclusion of that current exchange.	Rare: Max 3
96	Gaea's Liege		Rare: Max 3
97	Gauntlet of Might		Rare: Max 3
98	Giant Growth
99	Giant Spider
100	Glasses of Urza		Uncommon: Max 6
101	Gloom		Uncommon: Max 6
102	Goblin Balloon Brigade	ALL Goblins (Both yours and opponents) in play gain Flying upon activation	Uncommon: Max 6
103	Goblin King	Is considered a Goblin and will give itself +1/+1 & Mountainwalk. - "Summon Goblin King".	Rare: Max 3
104	Granite Gargoyle		Rare: Max 3
105	Gray Ogre
106	Green Ward		Uncommon: Max 6
107	Grizzly Bears
108	Guardian Angel
109	Healing Salve
110	Helm of Chatzuk		Rare: Max 3
111	Hill Giant
112	Holy Armor	Note: Can only be used to buff the enchanted creature (Note: Alpha enchantments use 'target creature' to mean 'the enchanted creature)
113	Holy Strength
114	Howl from Beyond
115	Howling Mine		Draw Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
116	Hurloon Minotaur
117	Hurricane		Moderated List: Limit 3 of this Card Allowed
118	Hypnotic Specter		Moderated List: Limit 3 of this Card Allowed
119	Ice Storm		Moderated List: Limit 3 of this Card Allowed
120	Icy Manipulator	Tapping an artifact will 'turn off' an artifact's abilities. Does not 'counter' activated effects of poly or mono artifacts which have been paid for but once tapped those abilities may no longer be used until it is untapped.	Moderated List: Limit 3 of this Card Allowed
121	Illusionary Mask		Rare: Max 3
122	Instill Energy		Uncommon: Max 6
123	Invisibility
124	Iron Star	May be activated any number of times per spell cast. Mana must be spent at the time of the spell being cast alongside with the spell's Mana cost. If the spell is countered then any Mana spent this way is considered expended and no life is gained as the spell was not successfully cast. Can target interrupts as they are cast.	Power Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
125	Ironclaw Orcs
126	Ironroot Treefolk
127	Island
128	Island Sanctuary	When utilized during your Draw Phase, creatures that do not have Flying or Islandwalk cannot cause any damage to your life total. This includes direct damage done from abilities of creatures such as Prodigal Sorcerer, or Orcish Artillery for example. This "Protection" only lasts until the immediate start of your next turn and does not prevent any damage done to you by any creatures that cause damage to you during upkeep (I.E. Not paying the upkeep cost on Force of Nature). It can then be "Reactivated" during your Draw Phase. Note: Due to the timing of this, there is an unavoidable window (During your upkeep) where creatures with the types of abilities as mentioned above can damage you.	Rare: Max 3
129	Ivory Cup	May be activated any number of times per spell cast. Mana must be spent at the time of the spell being cast alongside with the spell's Mana cost. If the spell is countered then any Mana spent this way is considered expended and no life is gained as the spell was not successfully cast. Can target interrupts as they are cast.	Power Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
130	Jade Monolith		Rare: Max 3
131	Jade Statue	May be activated on the turn it comes into play, however, is subject to the rules for "Summoning Sickness" and therefore cannot attack on the turn it comes into play on your side. May only be activated and is only a creature during an attack exchange. May be activated more than once in the attack exchange. May not be activated if it is tapped. Berserk will not destroy Jade Statue at the end of turn because it is no longer a creature.	Uncommon: Max 6
132	Jayemdae Tome		Draw Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
133	Juggernaut		Moderated List: Limit 3 of this Card Allowed
134	Jump
135	Karma		Uncommon: Max 6
136	Keldon Warlord		Uncommon: Max 6
137	Kormus Bell	"Swamps" that were in play at the start of your turn can attack and be tapped for Mana. Any "Swamps" that enter play after "Kormus Bell" is in play are subject to the rules for "Summoning Sickness" and therefore cannot attack or be tapped for Mana on the turn they come into play on your side.	Rare: Max 3
