Remedies for Game Rule Violations

If the error was discovered within a time frame in which a player could reasonably be expected to notice the error and the situation is simple enough to safely back up without too much disruption to the course of the game, the judge may get permission from the Head Judge to back up the game to the point of the error.

Back up (if you can)

Each action taken is undone until the game reaches the point immediately prior to the error. Cards incorrectly placed in hand are returned to the location in the zone from which they were moved (if the identity of the incorrectly drawn card is not known to all players, a random card is returned instead).

A backup is to the point of the error.

If not caught within a reasonable time frame, or backing up is impossible or sufficiently complex that it could affect the course of the game, the judge should leave the game state as it is after applying state-based actions and not attempt any form of partial ‘fix’ – either reverse all actions or none. . .

Back up everything or nothing

with the following exceptions:

Exceptions

with the following exceptions:• If a player made an illegal choice or failed to make a required choice for a permanent on the battlefield, that player makes a legal choice.

Exceptions

with the following exceptions:• If a player made an illegal choice or failed to make a required choice for a permanent on the battlefield, that player makes a legal choice.• If a player forgot the turn-based action of drawing a card, that player draws a card.

Exceptions

with the following exceptions:• If a player made an illegal choice or failed to make a required choice for a permanent on the battlefield, that player makes a legal choice.• If a player forgot the turn-based action of drawing a card, that player draws a card.• If a player forgot to discard or return cards from their hand to another zone, that player does so.

Exceptions

with the following exceptions:• If a player made an illegal choice or failed to make a required choice for a permanent on the battlefield, that player makes a legal choice.• If a player forgot the turn-based action of drawing a card, that player draws a card.• If a player forgot to discard or return cards from their hand to another zone, that player does so.• If an object is in the wrong zone, the identity of the object was known to all players, and it is within a turn of the error, put the object in the correct zone.

Exceptions

Examples

Go for the Throat

• Avery casts Go for the Throat on Natalie's Golem token.

Go for the Throat

• Avery casts Go for the Throat on Natalie's Golem token.

• Back up the game, putting Go for the Throat back in Avery's hand and untapping the lands he used to pay for it.

Geist of Saint Traft

• Anne casts Mind Control on Norman's Geist of Saint Traft in her second main phase.

• On her following turn, she attacks with it.

• A judge passing by the table notices. . .

Geist of Saint Traft

• Anne casts Mind Control on Norman's Geist of Saint Traft in her second main phase.

• On her following turn, she attacks with it.

• A judge passing by the table notices. . .

• It's too late to back up. The game state remains as is.

Geist of Saint Traft

• Anne casts Mind Control on Norman's Geist of Saint Traft in her second main phase.

• On her following turn, she attacks with it.

• A judge passing by the table notices. . .

• It's too late to back up. The game state remains as is.

Geist of Saint Traft

• Anne casts Mind Control on Norman's Geist of Saint Traft in her second main phase.

• On her following turn, she attacks with it.

• A judge passing by the table notices. . .

• It's too late to back up. The game state remains as is.

• What about the harm to Norman?

Runed Halo

• Alyssa casts Runed Halo, says "go".• Nigel casts Strangleroot Geist and

attacks.• Alyssa realizes she forgot to name a

card...

Runed Halo

• Alyssa casts Runed Halo, says "go".• Nigel casts Strangleroot Geist and

attacks.• Alyssa realizes she forgot to name a

card...• There's no backup, but Alyssa must

name a card now.

Runed Halo

• Alyssa casts Runed Halo, says "go".• Nigel casts Strangleroot Geist and

attacks.• Alyssa realizes she forgot to name a

card...• There's no backup, but Alyssa must

name a card now.

Runed Halo

• Alyssa casts Runed Halo, says "go".• Nigel casts Strangleroot Geist and

attacks.• Alyssa realizes she forgot to name a

card...• There's no backup, but Alyssa must

name a card now.• Can she name Strangleroot Geist?

What if Nigel objects?

Jace, the Mind Sculptor

• Ava "brainstorms" with Jace and forgets to put cards back.

• The error isn't discovered until two turns later.

Jace, the Mind Sculptor

• Ava "brainstorms" with Jace and forgets to put cards back.

• She still puts 2 cards back.

Jace, the Mind Sculptor

• Ava "brainstorms" with Jace and forgets to put cards back.

• She still puts 2 cards back.

Mindlock Orb• Nancy controls

Mindlock Orb. Alistair controls Arid Mesa.

battlefield

Mindlock Orb

battlefield graveyard

• Nancy controls Mindlock Orb. Alistair controls Arid Mesa.

• He activates Arid Mesa and fetches a Plains from his library.

Mindlock Orb

“No search for you!”

battlefield graveyard

• Nancy controls Mindlock Orb. Alistair controls Arid Mesa.

• He activates Arid Mesa and fetches a Plains from his library.

