Elu de Tel Jilad et blance du sacrifice

From Saturday School #74 by Rune Horvik, Saturday, April 17, 2004: Last week, I answered a question which involved having Culling Scales in play, along with Tel-Jilad Chosen (a creature creature with converted mana cost 2 and protection from artifacts). Culling Scales The main feedback question I got over the last week was "since you're not allowed to target the Chosen, won't you have to target something else instead?" – and the answer to this question is "not if it's the only permanent with the lowest converted mana cost". The target of Culling Scales is "target nonland permanent with the lowest converted mana cost among nonland permanents in play" – which has two requirements: the permanent must be "not a land", and it must have "lowest converted mana cost among nonland permanents in play". Both of these must be satisfied to be a legal target, and you can't choose something with a higher converted mana cost if something if the permanent with the lowest cost is not legal to target.

Culling Scales Artifact At the beginning of your upkeep, destroy target nonland permanent with the lowest converted mana cost among nonland permanents in play. (If two or more permanents are tied for lowest cost, target any one of them.).

Tel-Jilad Chosen Creature - Elf Warrior Protection from artifacts. 2/1