General Rulings - 700

• 700.1 - Anything that happens in a game is an event. Multiple events may take place during the resolution of a spell or ability. The text of triggered abilities and replacement effects defines the event they're looking for. One "happening" may be treated as a single event by one ability and as multiple events by another. [CompRules 2009/07/08]
  Example: If an attacking creature is blocked by two defending creatures, this is one event for a triggered ability that reads "Whenever <-this creature-> becomes blocked" but two events for a triggered ability that reads "Whenever <-this creature-> becomes blocked by a creature." [CompRules 2009/07/08]
• 700.2 - A spell or ability is modal if it has two or more options preceded by "Choose one --," "Choose two --," "Choose one or both --," or "<-a specified player-> chooses one --." Each of those options is a mode. [CompRules 2009/07/08]
• 700.2a - The controller of a modal spell or activated ability chooses the mode(s) as part of casting that spell or activating that ability. If one of the modes would be illegal (due to an inability to choose legal targets, for example), that mode can't be chosen. (See Rule 601.2b.) [CompRules 2009/07/08]
• 700.2b - The controller of a modal triggered ability chooses the mode(s) as part of putting that ability on the stack. If one of the modes would be illegal (due to an inability to choose legal targets, for example), that mode can't be chosen. If no mode can be chosen, the ability is removed from the stack. (See Rule 603.3c.) [CompRules 2009/07/08]
• 700.2c - If a spell or ability targets one or more targets only if a particular mode is chosen for it, its controller will need to choose those targets only if he or she chose that mode. Otherwise, the spell or ability is treated as though it did not have those targets. (See Rule 601.2c.) [CompRules 2009/07/08]
• 700.2d - Some spells and abilities specify that a player other than their controller chooses a mode for it. In that case, the other player does so when the spell or ability's controller normally would do so. If there is more than one other player who could make such a choice, the spell or ability's controller decides which of those players will make the choice. [CompRules 2009/10/01]
• 700.2e - Modal spells and abilities may have different targeting requirements for each mode. Changing a spell or ability's target can't change its mode. [CompRules 2009/07/08]
• 700.2f - A copy of a modal spell or ability copies the mode(s) chosen for it. The controller of the copy can't choose a different mode. (See Rule 706.9.) [CompRules 2009/07/08]
• 700.3 - Sometimes an effect will cause objects to be temporarily grouped into two or more piles. [CompRules 2009/07/08]
• 700.3a - Each object in a pile is still an individual object. The pile is not an object. [CompRules 2009/07/08]
• 700.3b - Objects grouped into piles don't leave the zone they're currently in. If cards in a graveyard are split into piles, the order of the graveyard must be maintained. [CompRules 2009/07/08]
  Example: Fact or Fiction reads, "Reveal the top five cards of your library. An opponent separates those cards into two piles. Put one pile into your hand and the other into your graveyard." While an opponent is separating the revealed cards into piles, they're still in their owner's library. They don't leave the library until they're put into their owner's hand or graveyard. [CompRules 2009/07/08]
• 700.3c - A pile can contain zero or more objects. [CompRules 2009/07/08]
• 700.4 - If a permanent is indestructible, rules and effects can't destroy it. (See Rule 701.6, "Destroy.") Such permanents are not destroyed by lethal damage, and they ignore the lethal-damage state-based action (see Rule 704.5g). Rules or effects may cause an indestructible permanent to be sacrificed, put into a graveyard, or exiled. [CompRules 2009/07/08]
• 700.4a - Although the text "<-This permanent-> is indestructible" is an ability, actually being indestructible is neither an ability nor a characteristic. It's just something that's true about a permanent. [CompRules 2009/07/08]
• 700.5 - If an attacking creature is unblockable, no creature can legally block it. (See Rule 509, "Declare Blockers Step.") Spells or abilities may still cause it to become blocked. [CompRules 2009/07/08]
• 700.5a - Although the text "<-This permanent-> is unblockable" is an ability, actually being unblockable is neither an ability nor a characteristic. It's just something that's true about a creature. [CompRules 2009/07/08]