138	Kudzu	Note: As the card specifically states this is an optional 'May' effect. It is not mandatory to enchant another land with it after the original land it is enchanting is destroyed by its effect.	Rare: Max 3
139	Lance		Uncommon: Max 6
140	Ley Druid		Uncommon: Max 6
141	Library of Leng		Uncommon: Max 6
142	Lich		Rare: Max 3
143	Lifeforce		Uncommon: Max 6
144	Lifelace		Rare: Max 3
145	Lifetap		Uncommon: Max 6
146	Lightning Bolt		Moderated List: Limit 3 of this Card Allowed
147	Living Artifact	Reads as: "During your upkeep...". If Multiple "Living Artifact's" are in play they each receive counters for each point of life you lose. During your upkeep one counter may be traded from each "Living Artfiact" for one point of life.	Rare: Max 3
148	Living Lands	"Forests" that were in play at the start of your turn can attack and be tapped for Mana. Any "Forests" that enter play after "Living Lands" is in play are subject to the rules for "Summoning Sickness" and therefore cannot attack or be tapped for Mana on the turn they come into play on your side.	Rare: Max 3
149	Living Wall		Uncommon: Max 6
150	Llanowar Elves
151	Lord of Atlantis	Is NOT considered a "Merfolk". - "Summon Lord of Atlantis".	Rare: Max 3
152	Lord of the Pit	"Lord of the Pit" cannot be sacrifice itself to itself though can be sacrificed to another "Lord of the Pit" or even have two "Lord's of the Pit" sacrificed to each other.	Rare: Max 3
153	Lure		Uncommon: Max 6
154	Magical Hack	Can be used change one basic land into another basic land. This change makes the changed land Tap for the color of Mana that basic land produces. If cast on a Dual Land it will change one of the basic land types on that Dual Land into another and the color of Mana it can produce.	Rare: Max 3
155	Mahamoti Djinn		Rare: Max 3
156	Mana Flare		Rare: Max 3
157	Mana Short		Restricted List: Limit 1 of this Card Allowed
158	Mana Vault		Fast Mana Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
159	Manabarbs	Note: Tapping mana is an interrupt and happens in sequence and you will get the mana before the damage from Manabarbs can resolve. Each tapped land will cause an instance of 1 damage to be added to a 'fast effects' group which will all resolve together once players are done responding. I.E. tapping 3 lands will leave Manabarbs doing 1 damage to you 3 times when the effects resolve. You do not take the damage at interrupt speed, you take it when the fast effect group/batch completes.	Rare: Max 3
160	Meekstone		Rare: Max 3
161	Merfolk of the Pearl Trident
162	Mesa Pegasus
163	Mind Twist		Banned
164	Mons's Goblin Raiders
165	Mountain
166	Mox Emerald		Fast Mana Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
167	Mox Jet		Fast Mana Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
168	Mox Pearl		Fast Mana Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
169	Mox Ruby		Fast Mana Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
170	Mox Sapphire		Fast Mana Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
171	Natural Selection		Rare: Max 3
172	Nether Shadow	Note: The order of cards in your "Graveyard" cannot be rearranged.	Rare: Max 3
173	Nettling Imp		Uncommon: Max 6
174	Nevinyrral's Disk	Comes into play "Tapped" when cast. Any creatures "Destroyed" may be "Regenerated" if able.	Destruction Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
175	Nightmare		Rare: Max 3
176	Northern Paladin		Rare: Max 3
177	Obsianus Golem		Uncommon: Max 6
178	Orcish Artillery	Plays as Printed: Mana cost is "1R".	Uncommon: Max 6
179	Orcish Oriflamme	Plays as Printed: Mana cost is "1R".	Moderated List: Limit 3 of this Card Allowed
180	Paralyze	A creature enchanted by one or more copies of Paralyze requires 4 to untap. Additional copies tap the creature when cast, but do not make it cost more Mana in order to be able to untap the creature. This is paid and happens in the Upkeep phase (see rulebook page 11 for start of turn effects) You may not use Paralyze to untap the creature more than once even if there are more than one copies on the creature.
