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COMPREHENSIVE RULES 04/23/99
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Contents
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Introduction
1. The Game
100. General
101. Starting the Game
102. Winning and Losing
103. The Golden Rule
2. Cards
200. General
201. Parts of a Card
202. Name
203. Mana Cost
204. Illustration
205. Type
206. Expansion Symbol
207. Text Box
208. Power/Toughness
209. Credit
210. Legal Text
211. Collector Number
212. Card Type
213. Spell Type
214. Permanent Type
215. Legends and Legendary Types
216. Tokens
217. Zones
3. Turn Structure
300. General
301. Beginning Phase
302. Untap Step
303. Upkeep Step
304. Draw Step
305. Main Phase
306. Combat Phase
307. Beginning of Combat Step
308. Declare Attackers Step
309. Declare Blockers Step
310. Combat Damage Step
311. End of Combat Step
312. End Phase
313. End of Turn Step
314. Cleanup Step
4. Spells, Abilities, and Effects
400. General
401. Spells
402. Abilities
403. Activated Abilities
404. Triggered Abilities
405. Static Abilities
406. Ability Subtypes
407. Adding and Removing Abilities
408. Timing of Spells and Abilities
409. Playing Spells and Activated Abilities
410. Handling Triggered Abilities
411. Playing Mana Abilities
412. Handling Static Abilities
413. Resolving Spells and Abilities
414. Countering Spells and Abilities
415. Editing a Spell or Ability
416. Effects
417. One-Shot Effects
418. Continuous Effects
419. Replacement and Prevention Effects
420. State-Based Effects
421. Handling "Infinite" Loops
422. Handling Illegal Actions
5. Additional Combat Rules
500. Legal Attacks and Blocks
501. Evasion Abilities
502. Keyword Abilities
Glossary
Index
In response to play issues and to keep these rules as
current as possible, changes may have been made to this
document since its printing. See the Wizards of the Coastš
website for the current version of the official rules.
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Magic: The Gathering(R) Comprehensive Rules
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Introduction
This book is designed for people who've moved beyond the basic
Magic: The Gathering(R) game. If you're a beginning Magic(R) player, you'll
probably find these rules pretty intimidating. They're intended to be the
ultimate authority to the game, and you won't usually need to refer to them
except in specific cases or during a tournament.
For casual play, and nearly every ordinary situation, you'll find what you
need in the general rulebook included with the Magic: The Gathering _Classic_
game box. That's also the best place to begin if you're moving up from a
starter-level Magic product such as the Magic: The Gathering _Portal_ or
_Portal Second Age_ sets. If you're sure this is where you want to be, keep
reading.
This document is organized in a series of numbered rules. Many of these rules
are in turn subdivided, and each separate rule of the game has its own number.
Words or phrases in italics are defined in the glossary.
We at Wizards of the Coast(R) recognize that no matter how detailed the rules,
there will always be situations in which the interactions of specific cards
require a precise answer. If you have questions, you can get the answers from
us. See the end of this file for contact information.
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1. The Game
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100. General
------------
100.1. These Magic rules assume a game between two players. Optional rules
allow for more players but aren't discussed here. These can be found at the
Wizards of the Coast(R) website at .
100.2. In constructed-deck play, each player needs his or her own deck of at
least sixty cards with no more than four copies of any card except basic
lands; small objects to represent any tokens and counters; and some way to
clearly track life totals.
100.3. For sealed-deck or draft play, only forty cards are required in a deck,
and a player may use as many copies of a card as he or she has. See the DCI(R)
Standard Floor Rules for more information.
100.4. There is no maximum deck size.
100.5. Most Magic tournaments have special rules (not included here) and may
limit the use of some cards, including barring all cards from older sets. See
the DCI Standard Floor Rules for more information.
101. Starting the Game
----------------------
101.1. At the start of a game, each player shuffles his or her own deck so
that the cards are in a random order. Each player may then cut his or her
opponent's deck.
101.2. After the decks have been shuffled, the players determine who will play
first, using any mutually agreeable method (flipping a coin, rolling dice,
etc.). In a match of several games, the loser of the previous game decides who
will play first.
101.3. Once the starting player has been determined, each player sets his or
her life total to 20 and draws a hand of seven cards.
101.4. The player who plays first skips the draw step (see rule 304,
"Draw Step") of his or her first turn.
101.5. A player who is dissatisfied with his or her initial hand may mulligan.
That player shuffles his or her hand back into the deck, then draws a new hand
of six cards. He or she may repeat this process as many times as desired,
drawing one fewer card each time, until the hand reaches zero cards. Once the
first player decides to keep a hand, the second player may mulligan. Once both
players are satisfied with their hands, the first player takes his or her
turn.
102. Winning and Losing
-----------------------
102.1. If a player's life total is 0 or less, he or she loses the game
immediately.
102.2. When a player is required to draw more cards than are left in his or
her library, he or loses instead.
102.3. A game immediately ends when either these rules or a card effect states
that a player loses or wins.
102.4. If both players lose simultaneously, the game is a draw.
102.5. If a player would both win and lose simultaneously, he or she loses.
102.6. If the game somehow _loops_, repeating a sequence of events with no way
to stop, the game is a draw.
102.7. A player may concede a game at any time.
103. The Golden Rule
--------------------
103.1. The Magic Golden Rule is: Whenever a card's text contradicts these
rules, the card takes precedence. The card overrides only the rule that
applies to that specific situation. If an instruction requires taking an
impossible action, it's ignored. (In many cases the card will specify
consequences for this; if it doesn't, there's no effect.)
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2. Cards
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200. General
------------
200.1. When a rule or card text refers to a Òcard,Ó it means a Magic card with
a Magic card front and the Magic card back. An Ungluedª card that represents a
token isn't considered a card for rules purposes.
201. Parts of a Card
--------------------
201.1. The parts of a card are: name, mana cost, illustration, type, expansion
symbol, text box, power/toughness, credit, legal text, and collector number.
202. Name
---------
202.1. The name of a card is printed on its upper-left corner.
202.2. Card text that refers to that card by name means just that particular
copy of the card and not any other copies of it, regardless of any name
changes due to game effects.
202.3. Two cards are considered to have the same name if the English versions
of their names are identical, regardless of anything else printed on the
cards.
203. Mana Cost
--------------
203.1. The mana cost of a card is indicated by mana symbols printed on its
upper-right corner. Tokens and lands have no mana cost. Paying a card's mana
cost requires matching the color of any colored mana symbols.
203.2. A card is the color or colors of the mana symbols in its mana cost,
regardless of the color of its border. For example, a card with a mana cost
{2}{W} is white; one with a mana cost of {2}{W}{B} is both white and black.
Cards with no colored mana symbols are colorless.
203.3. The converted mana cost of a card is the total amount of mana in the
mana cost, regardless of color (for example, a mana cost of {3}{U}{U}
translates to a converted mana cost of 5). The converted mana cost may be paid
with any combination of colored and/or colorless mana.
203.4. Any additional cost listed in a card's rules text isn't part of the
mana cost. (See rule 409, "Playing Spells and Activated Abilities.")
204. Illustration
-----------------
204.1. The illustration is printed on the upper half of a card and has no game
significance. For example, a creature doesn't have the flying ability unless
stated in its rules text, even if itÕs depicted as flying.
205. Type
---------
205.1. The type (and subtype, if applicable) of a card is printed directly
below the illustration. (See rules 212-215.)
206. Expansion Symbol
---------------------
206.1. The expansion symbol indicates in which Magic set the card was
published and is printed below the right edge of the illustration.
206.2. The color of the expansion symbol indicates the rarity of the card
within its set. A gold symbol signifies the card is rare; silver, uncommon;
and black, common or basic land. (Prior to the Exodus(R) set, all expansion
symbols were black.)