• Then Nancy says, “Wait, you can't do that!”

Mindlock Orb: possible backupsbattlefield

graveyard

battlefield

?battlefield

?

?graveyard

Green Sun's Zenith

• Archimedes casts Green Sun's Zenith with X=4..

Green Sun's Zenith

• Archimedes casts Green Sun's Zenith with X=4.

• He fetches Hellrider and puts the Zenith in his graveyard.

Green Sun's Zenith

• Archimedes casts Green Sun's Zenith with X=4.

• He fetches Hellrider and puts the Zenith in his graveyard.

• He attacks with Hellrider, and Niobe takes 1 damage.

Green Sun's Zenith

• Archimedes casts Green Sun's Zenith with X=4.

• He fetches Hellrider and puts the Zenith in his graveyard.

• He attacks with Hellrider, and Niobe takes 1 damage.

• She blocks with Oculus. It dies, and she draws a card.

Green Sun's Zenith

• Archimedes casts Green Sun's Zenith with X=4.

• He fetches Hellrider and puts the Zenith in his graveyard.

• He attacks with Hellrider, and Niobe takes 1 damage.

• She blocks with Oculus. It dies, and she draws a card.

• She casts Doom Blade on Hellrider.

Green Sun's Zenith

• Archimedes casts Green Sun's Zenith with X=4.

• He fetches Hellrider and puts the Zenith in his graveyard.

• He attacks with Hellrider, and Niobe takes 1 damage.

• She blocks with Oculus. It dies, and she draws a card.

• She casts Doom Blade on Hellrider.

Green Sun's Zenith

• Archimedes casts Green Sun's Zenith with X=4.

• He fetches Hellrider and puts the Zenith in his graveyard.

• He attacks with Hellrider, and Niobe takes 1 damage.

• She blocks with Oculus. It dies, and she draws a card.

• She casts Doom Blade on Hellrider.• Then the players realize Archimedes

improperly resolved the Zenith.

Green Sun's Zenith: GRV

• Archimedes searched for an illegal creature. Hellrider isn't green.

• He also failed to shuffle Green Sun's Zenith into his library.

Green Sun's Zenith: GRV remedy

• It's too late to back up.• Green Sun's Zenith is an object in the wrong zone. It shouldn't

be in the graveyard. Archimedes shuffles it into his library.• Hellrider remains on the battlefield.

Green Sun's Zenith: GRV remedy

• It's too late to back up.• Green Sun's Zenith is an object in the wrong zone. It shouldn't

be in the graveyard. Archimedes shuffles it into his library.• Hellrider remains in the graveyard.

Sword of Feast and Famine• Abel resolves part of

Sword of Feast and Famine's ability but not the other part.

Sword of Feast and Famine - 1• Abel resolves part of Sword of

Feast and Famine's ability but not the other part.

• His opponent discards a card, but Abel doesn't untap his lands.

Sword of Feast and Famine - 1• Abel resolves part of Sword of

Feast and Famine's ability but not the other part.

• His opponent discards a card, but Abel doesn't untap his lands.

• In Abel's end step, his opponent casts a spell, and Abel doesn't counter it. Then Abel ends his turn, and his opponent begins her turn and draws a card.

Sword of Feast and Famine - 1• Abel resolves part of Sword of

Feast and Famine's ability but not the other part.

• His opponent discards a card, but Abel doesn't untap his lands.

• In Abel's end step, his opponent casts a spell, and Abel doesn't counter it. Then Abel ends his turn, and his opponent begins her turn and draws a card.

• No backup. No remedy.

Sword of Feast and Famine - 2• Abel resolves part of Sword of

Feast and Famine's ability but not the other part.

• Abel untaps his lands, but his opponent doesn't discard a card.

Sword of Feast and Famine - 2• Abel resolves part of Sword of

Feast and Famine's ability but not the other part.

• Abel untaps his lands, but his opponent doesn't discard a card.

• In Abel's end step, his opponent casts a spell, and Abel doesn't counter it. Then Abel ends his turn, and his opponent begins her turn and draws a card.

Sword of Feast and Famine - 2• Abel resolves part of Sword of

Feast and Famine's ability but not the other part.

• Abel untaps his lands, but his opponent doesn't discard a card.

• In Abel's end step, his opponent casts a spell, and Abel doesn't counter it. Then Abel ends his turn, and his opponent begins her turn and draws a card.

• No backup. Abel's opponent must discard a card.

Geist of Saint Traft, the sequel

• Achilles casts Controlled Instincts on Natalie's tapped Geist of Saint Traft.

• The error isn't discovered until the first main phase of his next turn.

Geist of Saint Traft, the sequel

• No backup.

• Achilles casts Controlled Instincts on Natalie's tapped Geist of Saint Traft.

• The error isn't discovered until the first main phase of his next turn.

Geist of Saint Traft, the sequel

• No backup. Correct the game state. No further remedy.