181	Pearled Unicorn
182	Personal Incarnation		Rare: Max 3
183	Pestilence	Activated as a "Fast Effect","Pestilence" can be played either as all damage happens simultaneously at the resolution of that "Fast Effect Sequence", or each point of damage happens individually determined by the user (Activated one or more times, allowing full resolution of that "Fast Effect Sequence" then activating again creating a new and seperate "Fast Effect Sequence"). Each point still counts as a separate source of damage. Please refer to the "Timing" section of the Alpha Rulebook for further clarification on "Fast Effects" and how the order of their resolution is determined.
184	Phantasmal Forces		Uncommon: Max 6
185	Phantasmal Terrain	Note: Any "Dual Land" that this card is cast on will become a normal basic land of the type you choose. It will only tap for that basic land type's color of Mana.
186	Phantom Monster		Uncommon: Max 6
187	Pirate Ship		Rare: Max 3
188	Plague Rats
189	Plains	Plains
190	Plateau	Is considered to be both, "Plains" & "Mountain", and is susceptible to any effect that interacts with either.	Restricted List: Limit 1 of this Card Allowed
191	Power Leak	First line reads as: "... during it's controller's upkeep."
192	Power Sink
193	Power Surge	The player whose turn it is takes 1 damage per untapped land they controlled at start of turn, after lands untap - in the upkeep phase (see rulebook page 11 for start of turn effects)
194	Prodigal Sorcerer
195	Psionic Blast		Moderated List: Limit 3 of this Card Allowed
196	Psychic Venom
197	Purelace		Rare: Max 3
198	Raging River		Rare: Max 3
199	Raise Dead
200	Red Elemental Blast	Errata Issued: Acts as an "Interrupt", not "Instant" as printed. This is a clear misprint that could not work otherwise.	Uncommon: Max 6
201	Red Ward
202	Regeneration	Can only be used to regenerate the enchanted creature (Note: Alpha enchantments use 'target creature' to mean 'the enchanted creature)
203	Regrowth		Draw Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
204	Resurrection		Uncommon: Max 6
205	Reverse Damage	All damage you would take from any one source this turn is added to your life total instead of subtracted from it. Cannot stop/prevent/reverse damage from a "Protection from White" source like Black Knight. See Rulebook Page 28	Rare: Max 3
206	Righteousness		Rare: Max 3
207	Roc of Kher Ridges		Rare: Max 3
208	Rock Hydra		Rare: Max 3
209	Rod of Ruin		Uncommon: Max 6
210	Royal Assassin	If a creature would become untapped at the same time royal's effect would happen, royal's effect does nothing to that creature.	Rare: Max 3
211	Sacrifice		Uncommon: Max 6
212	Samite Healer
213	Savannah	Is considered to be both, "Plains" & "Forest", and is susceptible to any effect that interacts with either.	Restricted List: Limit 1 of this Card Allowed
214	Savannah Lions		Uncommon: Max 6
215	Scathe Zombies
216	Scavenging Ghoul		Uncommon: Max 6
217	Scrubland	Is considered to be both, "Plains" & "Swamp", and is susceptible to any effect that interacts with either.	Restricted List: Limit 1 of this Card Allowed
218	Scryb Sprites
219	Sea Serpent
220	Sedge Troll		Rare: Max 3
221	Sengir Vampire		Uncommon: Max 6
222	Serra Angel		Uncommon: Max 6
223	Shanodin Dryads
224	Shatter
225	Shivan Dragon	Note: Any bonuses added from this card's ability only last until the end of turn. Please see "Mana Enhanced Power/Toughness" under "Creature Abilities" in the Alpha Rulebook.	Rare: Max 3
226	Simulacrum	Cannot be used to prevent a player from dying as the damage must first be dealt in order to be "... instead retroactively applied...".	Uncommon: Max 6
227	Sinkhole		Moderated List: Limit 3 of this Card Allowed
228	Siren's Call		Uncommon: Max 6
229	Sleight of Mind		Rare: Max 3
230	Smoke		Rare: Max 3
231	Sol Ring		Fast Mana Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
232	Soul Net	Reads as: "1: Gain 1 life when a creature is destroyed unless it is regenerated". Note: May be activated any number of times at the time a creature is destroyed.	Power Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
233	Spell Blast
234	Stasis		Restricted List: Limit 1 of this Card Allowed
235	Steal Artifact
236	Stone Giant		Uncommon: Max 6
237	Stone Rain		Moderated List: Limit 3 of this Card Allowed
238	Stream of Life
239	Sunglasses of Urza		Rare: Max 3
240	Swamp
241	Swords to Plowshares		Moderated List: Limit 3 of this Card Allowed
242	Taiga	Is considered to be both, "Forest" & "Mountain", and is susceptible to any effect that interacts with either.	Restricted List: Limit 1 of this Card Allowed