206.3. A spell or ability that affects cards from a particular set "looks"
only for that set's expansion symbol. A card reprinted in the basic set
receives the basic set's expansion symbol; the reprinted version of the card
no longer counts as part of its original set. The first five editions of the
basic set had no expansion symbol.
207. Text Box
-------------
207.1. The text box is printed on the lower half of the card. It contains
rules text stating what the card does and any special requirements for playing
it.
207.2. The text box may also contain italicized reminder text (in parentheses
and italics) summarizing a rule that applies to that card, and/or italicized
flavor text that has no game function but, like the illustration, adds
artistic appeal to the game.
208. Power/Toughness
--------------------
208.1. A creature card has two numbers separated by a slash printed on its
lower-right corner. The first number is the creature's power (the amount of
damage it deals in combat); the second is its toughness (the amount of damage
needed to destroy it). For example, 2/3 means the creature has power 2 and
toughness 3.
209. Credit
-----------
209.1. The illustration credit for a card is printed directly below the text
box. This has no effect on game play.
210. Legal Text
---------------
210.1. Legal text lists the publication date and copyright information. It has
no effect on game play.
211. Collector Number
---------------------
211.1. Some card sets feature collector numbers. This information is printed
in the form , immediately following the
legal text. These numbers have no effect on game play.
212. Card Type
--------------
212.1. All cards have one or more types: artifact, creature, enchantment,
instant, land, or sorcery. Only one multiple type (artifact creature)
currently exists. Artifact creature satisfies the criteria for any effect that
applies to an artifact card or a creature card.
212.2. Some card types include subtypes, printed on the same line.
EXAMPLE: "Creature - Minotaur" means the card has type creature and creature
subtype Minotaur. "Enchant Creature" means it has type enchantment and subtype
enchant creature.
213. Spell Type
---------------
213.1. Every card, except land cards, is a spell as it's being played and
stops being a spell when it resolves or is countered. For more information,
see rule 401, "Spells."
213.2. A spell's type is the same as its card type.
214. Permanent Type
-------------------
214.1. A permanent is a card or token that remains in play. There are four
types of permanents: artifacts, creatures, enchantments, and lands.
214.2. A permanent's type(s) and subtype(s) are the same as those printed on
its card. A token's type(s) and subtype(s) are set by the spell or ability
that created it.
214.3. A card becomes a permanent when it comes into play and stops being a
permanent when it leaves play. The term "card" or "spell" is often used to
refer to a card type that's not in play, such as a creature card in a player's
hand. For more information, see rule 217, "Zones."
214.4. When a permanent's type or subtype changes, the new type replaces any
existing type(s). This changes only the permanent typeÑthe card type doesn't
change. Counters, effects, and damage affecting the permanent remain with it,
even if they are meaningless to the new type.
214.5. The initial value of a permanent's characteristic is the value printed
on the card, or specified by the spell or ability that created a token or
changed the type of a permanent. Using a type-changing ability changes the
initial values of characteristics stated in the ability's text, not the
current values. Changing the initial value of a characteristic won't override
continuous effects that are changing it.
214.6. Artifacts
214.6a Artifacts have no special characteristics. Artifact spells are
colorless, although other spells or abilities might confer a color.
214.6b Artifact creatures combine the characteristics of both the creature
and artifact subtypes and are subject to spells and abilities that affect
both.
214.7. Creatures
214.7a If a card instruction requires choosing a creature subtype, this may
be any noun (even if the creature doesn't exist in Magic), but only one. A
word that has some other Magic meaning isn't a valid choice, because that
would cause confusion.
EXAMPLE: Merfolk or Wizard is acceptable, but not Merfolk Wizard. Words
like "opponent" or "swamp" can't be chosen because they have other meanings
in the game.
214.7b Plurality and gender are ignored when determining creature types.
EXAMPLE: Ogre, Ogres, Ogress, and Ogresses all count as the same creature
type, Ogre.
214.8. Enchantments
214.8a A global enchantment simply reads "Enchantment" as its type. Local
enchantments comprise various subtypes: enchant artifact, enchant creature,
enchant enchantment, enchant land, and enchant permanent.
214.8b A global enchantment is put into play like any other spell that
creates a permanent.
214.8c A local enchantment spell must be attached to a target permanent,
whose type is indicated by the enchantment subtype.
EXAMPLE: An enchant creature spell requires a target creature. Additional
targeting restrictions are indicated by the phrase "Play only
on ."
214.8d When playing a local enchantment spell, the player announces the
spell's target. The local enchantment comes into play attached to the target
permanent. If a local enchantment is coming into play through any other
means, its controller chooses a permanent when it attempts to enter play. If
no legal permanent is available, the enchantment remains in the zone that it
attempted to move from.
214.8e If a local enchantment ends up enchanting an illegal permanent or its
target permanent no longer exists, the enchantment card is put into its
owner's graveyard.
214.8f A local enchantment can't be attached to itself.
214.8g The permanent a local enchantment is attached to is called
"enchanted." The enchantment "enchants" that permanent.
214.8h The abilities of local enchantments don't target the enchanted
permanent unless they're activated abilities that can target something.
214.8i The controller of a local enchantment is separate from the controller
of the enchanted permanent. Changing control of the permanent doesn't change
control of the enchantment, and vice versa. Only the enchantment's
controller can play its abilities. However, if the enchantment adds an
ability to the enchanted permanent, that enchanted permanent's controller is
the only one who can play that ability.
214.9. Lands
------------
214.9a A land card isn't a spell card. It's put directly into play.
214.9b A player may normally play only one land card each turn. Spells and
abilities may allow playing additional lands; doing so doesn't prevent a
player from taking the normal action of playing a land.
214.9c A land card is one of two categories: basic and nonbasic. Basic and
nonbasic are not types or subtypes.
214.9d The basic lands are plains, island, swamp, mountain, and forest.
214.9e A basic land has an intrinsic ability to produce colored mana. (See
rule 406.1, "Mana Abilities.") The card is treated as if its text box read,
"{Tap}: Add to your mana pool" even if the text box doesn't
actually contain text. Plains produce white mana; islands, blue; swamps,
black; mountains, red; and forests, green.
214.9f If an effect changes a permanent into a basic land, the permanent is no
longer its old type and has only the mana ability of that basic land. It now
counts as a basic land. If that land was "Legendary," it is no longer.
214.9g Any land that isn't a basic land is a nonbasic land. Even if its rules
text or a game effect states that it "counts as" a basic land type, it is
still nonbasic.
214.9h Nonbasic lands don't necessarily have mana abilities.
215. Legends and Legendary Types
--------------------------------
215.1. The word "Legend" or "Legendary" may be added to a card type or
subtype. This means that the permanent created when that card enters play is
subject to the Legend rule (see rule 420, "State-Based Effects") as well as
the rules for its type.
215.2. "Legend" is a creature type; "Legendary" is not.
216. Tokens
-----------
216.1. Some spells and abilities put a token creature into play. The rules
text of the spell or ability defines the initial characteristics of the token
it creates. A token's name is its creature type unless otherwise specified;
for example, the creature type of a Goblin token is Goblin.
216.2. A token is subject to anything that affects permanents in general or
the token's type or subtype. A token isn't considered a card (even if
represented by cards from other games or Unglued token cards) and isn't
subject to any effect that specifically uses the word "card."
216.3. A token in a zone other than the in-play zone ceases to exist. This is
a state-based effect. (Note that a token changing zones will set off triggered
abilities before the token ceases to exist.)
217. Zones
----------
217.1. A zone is a place that Magic cards can be during a game. There are six
basic zones: library, hand, graveyard, in play, stack, and removed from the
game. Each player has his or her own copy of each zone, except for the in-play
and stack zones, which are shared.
