SACRAMENTO, CA -- In round 2 of the PT Chicago Qualifier held November 9, competitor Virres Moucu dealt the final 2 points of damage in the third and deciding game with Allen Sun with a 2/2 Morph Guy that was really a basic land.

Morph, the new mechanic featured in the current Onslaught (TM) block of Magic: The Gathering, has introduced a great deal of bluffing to the game. Developers such as Randy Buehler have touted the mechanic as one of the best in Magic history, allowing much more mystery to be introduced to the game. Nothing further exemplifies this spirit of bluffing than Moucu's choice, with his back against the wall, to play a basic land from his hand as a 2/2 face-down creature, then use it to attack for lethal damage on the next turn.

While the Magic rules require that all un-Morphed creatures be checked for actual Morph-ness at the end of the game, many players have neglected to follow through on this check, as their defeats have left them dejected, bitter, or merely complaining nonstop about the horrible fate the Gods have visited upon them. This was the case in said match, as Sun had already begun preparing a laundry list of excuses to deliver to his Magic compatriots. Meanwhile, doing his part to maintain the ruse, Moucu picked up his board quickly (but not so quickly as to arouse any suspicions on the part of his opponent, spectators, or judging staff) and nonchalantly, extending the hand to deliver a firm handshake at the end of the game.

When confronted about his daring play, one that could technically be called "Illegal as all get-out," Moucu was noncommittal. "Did I play a land as a Morph guy? I don't remember," he commented over a 20 ounce Mountain Dew. "I think it was probably one of the 2 Skirk Commandos I have in my deck." Moucu then leafed through his deck, producing the two Commandos to somewhat legitimize his story. "Even if I did, I still had a Shock left in my library, so I was bound to win sometime. I needed to get a jump on the lunch break."

Sun was confused about this revelation. "A land? From his hand? As a Morph Guy?!" he said with exasperation. "You can't do that? I thought you could."

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SACRAMENTO, CA -- In round 2 of the PT Chicago Qualifier held November 9, competitor Virres Moucu dealt the final 2 points of damage in the third and deciding game with Allen Sun with a 2/2 Morph Guy that was really a basic land.

Morph, the new mechanic featured in the current Onslaught (TM) block of Magic: The Gathering, has introduced a great deal of bluffing to the game. Developers such as Randy Buehler have touted the mechanic as one of the best in Magic history, allowing much more mystery to be introduced to the game. Nothing further exemplifies this spirit of bluffing than Moucu's choice, with his back against the wall, to play a basic land from his hand as a 2/2 face-down creature, then use it to attack for lethal damage on the next turn.

While the Magic rules require that all un-Morphed creatures be checked for actual Morph-ness at the end of the game, many players have neglected to follow through on this check, as their defeats have left them dejected, bitter, or merely complaining nonstop about the horrible fate the Gods have visited upon them. This was the case in said match, as Sun had already begun preparing a laundry list of excuses to deliver to his Magic compatriots. Meanwhile, doing his part to maintain the ruse, Moucu picked up his board quickly (but not so quickly as to arouse any suspicions on the part of his opponent, spectators, or judging staff) and nonchalantly, extending the hand to deliver a firm handshake at the end of the game.

When confronted about his daring play, one that could technically be called "Illegal as all get-out," Moucu was noncommittal. "Did I play a land as a Morph guy? I don't remember," he commented over a 20 ounce Mountain Dew. "I think it was probably one of the 2 Skirk Commandos I have in my deck." Moucu then leafed through his deck, producing the two Commandos to somewhat legitimize his story. "Even if I did, I still had a Shock left in my library, so I was bound to win sometime. I needed to get a jump on the lunch break."

Sun was confused about this revelation. "A land? From his hand? As a Morph Guy?!" he said with exasperation. "You can't do that? I thought you could."

Discuss this article in the Magic: the Gathering Forums!