Card interactions (counterbalance)

[thefreakaccident]

I know that if you flip a card with dark confidant that is split (ex. Fire/Ice) you will take 4 damage (for the all around converted casting cost).

I am pretty sure what the answer is already, but I have to be sure:


If you flip a fire/ice with counterbalance will you counter something at the 4cc range?

[Pinder]

My understanding is no.

When the game asks a question about a split card's converted mana cost, it gives it two answers, one for each half of the card. The difference (and the importance) lies in what question is being asked.

When Bob flips Fire/Ice and the game asks "how much damage should you take?", Fire/Ice says "two and two" (not four, this is an important distinction). Similarly, when Counterbalance flips a Fire/Ice and the game asks what it's converted mana cost is, Fire/Ice still says "two and two". Because Counterbalance is looking for a CMC, if the spell in question has the same CMC as either side, it will get countered.

Hope this helps.

[thefreakaccident]

Doesn't that make your answer yes?

Because what you are saying that it does counter a cmc of 4 spell...

[Jaiminho]

From the Comprehensive Rules:



505.6. An effect that performs a positive comparison (such as asking if a card is red) or a relative comparison (such as asking if a card’s converted mana cost is less than 2) involving characteristics of one or more split cards in any zone other than the stack gets only one answer. This answer is “yes” if either side of each split card in the comparison would return a “yes” answer if compared individually.
An effect that performs a negative comparison (such as asking if cards have different names) involving characteristics of one or more split cards in any zone other than the stack also gets only one answer. This answer is “yes” if performing the analogous positive comparison would return a “no” answer.
If an effect performs a comparison involving multiple characteristics of one or more split cards in any zone other than the stack, each characteristic is compared separately. If each of the individual comparisons would return a “yes” answer, the whole comparison returns a “yes” answer.


It will counter something that costs the same as any of the halves, not the sum.

This helps to understand how Bob works with split cards:



505.5. An effect that asks for a particular characteristic of a split card while it’s in a zone other than the stack gets two answers (one for each of the split card’s two halves).


Bob sees Fire/Ice and deals "2 and 2" damage.

[Pinder]

He explained it better than I did, listen to him.

edit - Also, can we get someone to move this to 'Card Interactions and Questions'?

Yeah. Moved. - Bardo

[thefreakaccident]

Opps posted in wrong thread/forum...

Thanks for the answers though guys! Really helpful!!!