217.2. Library
217.2a When a game begins, each playerÕs deck becomes his or her library.
217.2b Each library must be kept in a single face-down pile. Players can't
look at or change the order of cards in a library.
217.2c A player may count the number of cards remaining in either player's
library at any time.
217.3. Hand
217.3a The hand is where a player holds cards that have been drawn but not
yet played.
217.3b Each player has a maximum hand size, which is normally seven cards.
A player may have any number of cards in his or her hand but as part of his
or her clean-up step must discard excess cards down to the maximum hand
size.
217.3c A player may arrange his or her hand in any convenient fashion and
look at it as much as he or she wishes. A player can't look at the cards in
the other player's hand but may count the number of cards in either player's
hand at any time.
217.4. Graveyard
217.4a A graveyard is a discard pile. Any card that's countered, discarded,
destroyed, or sacrificed is put on top of its owner's graveyard. Each
player's graveyard starts out empty.
217.4b Each graveyard is kept in a single face-up pile. A can examine the
cards in any graveyard at any time but can't change their order.
217.4c If an effect puts two or more cards into the same graveyard at the
same time, the owner of those cards may arrange them in any order.
217.5. In Play
217.5a Most of the area between the players represents the in-play zone. The
in-play zone starts out empty. Cards a player controls (other than local
enchantments enchanting the other playerÕs permanents) are kept in front of
him or her.
217.5b A spell or ability affects only the in-play zone unless it
specifically mentions another zone. Permanents exist only in the in-play
zone.
217.5c Whenever a card enters the in-play zone, it's a brand-new permanent
as far as the game is concerned and has no relationship to any previous
permanent represented by the same card.
217.5d A card outside the in-play zone isn't "in play" and isn't considered
tapped or untapped.
217.6. Stack
217.6a When a spell or ability is played, it goes on top of the stack and
waits to resolve. The stack keeps track of the order that spells and/or
abilities were added to it. See rule 408, "Timing of Spells and Abilities."
217.6b A spell card is played face up in the stack zone, and other spells
played in response are "stacked" on top of it. Abilities in the stack are
represented by imaginary cards called pseudospells. A pseudospell has the
color of the permanent that created it, as well as the text of the ability,
and is controlled by the player who played the ability.
217.6c When both players decline to add a spell or ability to the stack, the
top (last-played) spell or ability resolves.
217.7. Removed from the Game
217.7a A spell or ability can remove a card from the game. Some spells or
abilities may provide a way for the card to return to play and use the term
"set aside." Cards that are set aside this way are still removed from the
game, even if temporarily.
217.7b Cards in the removed-from-the-game zone are kept face up and may be
examined by either player at any time. Cards "removed from the game face
down" can't be examined by either player except when instructions allow it.
217.7c Cards that might return to play should be kept in separate piles to
keep track of their respective ways of returning. Cards with no way of
returning may be kept in one pile for each player, regardless of what
removed them.
217.8. Whenever a card moves from one zone to another, it is treated as a new
copy of that card (effects connected to its previous existence expire) with
the exception that effects editing a spell in the stack will continue to apply
to the permanent that spell becomes.
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3. Turn Structure
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300. General
------------
300.1. A turn consists of five phases, in this order: beginning, first main,
combat, second main, and end. Each of these phases takes place every turn,
even if nothing happens during the phase. The beginning, combat, and end
phases are further broken down into steps, which are followed in order.
300.2. A phase or step ends when the stack is empty and both players pass in
succession. No game events can occur between turns, phases, or steps.
300.3. When a phase or step ends, any effects scheduled to last "until the
end of" that phase or step or "until" the next phase or step expire.
300.4. When a phase ends (but not a step), any unused mana left in a player's
mana pool is lost. That player loses 1 life for each one mana lost this way.
This is called mana burn. (See rule 406.1, "Mana Abilities.")
300.5. When a phase or step begins, any triggered abilities "at the beginning
of" that phase or step are added to the stack.
301. Beginning Phase
--------------------
301.1. The beginning phase consists of three steps, in this order: untap,
upkeep, and draw.
302. Untap Step
---------------
302.1. First, the active player determines which permanents he or she controls
will untap. (Normally they all do, but effects may modify this.) Then he or
she untaps them all simultaneously.
302.2. No player receives priority during the untap step, so no spells or
abilities can be played or resolved. Any ability that triggers during this
step will be held until a player receives priority during the upkeep step.
(See rule 303, "Upkeep Step.")
303. Upkeep Step
----------------
303.1. At the beginning of the upkeep step, any abilities that triggered
during the untap step, as well as abilities that trigger at the beginning of
upkeep, go on the stack. Upkeep-triggered abilities use the phrase "At the
beginning of your upkeep" or similar wording. (See rule 404, "Triggered
Abilities.") Then the active player receives priority to play spells and
abilities.
304. Draw Step
--------------
304.1. At the beginning of the draw step, the active player draws one card
from his or her library. This is played as a triggered ability, just as if a
card read "At the beginning of your draw step, draw a card." Then the active
player receives priority to play spells and abilities.
305. Main Phase
---------------
305.1. There are two main phases in a turn. The first main phase and second
main phase are separated by the combat phase (see rule 306, "Combat Phase")
and are collectively known as the "main phase."
305.2. The main phase has no steps.
305.3.After triggered abilities (if any) are added to the stack, the active
player receives priority to play spells and abilities. This is the only phase
in which a player can play artifact, creature, enchantment, and sorcery
spells.
305.4. During either main phase, the active player may play one land from his
or her hand if the stack is empty, the player has priority, and he or she
hasn't yet taken this special action this turn.
306. Combat Phase
-----------------
306.1. The combat phase has five steps: beginning of combat, declare
attackers, declare blockers, combat damage, and end of combat.
306.2. A creature is removed from combat if it stops being a creature or its
controller changes. Once it's declared as an attacker or blocker, tapping or
untapping a creature doesn't remove it from combat or prevent it from dealing
combat damage. Neither does playing a spell or ability that, if played
earlier, would have prevented it from attacking or blocking.
307. Beginning of Combat Step
-----------------------------
307.1. After triggered abilities (if any) are added to the stack, the active
player receives priority to play spells and abilities when the step begins.
308. Declare Attackers Step
---------------------------
308.1. The active player declares which, if any, creatures he or she controls
are attacking. Tapped creatures (even those that can attack without tapping),
Walls, creatures that the active player didn't control continuously since the
beginning of the turn, and noncreature permanents can't be declared as
attackers. This declaration is simultaneous, not sequential, and doesn't go on
the stack. Any triggered ability generated during this action waits until a
player receives priority.
308.2. The active player determines whether the attack is legal. (See
section 5, "Additional Combat Rules.") If it is, he or she pays all required
costs. Tapping is a cost to attack for all creatures unless otherwise
specified; other costs and/or restrictions may also apply. (See rule 409.9.)
The active player may play mana abilities at this time only if an attack cost
includes a mana payment.
308.3. If the proposed attack isn't legal or the active player can't pay all
required costs, all actions described in rules 308.1 and 308.2 are canceled.
Then the active player redeclares attacking creatures. (See rule 422,
"Handling Illegal Actions.")
308.4. If no creatures are declared as attackers, the game proceeds directly
to the end of combat step, skipping the remainder of the declare attackers
step and the intervening steps.
308.5. A creature becomes an attacking creature when declared as part of an
attack. It remains an attacking creature until itÕs removed from combat or the
combat phase ends.
308.6. After a legal attack has been declared and all required costs paid, the
active player receives priority to play spells and abilities.