• Achilles casts Controlled Instincts on Natalie's tapped Geist of Saint Traft.

• The error isn't discovered until the first main phase of his next turn.

Stormblood Berserker• Niv-Mizzet controls a

tapped Borderland Ranger. Agrus Kos controls Goblin Arsonist.

Stormblood Berserker• Niv-Mizzet controls a

tapped Borderland Ranger. Agrus Kos controls Goblin Arsonist.

• Agrus Kos attacks with Goblin Arsonist.

Stormblood Berserker• Niv-Mizzet controls a

tapped Borderland Ranger. Agrus Kos controls Goblin Arsonist.

• Agrus Kos attacks with Goblin Arsonist.

• After combat, Agrus Kos casts Stormblood Berserker, but doesn't put any counters on it.

Stormblood Berserker• Niv-Mizzet controls a

tapped Borderland Ranger. Agrus Kos controls Goblin Arsonist.

• Agrus Kos attacks with Goblin Arsonist.

• After combat, Agrus Kos casts Stormblood Berserker, but doesn't put any counters on it.

• Niv-Mizzet begins his turn.

Stormblood Berserker• Niv-Mizzet controls a

tapped Borderland Ranger. Agrus Kos controls Goblin Arsonist.

• Agrus Kos attacks with Goblin Arsonist.

• After combat, Agrus Kos casts Stormblood Berserker, but doesn't put any counters on it.

• Niv-Mizzet begins his turn.

• Niv-Mizzet attacks with Borderland Ranger.

Stormblood Berserker• Niv-Mizzet controls a

tapped Borderland Ranger. Agrus Kos controls Goblin Arsonist.

• Agrus Kos attacks with Goblin Arsonist.

• After combat, Agrus Kos casts Stormblood Berserker, but doesn't put any counters on it.

• Niv-Mizzet begins his turn.

• Niv-Mizzet attacks with Borderland Ranger.

• Agrus Kos now realizes he forgot to put counters on Stormblood Berserker.

Stormblood Berserker• No backup.• Leave the game state

as is.

Duress• Alice casts Duress on

Nicholas, and chooses Primeval Titan. He discards it.

Duress• Alice casts Duress on

Nicholas, and chooses Primeval Titan. He discards it.

• Alice casts Rise from the Grave on Primeval Titan, and after it resolves, searches her library for two lands.

Duress• Alice casts Duress on

Nicholas, and chooses Primeval Titan. He discards it.

• Alice casts Rise from the Grave on Primeval Titan, and after it resolves, searches her library for two lands.

• Then she casts Fervor and attacks with Primeval Titan.

Duress• Alice casts Duress on

Nicholas, and chooses Primeval Titan. He discards it.

• Alice casts Rise from the Grave on Primeval Titan, and after it resolves, searches her library for two lands.

• Then she casts Fervor and attacks with Primeval Titan.

• As she searches again, Nicholas rereads Duress and calls for a judge.

Duress• It is too late to back up.

Duress• It is too late to back up.• This is not an "object in

the wrong zone".

Duress• It is too late to back up.• This is not an "object in

the wrong zone".• There is no remedy to

apply.

Duress• It is too late to back up.• This is not an "object in

the wrong zone".• There is no remedy to

apply.• P.S. Nicholas, next time

don't wait so long before reading your opponent's card.

Etched Champion• Antonia, who has

metalcraft, attacks with Etched Champion.

• Newton blocks with Goblin Guide. Goblin Guide dies.

Etched Champion• Antonia, who has

metalcraft, attacks with Etched Champion.

• Newton blocks with Goblin Guide. Goblin Guide dies.

• On Newton's turn, he casts another Goblin Guide and attacks with it.

Etched Champion• Antonia, who has

metalcraft, attacks with Etched Champion.

• Newton blocks with Goblin Guide. Goblin Guide dies.

• On Newton's turn, he casts another Goblin Guide and attacks with it.

• Then the players realize he couldn't have blocked Etched Champion.

Etched Champion• Antonia, who has

metalcraft, attacks with Etched Champion.

• Newton blocks with Goblin Guide. Goblin Guide dies.

• On Newton's turn, he casts another Goblin Guide and attacks with it.

• Then the players realize he couldn't have blocked Etched Champion.

• No backup. No remedy.

Etched Champion• Antonia, who has

metalcraft, attacks with Etched Champion.

• Newton blocks with Goblin Guide. Goblin Guide dies.

• On Newton's turn, he casts another Goblin Guide and attacks with it.

• Then the players realize he couldn't have blocked Etched Champion.

• No backup. No remedy.• The dead Goblin Guide is not

an “object in the wrong zone.”

Shuffle

• Audra shuffles her hand into her library. There is no way to verify the contents of her hand.

Shuffle

• Audra shuffles her hand into her library. There is no way to verify the contents of her hand.

• No backup. No remedy.