243	Terror	Can be cast targeting a "Black Creature" or "Artifact Creature", but it will have no effect.
244	The Hive		Rare: Max 3
245	Thicket Basilisk		Uncommon: Max 6
246	Thoughtlace		Rare: Max 3
247	Throne of Bone	May be activated any number of times per spell cast. Mana must be spent at the time of the spell being cast alongside with the spell's Mana cost. If the spell is countered then any Mana spent this way is considered expended and no life is gained as the spell was not successfully cast. Can target interrupts as they are cast.	Power Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
248	Timber Wolves		Rare: Max 3
249	Time Vault		Power Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
250	Time Walk		Power Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
251	Timetwister		Power Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
252	Tranquility
253	Tropical Island	Is considered to be both, "Forest" & "Island", and is susceptible to any effect that interacts with either.	Restricted List: Limit 1 of this Card Allowed
254	Tsunami		Uncommon: Max 6
255	Tundra	Is considered to be both, "Island" & "Plains", and is susceptible to any effect that interacts with either.	Restricted List: Limit 1 of this Card Allowed
256	Tunnel		Uncommon: Max 6
257	Twiddle	Tapping an artifact will 'turn off' an artifact's abilities. Does not 'counter' activated effects of poly or mono artifacts which have been paid for but once tapped those abilities may no longer be used until it is untapped.
258	Two-Headed Giant of Foriys		Rare: Max 3
259	Underground Sea	Is considered to be both, "Island" & "Swamp", and is susceptible to any effect that interacts with either.	Restricted List: Limit 1 of this Card Allowed
260	Unholy Strength
261	Unsummon	Reads as: "Discarded" Not "CARD ed" which is a typo.
262	Uthden Troll		Uncommon: Max 6
263	Verduran Enchantress		Rare: Max 3
264	Vesuvan Doppelganger	Creates a creature copy that includes the following characteristics: Power, Toughness, Name, Casting Cost, Creature Type, Abilities as well as any Counters in the same quantity that are currently on the creature being copied. "Vesuvan Doppleganger" does not copy Color, any current enchantment cards, any current amount of damage, or any temporary effects or conditions (Effects which would normally end at the end of the turn) of the creature that has been selected to be copied. If "Vesuvan Doppleganger" copies a different target during Upkeep, all current traits including any counters are lost. "Vesuvan Doppleganger" may not, during Upkeep, "re-copy" the same specific Creature card target that it is currently a copy of. It must have switched to another Creature first on a previous turn, before then changing again back into a previously copied specific Creature card. If there are two copies of the same Creature card in play, then "Vesuvan Doppleganger" can change back and forth between them during each Upkeep as they are two Separate Creature cards that just so happen to be the same Creature. Note: Using "Vesuvan Doppleganger" to copy an artifact that has been animated via "Animate Artifact", "Vesuvan Doppelganger" becomes a copy of that artifact creature including the artifact abilities, but does not copy the "Animate Artifact" enchantment itself.	Rare: Max 3
265	Veteran Bodyguard	"...any damage done to you by unblocked creatures..." is a specific reference to when a creature that attacks you isn't blocked.	Rare: Max 3
266	Volcanic Eruption	Reads as: "Deals X damage to each creature and each player and will also destroy as many Mountains equal to X that are in play. These effects are separate." (Note: This means you can play Volcanic Eruption even if there are fewer than X mountains in play.)	Restricted List: Limit 1 of this Card Allowed
267	Wall of Air		Uncommon: Max 6
268	Wall of Bone		Uncommon: Max 6
269	Wall of Brambles		Uncommon: Max 6