309. Declare Blockers Step
--------------------------
309.1. The defending player declares which, if any, creatures he or she
controls are blocking and which attacking creature each one blocks. Tapped
creatures and noncreature permanents can't be declared as blockers. Each
creature may block only one attacking creature, though any number of creatures
may block the same attacking creature. (Note that blocking doesn't cause a
creature to tap.) This declaration is simultaneous, not sequential, and
doesn't go on the stack. Any triggered ability generated during this action
waits until a player receives priority.
309.2. The defending player determines whether the block is legal. (See
section 5, "Additional Combat Rules.") If it is, he or she pays all required
costs. A player may play mana abilities at this time only if a blocking cost
includes a mana payment.
309.2a. If the proposed block isn't legal or the defending player can't pay
all required costs, all actions described in rules 309.1 and 309.2 are
canceled. Then the defending player redeclares blocking creatures. (See
rule 422, "Handling Illegal Actions.")
309.3. A creature becomes a blocking creature when declared as a blocker. An
attacking creature with one or more creatures declared as blockers against it
becomes a blocked creature; one with no blockers becomes an unblocked
creature. The creature's status remains unchanged until the creature is
removed from combat or the combat phase ends.
309.4. Once a creature has been declared as a blocker, playing a spell or
ability that removes it from combat doesn't "unblock" creatures it was
blocking.
309.5. After all legal blocks have been declared and all required costs paid,
the active player receives priority to play spells and abilities.
310. Combat Damage Step
-----------------------
310.1. First the active player announces how each attacking creature will deal
its damage. Then the defending player announces how each blocking creature
will deal its damage. (See also rule 502.2, "First Strike.") A player may
divide a creature's combat damage as he or she chooses among the legal
recipients. Dividing combat damage is subject to the following restrictions:
310.1a Each attacking creature and each blocking creature will deal combat
damage equal to its power.
310.1b An unblocked creature will deal all its combat damage to the
defending player.
310.1c A blocked creature will deal combat damage, divided as its controller
chooses, to the creatures blocking it. If no creatures are currently
blocking it (if, for example, they were destroyed or removed from combat),
it will deal no combat damage.
310.1d A blocking creature will deal combat damage, divided as its
controller chooses, to the attacking creatures it's blocking. If it isn't
currently blocking any creatures (if, for example, they were destroyed or
removed from combat), it will deal no combat damage.
310.2. All announcements of combat damage go on the stack as a single entry.
Then the active player receives priority to play spells and abilities.
310.3. Assigning combat damage isn't a spell or ability, so it can't be
countered.
310.4. When the combat damage resolves, it's dealt as originally assigned.
This happens even if the creature dealing damage is no longer in play or has
its power changed or if the creature receiving damage has left combat. (Note
that the source of the damage is the creature as it currently exists, or as it
most recently existed if it is no longer in play.) If a creature that was
supposed to receive damage is no longer in play, the damage assigned to it
isn't dealt.
311. End of Combat Step
-----------------------
311.1. All "at end of combat" abilities trigger and go on the stack. (See
rule 404, "Triggered Abilities.") Then the active player receives priority to
play spells and abilities.
312. End Phase
--------------
312.1. The end phase consists of two steps: end of turn and cleanup.
313. End of Turn Step
---------------------
313.1. All "at end of turn" abilities trigger and go on the stack. (See
rule 404, "Triggered Abilities.") Then the active player receives priority to
play spells and abilities.
314. Cleanup Step
-----------------
314.1. The cleanup step proceeds in the following order.
314.1a First, if the active player's hand contains more cards than his or her
maximum hand size (normally seven), he or she discards enough cards to reduce
the hand to that number. This action doesn't go on the stack.
314.1b Then, simultaneously, all damage is removed from permanents and all
"until end of turn" and "this turn" effects end. This action doesn't go on the
stack.
314.1c Then, only if the conditions for any state-based effects exist or if
any abilities have triggered, the active player receives priority to play
spells and abilities. Once the stack is empty, another cleanup step begins.
Otherwise, no player receives priority and the step ends.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Spells, Abilities, and Effects
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
400. General
------------
400.1. The difference between an ability and an effect is that text in a
card's text box is an ability (except for text setting characteristics), and
following the instructions of that text generates an effect. Text itself is
never an effect.
401. Spells
-----------
401.1. A spell is a nonland card played from the hand. As the first step of
being played, the card becomes a spell and goes on the stack. (See rule 217.6,
"Stack.") It stops being a spell when it resolves (see rule 413.2) or is
countered (see rule 414).
401.2. Each card type other than land has a corresponding spell type. For
example, a creature card is a creature spell until it resolves.
401.3. As the final part of an instant or sorcery spell's resolution, the card
is put into its owner's graveyard. As the final part of an artifact, creature,
or enchantment spell's resolution, the card becomes a permanent and is put
into the in-play zone. If any spell is countered, the card is put into its
owner's graveyard as part of the resolution of the countering spell or
ability. (See rule 413, "Resolving Spells and Abilities.")
402. Abilities
--------------
402.1. An instruction in a card's text is an ability. The result of following
such an instruction or of following a spell's text is an effect. (See
rule 416, "Effects.")
402.2. Abilities can be beneficial or detrimental--for example,
" can't block" is an ability.
402.3. Text on a card stating that the card "is" or "counts as" a particular
type or color isn't an ability. Such statements apply no matter what zone the
card is in and aren't removed by effects that cause a permanent to lose its
abilities.
402.4. An additional cost or alternative cost to play a card isn't an ability
of the card.
402.5. An ability isn't a spell and therefore can't be countered by anything
that counters only spells.
402.6. Once activated or triggered, an ability exists independently of its
source (the card on which it's printed). Destruction or removal of the source
after that time won't affect the ability. Note that some abilities make a
source do something (for example, "Prodigal Sorcerer deals 1 damage to target
creature or player.") rather than the ability do the something directly. In
these cases anything that cares about characteristics of the source will check
the source's characteristics at the ability's resolution or the last known
characteristics if the source is no longer in play.
402.7. A card may have several abilities. Aside from certain defined abilities
that may be strung together on a single line (see rule 502,
"Keyword Abilities"), each paragraph break in the card's text marks a separate
ability. A card may also have multiple copies of the same ability. Each copy
functions independently. This may or may not produce more effects than a
single copy; refer to the specific ability for more information.
402.8. Abilities function only while the permanent with the ability is in play
unless the ability states otherwise.
EXAMPLE: Black spells and abilities can target a card with protection from
black when it's in a library or graveyard.
402.9. Some cards have abilities that can be played when the card's not in
play. These are clearly marked; for example, "Play only when is in
your graveyard." They're not abilities of any class of permanent, just card
abilities--cards not in play aren't permanents.
402.10. There are three general types of abilities: activated, triggered, and
static.
403. Activated Abilities
------------------------
403.1. An activated ability can exist in one of three places: on a permanent;
on a card outside the in-play zone with the text "Play this ability only
if is in "; or as a delayed ability. An activated ability
that isn't from a delayed ability is written as "cost: effect." The activation
cost is everything before the colon (:). An activated ability that's from a
delayed ability is written as " may pay to ." In both
cases the activation cost must be paid to play the ability.
403.2. Only a permanent's controller can play its activated ability unless the
card specifically says otherwise.
403.3. If an activated ability has a restriction on its use (for example,
"Play this ability only once each turn"), the restriction continues to apply
to that permanent even if its controller changes.
404. Triggered Abilities
------------------------
404.1. A triggered ability begins with the word "when," "whenever," or "at."
The phrase containing one of these words is the trigger condition, which
defines the trigger event.
404.2. Triggered abilities aren't played. Instead, they automatically
"trigger" each time their trigger event occurs. Once an ability has triggered,
it goes on the stack the next time a player receives priority.
405. Static Abilities
---------------------
405.1. A static ability does something all the time rather than being
activated or triggered. The ability isn't played--it just "is."
