Invasion of Alara // Awaken the Maelstrom — ruling 1

For Invasion of Alara's triggered ability, if you exile two nonland cards with mana value 4 or less, but you don't cast one of them, the one you don't put into your hand will remain in exile. It won't be put on the bottom of your library.

Invasion of Alara // Awaken the Maelstrom — ruling 2

If you exile only one nonland card with mana value 4 or less, you'll have the option to cast it. If you don't, you'll put it into your hand.

Invasion of Alara // Awaken the Maelstrom — ruling 3

If you cast a spell without paying its mana cost, you can't choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay any additional costs. If the spell has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those.

Invasion of Alara // Awaken the Maelstrom — ruling 4

If the spell has {X} in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost.

Invasion of Alara // Awaken the Maelstrom — ruling 5

Awaken the Maelstrom has two targets: the player who will draw cards and the permanent an opponent controls that will be destroyed. You must choose legal targets for both to cast Awaken the Maelstrom. All other choices are made on resolution. Specifically, this means you can create a token that's a copy of the artifact you just put onto the battlefield (which perhaps you just drew) and then put +1/+1 counters on it if it's also a creature.

Invasion of Alara // Awaken the Maelstrom — ruling 6

The token copies exactly what was printed on the original permanent and nothing else (unless that permanent is copying something else or is a token; see below). It doesn't copy whether that permanent is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or Auras and Equipment attached to it, or any non-copy effects that have changed its power, toughness, types, color, and so on.

Invasion of Alara // Awaken the Maelstrom — ruling 7

If the copied permanent has {X} in its mana cost, X is 0.

Invasion of Alara // Awaken the Maelstrom — ruling 8

If the copied permanent is a token, the token that's created copies the original characteristics of that token as stated by the effect that created that token.

Invasion of Alara // Awaken the Maelstrom : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Invasion of Alara // Awaken the Maelstrom is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

When this Siege enters, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile two nonland cards with mana value 4 or less. You may cast one of those two cards without paying its mana cost. Put one of them into your hand. Then put the other cards exiled this way on the bottom of your library in a random order. Awaken the Maelstrom is all colors. Target player draws two cards. You may put an artifact card from your hand onto the battlefield. Create a token that's a copy of a permanent you control. Distribute three +1/+1 counters among one, two, or three creatures you control. Destroy target permanent an opponent controls.

How it works : Invasion of Alara // Awaken the Maelstrom

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
For Invasion of Alara's triggered ability, if you exile two nonland cards with mana value 4 or less, but you don't cast one of them, the one you don't put into your hand will remain in exile. It won't be put on the bottom of your library.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If you exile only one nonland card with mana value 4 or less, you'll have the option to cast it. If you don't, you'll put it into your hand.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If you cast a spell without paying its mana cost, you can't choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay any additional costs. If the spell has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If the spell has in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Awaken the Maelstrom has two targets: the player who will draw cards and the permanent an opponent controls that will be destroyed. You must choose legal targets for both to cast Awaken the Maelstrom. All other choices are made on resolution. Specifically, this means you can create a token that's a copy of the artifact you just put onto the battlefield (which perhaps you just drew) and then put +1/+1 counters on it if it's also a creature.
Card named in this ruling
Copy
#6April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
The token copies exactly what was printed on the original permanent and nothing else (unless that permanent is copying something else or is a token; see below). It doesn't copy whether that permanent is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or Auras and Equipment attached to it, or any non-copy effects that have changed its power, toughness, types, color, and so on.
Card named in this ruling
Copy
#7April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If the copied permanent has in its mana cost, X is 0.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If the copied permanent is a token, the token that's created copies the original characteristics of that token as stated by the effect that created that token.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#9April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If the copied permanent is copying something else, then the token enters the battlefield as whatever that permanent copied.
Card named in this ruling
Copy
#10April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Any enters-the-battlefield abilities of the copied permanent will trigger when the token enters the battlefield. Any "as [this permanent] enters the battlefield" or "[this permanent] enters the battlefield with" abilities of the copied permanent will also work.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#11April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Sieges each have an intrinsic triggered ability. That ability is "When the last defense counter is removed from this permanent, exile it, then you may cast it transformed without paying its mana cost."
No other card is named in this ruling.
#12April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
As a Siege enters the battlefield, its controller chooses an opponent to be its protector.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#13April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
A Siege's controller can't be its protector. If a Siege's protector ever gains control of it, they choose a new player to be its protector. This is a state-based action.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#14April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If a non-battle permanent that is already on the battlefield become a copy of a Siege, its controller chooses one of their opponents to be that battle's protector. However, it will most likely be put into its owner's graveyard because it has no defense counters (see below).
Card named in this ruling
Copy
#15April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
A battle's "defense" is displayed in the bottom right corner of the card. A battle enters the battlefield with that number of defense counters. If another permanent enters the battlefield as a copy of a battle, it also enters with that number of defense counters.
Card named in this ruling
Copy
#16April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Only creatures controlled by a battle's protector can block creatures that are attacking that battle. This means a Siege's controller can never assign creatures to block for it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#17April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
A battle can be dealt damage and be target of spells and/or abilities that target "any target."
No other card is named in this ruling.
#18April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Damage dealt to a battle causes that many defense counters to be removed from it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#19April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
A battle can be attacked by all players other than its protector. Notably, this means a Siege's controller can attack it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#20April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If a battle has no defense counters, and it isn't the source of a triggered ability that has triggered but not yet left the stack, that battle is put into its owner's graveyard. This is a state-based action. This doesn't cause a Siege's intrinsic triggered ability to trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#21April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If a Siege never had defense counters on it (perhaps because a permanent became a copy of one), it can't have its last defense counter removed. It will be put into its owner's graveyard. You won't exile it or cast the other face.
Card named in this ruling
Copy
#22April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If a token or a card that isn't represented by a transforming double-faced card becomes a copy of a Siege, it can't be cast as its triggered ability resolves. It will remain in exile. If it's a token, it will cease to exist the next time state-based actions are performed.
Card named in this ruling
Copy
#23April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If a permanent that is represented by a transforming double-faced card becomes a copy of a Siege, it will be exiled as that Siege's triggered ability resolves, then it will be cast transformed. Note that this applies only to transforming double-faced cards, not to modal double-faced cards that can normally be played using either face.
Card named in this ruling
Copy
#24April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
In a multiplayer game, if the protector of a battle leaves the game and that battle is not currently being attacked, its controller chooses a new protector for it as a state-based action. If it is being attacked, its controller chooses a new protector for it once no creatures are attacking it. This means that it continues to be attacked and can be dealt combat damage as normal.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#25April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If a battle that's being attacked somehow stops being a battle, it is removed from combat. Similarly, if its controller changes in the middle of combat, it is removed from combat.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#26April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Battles can't attack or block, even if one also becomes a creature. If an attacking or blocking creature somehow becomes a battle in addition to being a creature, it is removed from combat.
No other card is named in this ruling.