270	Wall of Fire	Note: Any bonuses added from this card's ability only last until the end of turn. Please see "Mana Enhanced Power/Toughness" under "Creature Abilities" in the Alpha Rulebook.	Uncommon: Max 6
271	Wall of Ice		Uncommon: Max 6
272	Wall of Stone		Uncommon: Max 6
273	Wall of Swords		Uncommon: Max 6
274	Wall of Water	Note: Any bonuses added from this card's ability only last until the end of turn. Please see "Mana Enhanced Power/Toughness" under "Creature Abilities" in the Alpha Rulebook.	Uncommon: Max 6
275	Wall of Wood
276	Wanderlust	Reads as: "... during their upkeep."	Uncommon: Max 6
277	War Mammoth
278	Warp Artifact	Does 1 damage during each players' upkeep (see rulebook page 11 for start of turn effects)	Rare: Max 3
279	Water Elemental		Uncommon: Max 6
280	Weakness	Note: This card does not "Do Damage". You may not "Regenerate" a creature whose Toughness characteristic is reduced to 0 as it would again immediately die.
281	Web		Rare: Max 3
282	Wheel of Fortune		Power Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
283	White Knight		Uncommon: Max 6
284	White Ward	"White Ward" does not destroy itself by its own "Protection" granted ability once cast on a Creature.	Uncommon: Max 6
285	Wild Growth
286	Will-o'-the-Wisp		Rare: Max 3
287	Winter Orb		Restricted List: Limit 1 of this Card Allowed
288	Wooden Sphere	May be activated any number of times per spell cast. Mana must be spent at the time of the spell being cast alongside with the spell's Mana cost. If the spell is countered then any Mana spent this way is considered expended and no life is gained as the spell was not successfully cast. Can target interrupts as they are cast.	Charms Group: 1 Card Total Allowed From Group
289	Word of Command	1.) You cannot use sources of mana other than mana already in the pool or tapping lands (No Artifacts or Creatures can be used to pay these costs, etc) 2.) You do get to specify which specific mana and lands that are used to cast the spell, but you may not tap additional lands which are not requisite to cast the spell using the colors of mana you specified. 3.) P. 29 Timing: Players have priority to play/announce the cards/spells/effects/actions of their own turn's main phase (and in every phase on their turn see "Timing" on pp.29-32 of the rulebook). Trying to "bull rush" and cast an instant first when it's not your turn does not give you priority. Players can choose to cast Word of Command during other phases, but only LEGALLY castable spells may be played at that time. For example, during upkeep: Instants and Interrupts only. No Sorceries, Creatures, or Enchantments. Note: It might be best to say "I want to play an INSTANT/EFFECT during your <insert PHASE>, let me know when I can" before announcing the spell.	Rare: Max 3
290	Wrath of God	Creatures with Protection from White are not destroyed (the rule book says Pro-White creatures can't be "enchanted, damaged or otherwise affected" by white magic)	Restricted List: Limit 1 of this Card Allowed
291	Zombie Master	Is NOT considered a "Zombie". - "Summon Lord".	Rare: Max 3

	A
1	Untap Step: You may play spells and abilities after your lands untap
2	Tapping Creatures in "response to combat" does not work because as per the rulebook comabt is a special action (Not a phase). Your only guaranteed opportunity to tap a creature before combat is during the Upkeep.
3	If an effect is contingent on a card being 'tapped' or 'untapped' if it is not in the correct state when the effect(s) resolve (possibly together) then the effect does not happen.
4	If it is your turn (during any step) as the current player you may announce spells and effects first. If you decline to do so your opponent still gets an opportunity to 'respond' to announce any legal spells and effects before any phase shifts. Note: delcaring an attack is not a 'step' but once it has been declared responses may be announced.