406. Ability Subtypes
---------------------
406.1. Mana Abilities
406.1a A mana ability puts mana into a player's mana pool when it resolves.
It can generate other effects at the same time it produces mana.
406.1b Spells that put mana into a player's mana pool aren't mana abilities.
They're played and resolved exactly like any other spell.
406.1c A mana ability exists even if the game state doesn't allow it to
produce mana.
EXAMPLE: A card has an ability that reads, "{Tap}: Add {G} to your mana pool
for each creature you control." This is still a mana ability even if you
control no creatures.
406.1d A mana ability can be activated or triggered. However, the rules for
playing and resolving mana abilities differ slightly from those for other
abilities. See rule 411 for details.
406.1e The ability resolves immediately, without going on the stack. (See
rule 408.2, "Actions That Don't Use the Stack.") Abilities that trigger on
playing mana abilities do go on the stack, however.
406.2. Delayed Abilities
406.2a An effect may create a delayed ability that can do something at a
later time. Delayed abilities can be activated or triggered.
406.2b If a delayed ability is triggered, the trigger event is irrelevant
until the ability actually exists. Other events that happen earlier may make
the trigger event impossible.
EXAMPLE: Part of an effect reads, "When this card leaves play," but the
named card leaves play before the spell or ability generating the effect
resolves. In this case, the delayed ability never triggers. If an effect
reads, "When this card becomes untapped" and the named card becomes untapped
before the effect resolves, the ability waits for the next time that card
untaps.
406.2c A delayed ability that refers to a particular permanent still affects
it even if the permanent changes characteristics.
EXAMPLE: An ability reading, "At end of turn, destroy that creature" will
destroy the permanent even if it's no longer a creature during the end of
turn step.
406.2d A delayed ability that refers to a particular permanent will fail if
the permanent leaves play (even if it returns again before the specified
time). Similarly, delayed abilities that apply to a card in a particular
zone will fail if the card leaves that zone.
EXAMPLE: An ability reading, "At end of turn, remove this creature from the
game" won't do anything if the creature card leaves play before the end of
turn step.
407. Adding and Removing Abilities
----------------------------------
407.1. Effects can add or remove abilities of permanents. If two or more
effects add and remove the same ability, in general the most recent one
prevails. (See rule 418.5, "Interaction of Continuous Effects.")
407.2. A characteristic of a permanent as the result of an effect is different
from an ability granted by an effect. When a permanent "gains" or "has" an
ability, it can be removed by another effect. If an effect defines a
characteristic of the permanent, it's not granting an ability.
EXAMPLE: An effect reads, "Enchanted creature gains flying." This confers an
ability that can be removed by effects that remove flying. "Enchanted creature
is unblockable" simply defines a property of the creature and can't be removed
by effects that cause permanents to "lose" abilities.
407.3. Effects that remove an ability remove all copies of it.
EXAMPLE: If a creature with flying is enchanted with Flight, it has two copies
of the flying ability. A single effect that reads "Target creature loses
flying" will remove both.
408. Timing of Spells and Abilities
-----------------------------------
408.1. Timing, Priority, and the Stack
408.1a Spells and abilities can be played only at certain times and follow a
simple set of rules for doing so.
408.1b Spells and activated abilities are played by players (if they choose)
using a system of priority, while other types of abilities and effects are
automatically generated by the game rules.
408.1c The active player has priority at the beginning of most phases and
steps. (The exceptions are the untap step and the cleanup step.) The player
with priority may either play a spell or ability, or pass. If he or she
plays a spell or ability, the player again receives priority; otherwise, his
or her opponent receives priority. If both players pass in succession, the
top spell or ability on the stack resolves and the active player receives
priority. If the stack is empty when both players pass in succession, the
phase or step ends.
408.1d A player may play a spell or activated ability only when he or she
has priority. Spells other than instants can be played only during a
player's main phase, when that player has priority, and only when the stack
is empty.
408.1e When a spell or ability is played, it goes on top of the stack.
408.1f Triggered abilities can trigger at any time, including during the
playing or resolution of a spell or another ability. However, nothing
actually happens at the time the abilities trigger. Each time a player
receives priority, all abilities that have triggered but that haven't been
put on the stack go on the stack before the player with priority may play
spells or abilities.
408.1g Combat damage goes on the stack once it's been assigned. For more
information, see rule 310, "Combat Damage Step."
408.1h Static abilities aren't played--they continuously affect the game.
Priority doesn't apply to them. (See rule 418, "Continuous Effects" and rule
419, "Prevention and Replacement Effects."Ó)
408.2. Actions That Don't Use the Stack
408.2a Effects don't go on the stack. When a spell or ability resolves, its
instructions are executed immediately.
408.2b Static abilities continuously generate effects and don't go on the
stack.
408.2c State-based effects (see rule 420) resolve whenever a player receives
priority as long as the required game condition is true.
408.2d Playing a land is a special action consisting of putting that land
into play. (See rule 214.9, "Lands.")
408.2e Mana abilities of permanents resolve immediately. If an activated or
triggered ability produces both mana and another effect, both the mana and
the other effect resolve immediately. (See rule 406.1, "Mana Abilities.")
408.2f Card text that isn't an ability, such as " counts as a
forest," is simply read and followed as applicable.
409. Playing Spells and Activated Abilities
-------------------------------------------
409.1. Playing a spell or activated ability follows the steps listed below, in
order. (If partially through the step a player determines that he or she is
unable to comply with the steps listed below , see rule 422, "Handling Illegal
Actions.") No announcements or payments can be altered after they've been
made. Playing a spell or ability that alters costs won't do anything to spells
and abilities that are already on the stack.
409.1a The player announces that he or she is playing the spell or ability.
It goes on the stack and remains there until it's countered or resolves.
Spell cards are physically placed on the stack. For abilities, a pseudospell
with the text and color of the card generating the ability goes on the
stack.
409.1b If the spell or ability is modal (uses the phrase "Choose one -"),
the player announces which mode he or she is using. A few spells and
abilities allow the player's opponent to choose the mode. That choice is
also made at this time. If the spell or ability has a variable mana cost
(indicated by "{X}"), the player announces the value of X when he or she
plays the spell.
409.1c If the spell or ability specifies any targets, the player announces
these. It can't be played unless the required number of legal targets are
chosen. A few spells or abilities allow the player's opponent to choose the
target. That choice is also made at this time.
409.1d If the spell or ability affects several targets, the player announces
how it will apply to each. The same target can't be chosen multiple times.
409.1e If the spell or ability divides an effect (such as damage or
counters) among a variable number of targets, the player announces the
division as he or she plays the spell. Assigning 0 damage to a creature
doesn't target it unless the spell or ability permits multiple targets and
specifies a number.
409.1f The player pays all costs. Partial payments aren't allowed. Usually
this is just the mana cost (for spells) or activation cost (for abilities).
Some cards list additional or alternative costs in their text, and some
effects may increase or reduce the cost to pay. The player announces choices
for any variable or alternative costs at this time. Costs may include paying
mana, tapping cards, sacrificing permanents, discarding cards, and so on.
The total cost is the mana or activation cost, plus all cost increases and
minus all cost reductions. If the cost includes mana, mana abilities can be
played at this time (see rule 411).
409.2. Activated abilities that read "Play this ability any time you could
play " or "Play this ability only if you could play "
mean follow the timing rules for that spell type, though the ability isn't
actually of that spell type.
409.3 An activation cost for a creature's ability that includes tapping
({Tap}) can't be played unless the creature was continuously under the
player's control since the most recent start of his or her turn.
410. Handling Triggered Abilities
---------------------------------
410.1. When a phase or step begins, all abilities that trigger "at the
beginning of" that phase or step go on the stack. Because they aren't played,
triggered abilities can trigger even when it isn't otherwise legal to play
spells and abilities, and effects that prevent abilities from being played
don't affect them.
