Learning to Fly
Solution not availableEugene T. Dudley vs. Clyde "The Machine" Mangles
You can't win.
Even with your help, Eugene T. Dudley, the world's worst Magic player, hasn't a prayer of winning. He's down to the last card in his library, an Ornithopter, which he knows thanks to shrewd deduction and process of elimination. (Even Eugene has his moments.) His opponent, Clyde "The Machine" Mangles, is more than happy just to sit back and gloat.
However, Eugene isn't fazed. Ever since he was a young tot, he's wanted to fly. Superhero, fighter jockey, astronaut — it didn't matter; just the thought of soaring up in the sky fired his imagination. Except, he can't even play Magic. How's he going to pilot a space shuttle?
Help Eugene get one creature to fly by the end of the turn. It can be a creature in play, a creature in hand, a creature anywhere, so long as you get one of those suckers airborne before turn's end — or before Eugene dies, whichever comes first.
Keep in mind the following
- Both Eugene and his opponent, "The Machine," are at 23 life. Don't ask why.
- It is the beginning of Eugene's turn.
- Eugene only has one card left in his library — the lowly Ornithopter.
- The creature enchantment Cocoon is on the Phyrexian Walker. It has two counters on it.
- "The Machine" has played both Gravity Sphere and Aether Flash. Eugene's creatures weren't too happy about that.
- Landkill blew away Eugene's Islands several turns ago. Bummer.
- Eugene's played a Circle of Protection: Blue even though his opponent isn't playing blue. He thought he could use it to protect himself from counterspells.
- You have no idea why Eugene is playing with a Wood Elemental.
The board
Hover a card to enlarge it, or click through to Scryfall.
Land9 cards
Cards in play11 cards
Hand5 cards
Graveyard6 cards
Library1 card
Solution
The answer ran in InQuest #35, which has not been scanned into the Internet Archive. This one is unsolved here — work it out yourself.