	A
1	Alpha --> Beta Card Print Changes (Comparison)
2	Alpha / Beta Print Changes

	A	B	C	D	E	F
1	Timestamp	Facebook Name or Discord User ID	Email	Question or notes. Describe the situation as simple as possible. Thanks!	Email Address	Answer
2	11/24/2023 12:49:30	Epson heringer	epson.heringer@gmail.com	Scenario 1. Creatures that are regenerated while attacking still deal damage. Furthermore, creatures that are regenerated still deal damage to blocking creatures who have first strike. E.g.1: A Sedge Troll is attacking and the defending player uses lightning bolt to deal 3 damage to the troll. If the troll is regenerated, it will remain in combat and deal damage as usual b. E.g.2: A Sedge Troll is blocked by 2 Black Knights. If the Sedge Troll is regenerated, one of the Black Knights will die. c. E.g.3: If opp has a bolt, the only way to prevent a Troll from attacking and dealing damage is to bolt the Troll during the upkeep or draw phase, in which case the Troll will become tapped. Explanation (by Erik Herter and Nathan Green) i. Alpha rules do not state that regenerated creatures are removed from combat, only that they are tapped. Additionally, the instance of tapped creatures dealing no damage in combat is only referenced in the alpha rule book for blockers, not attackers. Finally, under first strike in the alpha rules, “Afterwards, surviving creatures without first strike deal their damage.” The creature survived as it did not go to the graveyard. ii. “Tapped creatures deal no damage” only applies to blockers, otherwise Serra Angel would be the only creature who could attack for damage. Scenario 2. Please add the classic example of bolt vs growth as a play example. Similar patterns come up frequently in games. It would be easier to settle disputes by pointing players to the Alpha docs. a. Namely: Player A casts Giant Growth on an elf. Player B responds with Bolt. Both effects happen at the same time, so the Elf does not die. Scenario 3. I actually don’t know the answer to this one: a. Opp attack with Jugg. b. I declare no blocks. c. Opp uses Berserk on it. d. I respond with Bolt. e. Do I take damage? I don't think so, but would be nice to have an example to confirm. Thanks for the effort in putting together play examples. It will help a lot.		Example 1: Correct. Example 2: Correct. Example 3: Yes that works, you could chance it to see if they cast spells before moving to the special action to attack and if they do you could bolt then in response to some other action or spell but if you want to be 100% certain then bolting before the Main Phase is the only way to ensure that it is tapped before they could attack with it. Juggernaut re: Berserk + Lightning bolt. Wether the berserk is cast during step 3) Fast Effects or anytime before that as long as you bolt before step 4 damage dealing then the jugss would die. Berserk only buffs the power, not defense, and there is a fast effects step (3) in combat to affect the outcome before damage dealing.
3	11/25/2023 0:25:36	Collin Jr Martens	collinbmartens@gmail.com	Ok, during combat who first has priority during blockers phase regarding instants and abilities. Situation, I attack with a Dragon welp, my opponent plans using a lightening bolt on it. They declare no blocks, does priority pass to them to lightening bolt or not right there? They decide not to bolt due to waiting for me to pump dragon welp first, Then I decide no pumps on dragon welp,and pass the phase to damage, do they take damage with no more opportunities to bolt? This has really been bugging me, because also of interactions with giant growth as well		Angelo says: Anytime someone uses spells or effects they could use the other player can respond to that. If you decide to pump the whelp before damage then they can respond with a bolt and the outcome will be that the whelp gets bigger and dies to the bolt at the same time but before any damage is dealt. Since it's your turn you announce spells and effects first and then pass over to them. If you do not pump it during step 3 of the attack (See page 24 of the rulebook) the can still bolt it before step 4, damage, after you have said you want to pass to damage. If you say, okay, lets move to damage and then they say okay time for damage I take 2, you can't backup and pump it. The decision and timing starts with the attacking player and ends when both players have passed in succession. To summarize: pumping Dragon Whelp gives them an opportunity to bolt it. Saying you want to move to damage "I have no effects" gives them an opportunity to bolt it. Damage is only locked in when both players don't have any more spells and effects and have given each other a chance to play/use them starting with the player whose turn it is. Giant Growth works the same way. If someone would do something that would kill your guy you can always respond by using the Growth and if you pass to damage to see if they are going to unsummon it or something you can't backup and add a Giant Growth on top once you know they plan to take the damage without any other effects. Don't pass to that point if you intend to Giant Growth ;) It's sort of on the attacking player to make sure everyone knows where they are in the process of combat.