410.2. Whenever a game event matches the trigger event of an ability, that
ability "triggers." The ability doesn't do anything when it triggers but
automatically puts a pseudospell (see rule 217.6b) on the stack as soon as a
player gets priority. The controller of the ability usually controls the
pseudospell, regardless of who controls the permanent that generated it,
unless the card's rules text specifies otherwise. If the ability offers both
players a choice, it generates one pseudospell per player.
410.3. If multiple abilities trigger simultaneously, pseudospells controlled
by the active player go on the stack first, in any order he or she chooses,
then those controlled by the opponent in the same way.
410.4. When a triggered ability goes on the stack, the controller of the
pseudospell makes all required choices, following the rules for activated
abilities (see rule 409). If no legal choice can be made (or if a rule or a
continuous effect otherwise makes the ability illegal), the pseudospell is
simply removed from the stack.
410.5. A triggered ability that gives a player a choice of actions (denoted
with the word "may") is treated as modal: "Choose one - Do nothing; or play
this ability."
410.6. An ability triggers only once each time its trigger event occurs.
However, it can trigger repeatedly if one event contains multiple occurrences.
EXAMPLE: A permanent has an ability whose trigger condition reads, "Whenever a
land is put into the graveyard from play, . . ." If someone plays a spell that
destroys all lands, the ability will trigger once for each land put into the
graveyard during the spell's resolution.
410.7. An ability is triggered only if its trigger event actually occurs. An
event that's prevented or replaced won't trigger anything.
EXAMPLE: An ability that triggers on damage being dealt wonÕt trigger if all
the damage is prevented.
410.8. Triggered abilities with a condition [for example, "When(ever)
, if , "] check for the condition to be true as
part of the trigger event; if it isn't, the ability doesn't trigger. The
ability checks the condition again on resolution. If it's not satisfied, the
ability does nothing. Note that this mirrors the check for legal targets.
410.8a Some triggered abilities watch for a game state, such as a player's
life total or the number of cards in play, rather than an event. These
abilities trigger as soon as the game state matches their condition (even if
it's not otherwise legal to play a spell or ability at that time). These are
called "state triggers." (Don't confuse state triggers with state-based
effects.)
410.8b State-triggered abilities don't trigger again until the initial
condition has resolved or been countered. Then, if the permanent with the
ability is still in play and the game state still matches its trigger
condition, the ability will trigger again.
EXAMPLE: A permanent's ability reads, "When your hand is empty, draw a
card." If its controller plays the last card from his or her hand, the
ability will trigger just once. If its controller plays a spell that reads,
"Discard your hand, then draw the same number of cards," the ability will
trigger during the spell's resolution because the player's hand was
momentarily empty.
410.9. Some abilities trigger when creatures block or are blocked in combat.
(See rules 306-311 and section 5, "Additional Combat Rules.") They may trigger
once or repeatedly, depending on the wording of the ability.
410.9a An ability that reads "Whenever blocks" or "Whenever
becomes blocked" triggers only once each combat for that creature, even if
it blocks or is blocked by multiple creatures. An effect that causes the
creature to become blocked (if the creature wasn't already blocked) will
also trigger such abilities.
410.9b An ability that reads "Whenever blocks a creature" triggers
once for each attacking creature the named creature blocks.
410.9c An ability that reads "Whenever a creature blocks " triggers
once for each creature that blocks the named creature. It wonÕt trigger if
the attacking creature becomes blocked by an effect rather than a blocking
creature.
410.10. Trigger events that involve cards or permanents changing zones are
called "zone-change triggers." Many abilities with zone-change triggers
attempt to do something to the card after it changes zones. During resolution,
these abilities look for the card in the zone that it moved to. If the card
leaves the specified zone before the ability resolves, that part of the
ability will fail to do anything. (This rule applies even if the card leaves
the zone and returns again before the ability resolves.) The most common types
of zone-change triggers are comes-into-play triggers and leaves-play triggers.
410.10a Comes-into-play abilities trigger when a permanent enters the
in-play zone. These are written, "When comes into play, . . . "
or "Whenever a comes into play, . . ." Each time an event
puts one or more permanents into play, all permanents in play (including the
newcomers) are checked for any comes-into-play triggers that match the
event.
410.10b Continuous effects that modify card characteristics do so as cards
come into play. They don't wait for the card to enter play and then change
it.
EXAMPLE: If an effect reads, "All lands are creatures" and a land card is
played, it comes into play as a creature and triggers abilities that depend
on a creature coming into play. Conversely, if an effect reads, "All
creatures lose all abilities" and someone plays a creature card with a
comes-into-play triggered ability, it comes into play with no abilities, so
the printed ability won't trigger.
410.10c Leaves-play abilities trigger when the card on which they are
printed leaves the in-play zone. These are written, "When(ever)
leaves play, . . ." or "When(ever) is put into a graveyard from
play, . . . ." An ability that attempts to do something to the card that
left play checks for it only in the first zone that it went to.
410.10d Leaves-play triggers have to be treated specially because the
permanent with the ability is no longer in play after the event. The game
has to "look back in time" to resolve them. Each time an event removes one
or more permanents from play, all the permanents that were in play just
before the event (with continuous effects that existed at that time) are
checked for any leaves-play triggers that match what just left play.
EXAMPLE: Two creatures are in play along with an artifact that has the
ability "Whenever a creature is put into a graveyard from play, you gain 1
life." Someone plays a spell that destroys all artifacts, creatures, and
enchantments. The artifact's ability triggers twice, even though the
artifact goes to the graveyard at the same time as the creatures.
"Leaves play" triggers are zone-change triggers, even if the trigger
condition doesn't care what zone the permanent is going to. If they attempt
to do something to the card that left play, they will look for it only in
the first zone that it went to after leaving play.
410.10e Some permanents have text that reads " comes into
play as " or " comes into play
with ." Such text isn't a triggered ability.
It happens as part of the event that puts the permanent into play.
411. Playing Mana Abilities
---------------------------
411.1. To play a mana ability, the player announces that he or she is playing
it and pays the activation cost. It resolves immediately and doesn't go on the
stack. (See rule 408.2e.)
411.2. A player may play an activated mana ability whenever he or she has
priority and whenever a rule or effect asks for a mana payment, even in the
middle of playing or resolving a spell or ability.
411.3. Triggered mana abilities trigger when activated mana abilities are
played and add additional mana to a player's mana pool. These abilities
resolve immediately after the mana ability that triggered them, without
waiting for priority. If an activated or triggered ability produces both mana
and another effect, both the mana and the other effect resolve immediately.
EXAMPLE: An enchantment reads, "Whenever a player taps a land for mana, that
land produces one additional mana of the same color." If a player taps lands
for mana while playing a spell, the additional mana is added to the player's
mana pool immediately and can be used to pay for the spell.
412. Handling Static Abilities
------------------------------
412.1. A static ability may generate a continuous effect or a prevention or
replacement effect. These effects last as long as the permanent with the
static ability remains in play.
412.2. Many local enchantments have static abilities that modify their
enchanted permanent, but those abilities don't target that permanent. If a
local enchantment is moved to a different permanent, the ability stops
applying to the original permanent and starts modifying the new one.
413. Resolving Spells and Abilities
-----------------------------------
413.1. Each time both players pass in succession, the top spell or ability on
the stack resolves, creating one or more effects. (See rule 416, "Effects.")
413.2. Resolution may involve several steps but is treated by the game as a
single indivisible action. These steps are followed in the order listed below.
