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I couldn't dig it up in any of the rules compendiums out there, but I have a question regarding phyrexian mana and the payment thereof.  If I have a Norn's Annex out, does that mean that only players running white can attack me?  I suppose the question is this:  Under any circumstances, can one generate mana outside of one's color identity?  I wasn't sure what the rules are since the mana isn't coming from a permanent.

Similarly, if I'm running blue and play Control Magic on an opponent's Moltensteel Dragon , can I pump it up? 

To expand on what ir0nwood said:  

While you are technically right in that players can not generate mana outside their commander's colour identity (instead they generate an equal amount of colourless mana), player's who don't have access to white mana can still attack you by paying 2 life per creature.  The reason  is that Phyrexian Mana, like hybrid mana can be paid through one of two sources, either life or mana of the appropriate colour.  Although a player may not be able to generate white mana, that means that they are only unable to pay one of the options available, they are still able to pay two life.  The same goes for Moltensteel Dragon .  

Basically, if you are able to somehow pay the cost to cast the card or activate the ability, you can.   

The only problem with that result, is if you choose to pay life instead of mana, then you never add mana to the mana pool. You jut pay life.

Apr 1, 2012 -- 9:07PM, ir0nwood wrote:

The only problem with that result, is if you choose to pay life instead of mana, then you never add mana to the mana pool. You jut pay life.

I think you would add colorless phyrexian mana to the pool...which I suppose would serve no purpose in this scenario. 

Apr 2, 2012 -- 6:37AM, Emperor_Crusty wrote:

Apr 1, 2012 -- 3:35PM, RxPhantom wrote:

903.9. If mana would be added to a player's mana pool of a color that isn't in the color identity of that player's commander, that amount of colorless mana is added to that player's mana pool instead.

too bad theres not more combos like Celestial Dawn and Donate going on against nonwhite Commander decks........but it is alittle bit harder to pull off....

I'm aware of that little combo.  It's kind of...mean.  But I suppose that's where politics comes into play, and hopefully you can get another player to take care of it for you.  Situations like this and Iona, She of Lame Cheapness have forced me to include stuff like All is Dust , Karn Liberated , Spine of Ish Sah and even Ersatz Gnomes to several decks.