4	11/27/2023 12:12:37	Erik Herter	erik.herter@gmail.com	Looking for confirmation on a few interactions for combat re: tapped blockers. Per the Alpha rules: “If a creature becomes tapped after it was assigned as a blocker, the creature still blocks but doesn’t deal any damage.” Scenario A (I understand this to be correct): 1. Player A attacks with Juggernaut 2. Player B blocks with Orcish Artillery 3. After declaration of block / prior to combat damage, Player B activates Orcish Artillery, targeting the Juggernaut (dealing 2 damage) 4. Combat damage happens; Juggernaut lives and Orcish Artillery dies because tapped blockers deal no combat damage, so the Orcish Artillery does not deal the final 1 point of lethal damage to the Juggernaut Scenario B (I’d like clarification on this as it seems that it would be correct as well) 1. Player A attacks with Air Elemental 2. Player B declares block with Serra Angel 3. After declaration of block / prior to combat damage, Player A activates Icy Manipulator, tapping the Serra Angel 4. Combat damage happens; Air Elemental lives and Serra Angel dies because tapped blockers deal no combat damage — I would like to see codification of rules regarding Power Surge as it has seen a good amount of play recently (and I used it last month!): CoP: Red Scenario: - Power Surge is in play (on either side). I control a CoP: Red. At the end of my opponent's turn, I can activate the CoP: Red, targeting the Power Surge, as many times as necessary to tap out my mana to avoid damage from the Power Surge. - A few notes to the above and why I have some confusion about this: CoP: Red states “Prevents all damage against you from one red source.” The Power Surge has not yet damaged me, so is the activation even possible? - Additionally, if I go to activate the CoP: Red at the end of my opponent's turn to tap out and avoid Power Surge damage at the start of my turn, shouldn’t this allow my opponent to respond to the last activation with an instant, such as a Lighting Bolt, now that my shields are down and I’ve dumped all of my mana? - My thought is that a CoP: Red could be used at the start of my turn when Power Surge goes to damage me for my untapped land, but Power Surge deals 1 damage for each untapped land, so this poses a question. If I have 4 untapped lands, the way Power Surge is written, I would take 1 damage for each untapped land (4 instances of 1 point of damage). So, would I need to activate the CoP: Red 4 times to prevent each instance of 1 damage? Or does all of the damage go on the “stack” as a batch similar to Pestilence? If the damage is done in a batch, that would allow me to avoid all 4 damage by activating the CoP: Red once, starting my turn with only 1 land tapped and taking 0 damage from the Power Surge. Jade Statue Scenario: - Jade Statue can be used as a mana sink on my opponent's turn to avoid the Power Surge, however, since attacking is stated as “You may make one attack against your rival…” couldn’t my opponent choose to never go to combat and therefore never provide an opportunity for the Jade Statue to be activated? This is because Jade Statue reads “Jade Statue becomes a creature for the duration of the attack exchange. Can be a creature only during an attack or defense.” Thanks for taking the time to read this!
5	11/28/2023 11:13:00	Paul Paloglou	paul.paloglou@gmail.com	More of a comment. I've seen this issue debated but no clear answer was established to my knowledge so I would like to offer a solution as to how I have played the card. Illusionary Mask When casting a creature face down under the ability of Illusionary Mask, the creature is cast facedown and the mana used is announced and somehow tracked during the game. This amount needs to be at least the correct casting cost of the creature summoned. For instance, you may use WWW and GG to cast a Serra Angel, suggesting to your opponent it maybe a Cockatrice, Veteran Bodyguard, Ironroot Treefolk, Thicket Basilik. Once the face down Creature is tapped, targeted or attacks, the card is placed face up. While the card is facedown, we have to assume it has minimum power and toughness for a summon creature (ie 0/1); not 2/2 as errated. I feel this allows for opponents to question the card they are facing up against and plan accordingly.
