Question about Game Preserve & Monkey Cage -MeTattooBoy, June 28, 2000

My opponent plays Game Preserve,and on his upkeep we both draw creatures and they go into play.I have a Monkey cage in play. Does the converted mana of both creatures that have gone into play count in Monkey cages effect or is it only one creature that affects Monkey Cage? Which one if so? Thanks alot.

Answer -courtesy of John Carter, Level 3 DCI Judge

Short Answer: You go Ape for both creatures.

Here's the text for Monkey Cage:

"When a creature comes into play, sacrifice Monkey Cage and put into play a number of 2/2 green Ape creature tokens equal to that creature's converted mana cost."

If we break this card down, we can see-- When A, do B and C. This is not the same as When A, do B to do C. What happens is this:

1. Two creatures are put into play triggering the Monkey Cage twice
2. When the second ability (LIFO) resolves, the Cage is sacrificed, and X Ape tokens are put into play
3. When the first ability resolves, you try to sacrifice the cage but can't [Sacrifice] and then put Y more Ape tokens into play

Additional notes: if a permanent comes into play as a creature (like an global enchantment with a Opalesence in play), the Cage breaks open. If a permanent that is in play becomes a creature (like a Treetop Village), the Cage stays closed.