Rain of Filth, High Tide, & 418.3b

[emidln]

This came up during a discussion of Rain of Filth and is something I'd like to get clarified. First off, it seems to me that Rain of Filth has an errata that is functionally different than its printed text. As printed, there is very little doubt that only lands in play under your control with Rain of Filth resolves get the ability. However, at some point, seemingly after the 2004 ruling on Gatherer was issued (which appears to be based on Rule 418.3b), the rules text on Rain of Filth changed to a template comparable to High Tide. Compare:



Each land you control gains "Sacrifice this land: Add B to your mana pool" until end of turn.



Oracle text: Until end of turn, lands you control gain "Sacrifice this land: Add B to your mana pool."



Until end of turn, whenever a player taps an Island for mana, that player adds U to his or her mana pool (in addition to the mana the land produces).


My question is, if I resolve Rain of Filth and then play a land, does it have the ability to sacrifice to produce a black mana? If it does, why? Does 418.3b not apply here? Is adding the ability not considered a characteristics change?

[cdr]

The set of lands Rain of Filth applies to is locked in when it resolves. There's no functional difference.

I'm not sure what you mean by 418.3b, there's no such rule anymore (http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Resources.aspx?x=magic/rules).


610.2c. If a continuous effect generated by the resolution of a spell or ability modifies the characteristics or changes the controller of any objects, the set of objects it affects is determined when that continuous effect begins. After that point, the set won't change. (Note that this works differently than a continuous effect from a static ability.) A continuous effect generated by the resolution of a spell or ability that doesn't modify the characteristics or change the controller of any objects modifies the rules of the game, so it can affect objects that weren't affected when that continuous effect began.

Example: An effect that reads "All white creatures get +1/+1 until end of turn" gives the bonus to all permanents that are white creatures when the spell or ability resolves-even if they change color later-and doesn't affect those that enter the battlefield or turn white afterward.

Example: An effect that reads "Prevent all damage creatures would deal this turn" doesn't modify any object's characteristics, so it's modifying the rules of the game. That means the effect will apply even to damage from creatures that weren't on the battlefield when the continuous effect began. It also affects damage from permanents that become creatures later in the turn.