413.2a If the spell or ability specifies targets, it checks whether the
targets are still legal. A target that's removed from play, or from the zone
designated by the spell or ability, is illegal. A target may also become
illegal if its characteristics changed since the spell or ability was played
or if an effect changed the wording of the spell or ability. If all targets
are now illegal, the spell or ability is countered. If some but not all
targets are illegal, the spell will resolve normally, affecting only the
targets that are still legal. The effect on the remaining legal targets is
the same as it would have been if all targets had remained legal.
413.2b The controller of the spell or ability follows its instructions in
the order written. However, replacement effects may modify these actions. In
some cases, later text on the card may modify the meaning of earlier text
(for example, "Destroy target creature. It can't be regenerated" or "Counter
target spell. Put it on top of its owner's library instead of into its
owner's graveyard.") Don't just execute the instructions step by step
without thinking in these cases--read the whole card and apply the rules of
English to the text.
413.2c If the instructions offer any choices other than mode and target, the
player announces these while carrying them out. The player can't choose an
option that's illegal or impossible. If the instructions provide an optional
action with a consequence for not doing so, the player can't choose that
action unless he or she can meet all requirements.
EXAMPLE: A spell's instruction reads, "You may sacrifice a creature. If you
don't, you lose 4 life." A player who controls no creatures can't choose the
sacrifice option.
413.2d If an instruction requires both players to make choices or take
actions, the active player makes and announces his or hers first, then his
or her opponent does (knowing the first player's choices). This is called
the "active player rule." Then, the actions are processed simultaneously.
413.2e If an instruction gives a player the option to pay mana, he or she
may play mana abilities as part of the action. No other spells or abilities
can be played during resolution.
413.2f If an instruction requires information from the game (such as the
number of creatures in play), the answer is determined when the player
carries out that instruction. The instruction uses the current information
of a specific permanent if that permanent is still in play; otherwise, the
instruction uses the last known information the permanent had before leaving
play. If the ability text states that a permanent does something, it's the
permanent as it exists (or most recently existed) that does it, not the
ability.
413.2g An instruction that refers to characteristics of a permanent checks
only for the value of the specified characteristics, regardless of any
related ones the permanent may also have.
EXAMPLE: An effect that reads, "Destroy all black creatures" destroys a
white-and-black creature, but "Destroy all nonblack creatures" doesn't.
413.2h A spell card is put into play (for a permanent) or is put into the
graveyard (for instants and sorceries) as the final step of resolution.
414. Countering Spells and Abilities
------------------------------------
414.1. To counter a spell is to move the spell card from the stack to its
owner's graveyard. Countering an ability removes its pseudospell from the
stack. Spells and abilities that are countered don't resolve.
414.2. The player who played the countered spell or ability doesn't get a
"refund" of any costs that were paid.
415. Editing a Spell or Ability
-------------------------------
415.1. A few effects can "edit" a spell or ability after it goes on the stack,
changing its target, rules text, or other characteristics.
415.2. The target of a spell or ability can change only to another legal
target. If the new target is illegal when the change resolves, the original
target is unchanged.
415.2a Modal spells may have different targeting requirements for each mode.
Target changing can't change the mode.
415.2b The word "you" in a card's text isn't a target. A spell that affects
only its player can't be retargeted.
415.3. If an effect edits any characteristics of a spell that becomes a
permanent, the effect continues to apply to the permanent when the spell
resolves.
EXAMPLE: If an effect changes a black creature spell to white, the creature is
white when it comes into play and remains white for the duration of the effect
changing it.
416. Effects
------------
416.1. When a spell or ability resolves, it creates one or more effects. There
are three main types: one-shot effects, continuous effects, and replacement
and prevention effects. Effects of a fourth category, state-based effects, are
generated by specific states of the game.
416.2. Effects apply only to cards in play unless the instruction's text
states otherwise or they clearly can't apply to another zone.
EXAMPLE: An effect that changes all lands to creatures won't alter land cards
in the players' graveyards.
416.3. If an effect attempts to do something impossible, it does only as much
as possible.
EXAMPLE: If a player is holding only one card, an effect that reads "Discard
two cards" causes him or her to discard only that card. If an effect moves
cards out of the library (as opposed to drawing), it moves as many as
possible.
417. One-Shot Effects
---------------------
417.1. A one-shot effect does something just once and doesn't have a duration.
Examples include damage dealing, destruction, and moving cards between zones.
417.2. Some one-shot effects instruct a player to do something later in the
game (usually at a specific time) rather than when they resolve. Their effects
actually create a new ability that waits to be activated or triggered. (See
rule 406.2, "Delayed Abilities.")
418. Continuous Effects
-----------------------
418.1. A continuous effect modifies permanents or the rules of the game for a
fixed or indefinite period. A continuous effect may be generated by the
resolution of a spell or ability or by a static ability of a permanent.
418.2. Continuous effects that modify characteristics of permanents do so as
the permanents come into play. They don't wait for the permanent to enter play
and then change it.
418.3. Continuous Effects from Spells or Abilities
418.3a A continuous effect generated by the resolution of a spell or ability
lasts as long as stated by the spell or ability creating it (such as "until
end of turn"). If no duration is stated, it lasts until the end of the game.
418.3b The set of permanents subject to continuous effects from a spell or
ability is chosen either when the spell or ability is played (if it targets
the permanents) or when it resolves (if it's not targeted). After
resolution, this set won't change. Note that this differs from continuous
effects from permanents.
EXAMPLE: An effect that reads "All white creatures get +1/+1 until end of
turn" gives the bonus to all permanents that are white creatures when the
spell or ability resolves--even if they change color later--and doesn't
affect those that come into play or turn white afterward.
418.3c If the spell or ability creating a continuous effect is variable, the
effect is determined only once, on resolution. A numeric change other than
simple addition or subtraction (for example, double or half) converts to a
simple +X or -X at resolution. It isn't recomputed if the initial value
changes later.
EXAMPLE: A spell that reads "Target creature gets +X/+X until end of turn,
where X is the number of cards in your hand" counts the number of cards in
the controller's hand when the spell resolves and grants that bonus for the
rest of the turn, even if the hand size changes.
418.3d If an effect's duration expires before the spell or ability creating
it resolves, then the effect does nothing--it doesn't start and immediately
stop again, and it doesn't last forever.
418.4. Continuous Effects from Permanents
418.4a A continuous effect generated by a static ability of a permanent
isn't "locked in"; it applies at any given moment to whatever its text
indicates.
418.4b The effect applies at all times that the permanent generating it is
in play.
EXAMPLE: A permanent with the static ability "All white creatures get +1/+1"
generates an effect that continuously gives +1/+1 to each white creature in
play. If a creature becomes white, it gets this bonus; a creature that stops
being white loses it. A creature spell that would normally create a 1/1
white creature instead creates a 2/2 white creature. The creature doesn't
come into play as 1/1 and then change to 2/2.
418.5. Interaction of Continuous Effects
418.5a Sometimes the results of one effect determine whether another effect
applies or what it does. For example, one effect might read, "All white
creatures get +1/+1" and another, "Enchanted creature is white."
418.5b An effect is said to "depend on" another if applying the other would
change the text or the existence of the first effect, what it applies to, or
what it does to any of the things it applies to. Otherwise, the effect is
considered to be independent of the first effect.
418.5c Whenever one effect depends on another, the independent one is
applied first. If several dependent effects form a loop, or if none depends
on another, they're applied in the order they came into play. This is called
"timestamp order."
418.5d A continuous effect can override another.
EXAMPLE: Two enchantments are played on the same creature: "Enchanted
creature gains flying" and "Enchanted creature loses flying." Neither of
these depends on the other, since nothing changes what they affect or what
they're doing to it. Applying them in timestamp order means the one that was
generated last "wins." It's irrelevant whether an effect is temporary (such
as "Target creature loses flying until end of turn") or global (such as "All
creatures lose flying").