6	1/19/2024 20:25:30	James Rosenblum	softwhitefire@gmail.com	Two questions: 1) Can COP: Red target a Mana Flare that is on the battlefield but is not currently dealing damage, and is unlikely to deal damage, since it's not a creature. In a similar situation, can COP: Red target a red permanent that is on the battlefield as a preventative shield to prevent any damage it would deal that turn? 2) Interaction between Reverse Damage and Drain Life. Player 1 casts Drain Life for x=10, Player 2 casts Reverse Damage. Does Player 1 gain any life? Does Player 2 die if under 10 life? (I believe the second is already answered by the card clarifications that they do not die if under 10 life).
7	5/16/2024 19:32:13	Luke Withy-Berry	lukewithyberry@gmail.com	Just had this situation come up - I play out a Power Surge against an opponent with 7 untapped lands and a COP Red. Can my opponent use each untapped land before they were untapped again to pay the damage generated by each untapped land before they untapped such that my opponent takes no damage and has no tapped lands during upkeep? The FAQ on Power Surge makes me think the damage occurs during untap, before upkeep, but after lands are untapped - so my opponent could take no damage but have all 7 lands tapped or take 7 damage with no lands tapped. This did not decide the outcome of the match so it was no issue rules wise. In case I already messed up, would Power Surge deal one instance of 7 damage that COP Red could avoid for 1 mana or would it be 7 instances of 1 damage? Mahalo!
8	9/16/2024 6:21:14	James Rosenblum	softwhitefire@gmail.com	What happens if a player attempts to cast Reverse Damage to reverse the damage received from a Black Knight (with protection from white)? Does it reverse the damage? Is the spell just discarded with no effect?		Angelo says: As per rulebook page 28, damage can't be prevented by cards that are of a color which the creature has protection from or otherwise affected so Reverse Damage cannot be used for Black Knight damage. This may not be clear to the person casting Reverse Damage so I'd probably tell the player to see this entry or refer to the rulebook page. I will also update the entry for Reverse Damage.
9	11/12/2024 13:17:38	Alpha	jacobswan923789@gmail.com	How does combat work?		See page 23 of the Alpha Rulebook: https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/feature/original-magic-rulebook-2004-12-25
10		Tim Sawiyer		How much does it cost to Spell Blast a Drain Life? Is it 2+U or is it X=total spent B+2+U?		Angelo says: I think that you have to pay everything the caster paid for the Drain and here is why: Spellblast says: "Target spell is countered, X is cost of target spell" It never says 'casting cost' which is defined in the rulebook. and the rulebook does say this further along: "The controller is usually the person who cast the spell, but this occasionally can change through a card effect. If a spell has a cost associated with it, only the controller of the spell can pay that cost." I think it's fair to say that the B spent by the spell caster is part of the 'cost' which spell blast refers to. It would be sort of a fringe thing anyway if it had said specifically 'casting cost' but since it doesn't I think this one can safely be seen as working as expected (cost = all mana paid for the spell effect)
11	4/6/2025 3:51:57	Scott Latham	scott.a.latham@sky.com	Banding: if a single creature with banding is blocking a creature with trample eg benalish hero blocks force of nature - can the player with the hero choose all 8 damage to go to the hero with none trampling over? (This is how it works in modern magic) or does there have to be at least two creatures blocking for this to work? (Alpha Rule book says “a group” and is a single hero a group for this purpose - the normal English meaning of group is certainly more than one)		Angelo says: As per the rules for Banding you can assign all of the damage to the hero in this circumstancce wether there is just one hero or part of a larger band, however as the rulebook specifies that Trample is a special kind of damage on page 28: Trample: A creature with trample can do damage to the defender even if blocked. Such a creature does a special kind of damage called trample damage. If a blocker has sufficient damage to destroy it then any trample damage done in excess of that amount is applied to the defender instead. So even if you assign all the damage to the Hero, only the amount necessary to do destroy it will be soaked up by him, the rest, will 'trample' over to the defending player.
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