419. Replacement and Prevention Effects
---------------------------------------
419.1. Replacement and prevention effects are similar to continuous effects.
They watch for a type of event and replace it with a different one, modify it
in some way, or prevent it from happening. These effects act like "shields"
around whatever they're affecting. Replacement effects use the word "instead,"
while prevention effects use "prevent."
419.2. Replacement and prevention effects apply continuously as events
happen--they aren't locked in ahead of time.
419.3. There are no special restrictions on playing a spell or ability that
generates a replacement or prevention effect. Such effects last until they're
used up or their duration has expired.
419.4. Replacement or prevention effects must exist before the appropriate
event occurs--they can't "go back in time" and change something that's already
happened. Usually spells and abilities that generate these effects are played
in response to whatever would produce the event and thus resolve before that
event would occur.
EXAMPLE: A player can play a regeneration ability in response to a spell that
would destroy a creature he or she controls.
419.5. If an event is prevented or replaced, it never happens. Instead of a
replaced event, a modified event occurs, which may in turn trigger abilities.
A prevented event is simply ignoredÑno abilities trigger.
419.6. Replacement Effects
419.6a A replacement effect doesn't invoke itself repeatedly and gets only
one opportunity for each event.
EXAMPLE: A player controls two copies of a permanent with an ability that
reads, "Instead of dealing their normal damage, creatures you control deal
double that damage." A creature that normally deals 1 damage will deal 4
damage--not just 2, and not an infinite amount.
419.6b Regeneration is a damage-replacement effect. The key word "instead"
doesn't appear on the card but is implicit in its definition. "Regenerate
" means "Instead of destroying , remove all damage
from it, tap it, and (if it's in combat) remove it from combat."
419.7. Prevention Effects
419.7a Prevention effects usually apply to damage that would be dealt.
419.7b Some prevention effects refer to a specific amount of damage--for
example, "Prevent the next 3 damage to target creature or player this turn."
These work like ablative shields. Each 1 damage that would be dealt to the
"shielded" creature or player instead reduces the shield by 1. Once the
shield has been reduced to 0, any remaining damage is dealt normally. Such
effects count only the amount of damage; the number of events or sources
dealing it doesn't matter.
419.7c Some prevention effects apply to damage from a specified source--for
example, "The next time a red source of your choice would deal damage to you
this turn, prevent that damage." The source is chosen when the spell or
ability resolves. A source can be a card or a token. If the player chooses a
permanent or a permanent spell, the prevention will apply to the next damage
from that card, regardless of whether it's from one of that permanent's
abilities or combat damage dealt by it. It's possible for the source to be
out of play by the time the spell or ability resolves.
419.8. Interaction of Replacement or Prevention Effects
419.8a If two or more replacement or prevention effects are attempting to
modify the same event in contradictory ways, the player who controls the
affected permanent (or who is being affected) chooses the order to apply
them.
EXAMPLE: Two cards are in play. One is an enchantment that reads, "If a card
would be put into a graveyard, instead remove it from the game" and the
other, a creature that reads, "If would be put into a graveyard,
instead shuffle it into its owner's library." The controller of the creature
that would be destroyed decides which replacement to apply first; the other
does nothing.
419.8b Two or more replacement effects can interact without contradicting
one another.
EXAMPLE: One effect reads, "For each 1 life you would gain, instead draw a
card" and another, "Instead of drawing a card, return target card from your
graveyard to your hand." Both effects combine (regardless of the order they
came into play): Instead of gaining 1 life, the player puts a card from his
or her graveyard into his or her hand.
419.8c If multiple replacement effects create a loop, the affected player or
the controller of the affected permanent or zone decides where to break the
loop. (See rule 421, "Handling 'Infinite' Loops.")
420. State-Based Effects
------------------------
420.1. State-based effects are a special category that applies only to those
conditions listed below. Abilities that watch for a specified game state are
triggered abilities. (See rule 410.8.)
420.2. State-based effects are always active and are not controlled by either
player.
420.3. Whenever a player has priority to play a spell or ability (see
rule 408, "Timing of Spells and Abilities"), the game checks for any of the
listed conditions for state-based effects. All applicable effects resolve as a
single event, then the check is repeated. This check is also made during the
cleanup step (see rule 314); if any of the listed conditions apply, the active
player receives priority.
420.4. Unlike triggered abilities, state-based effects pay no attention to
what happens during the resolution of a spell or ability.
EXAMPLE: A player controls a creature with the ability "This creature has
power and toughness each equal to the number of cards in your hand" and plays
a spell whose effect is "Discard your hand, then draw seven cards." The
creature will temporarily have toughness 0 in the middle of the spell's
resolution but will be back up to toughness 7 when the spell finishes
resolving. Thus the creature will survive when state-based effects are
checked. In contrast, an ability that triggers when there are no cards in the
hand goes on the stack after the spell resolves, because its trigger event
happened during resolution.
420.5. The state-based effects are as follows:
420.5a A player with 0 or less life loses the game.
420.5b A creature with toughness 0 is put into its owner's graveyard.
Regeneration can't replace this event.
420.5c A creature with lethal damage is destroyed. Regeneration does replace
this event.
420.5d A local enchantment that enchants an illegal or nonexistent permanent
is put into its owner's graveyard.
420.5e If two or more Legends or Legendary permanents with the same name are
in play, all except the one with the earliest timestamp are put into in
their owners' graveyards. This is called the "Legend rule." In the event of
a tie for earliest timestamp, each Legend with the same name is put into its
owner's graveyard.
420.5f A token in a zone other than the in-play zone ceases to exist.
421. Handling 'Infinite' Loops
------------------------------
421.1. Occasionally the game can get into a state where a set of actions could
be repeated forever. The "infinity rule" governs how to break such loops.
421.2. If the loop contains one or more optional actions and one player
controls them all, that player chooses a number. The loop is treated as
repeating that many times or until the other player intervenes, whichever
comes first.
421.3. If the loop contains at least one optional action controlled by each
player and actions by both players are required to continue the loop, the
active player chooses a number. The nonactive player then has two choices. He
or she can choose a lower number, in which case the loop continues that number
of times plus whatever fraction is necessary for the active player to "have
the last word." Or he or she can agree to the number the active player chose,
in which case the loop continues that number of times plus whatever fraction
is necessary for the nonactive player to "have the last word." (Note that
either fraction may be zero.)
EXAMPLE: The active player controls a creature with the ability "{0}: gains flying." The nonactive player has an ability "{0}: Target
creature loses flying." The rule ensures that regardless of which player
initiated the gain/lose flying ability, the nonactive player will always have
the final choice and therefore be able to determine whether the creature has
flying. Note that this assume that the active player attempted to give the
creature flying at least once.
421.4. If the loop contains only mandatory actions, the game ends in a draw.
(See rule 102.6.)
421.5. If the loop contains at least one optional action controlled by each
player and these actions don't depend on one another, the active player
chooses a number. The nonactive player can either agree to that number or
choose a higher number. Note that this rule applies even if the actions could
exist in separate loops rather than in a single loop.
422. Handling Illegal Actions
-----------------------------
422.1. If a player realizes that he or she can't legally take an action after
starting to do so, the entire action is reversed and any payments already made
are canceled. No abilities trigger as a result of an undone action. If the
action was playing a spell, the spell card returns to the player's hand. He or
she may also reverse any legal mana abilities played while making the illegal
play.
422.2. When reversing illegal spells and abilities, the player who had
priority retains it and may take another action or pass. Otherwise, the player
may redo the reversed action in a legal way or take any other action allowed
by the rules.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Additional Combat Rules
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
500. Legal Attacks and Blocks
-----------------------------
500.1. Some abilities and continuous effects restrict declaring attackers or
blockers in combat. (See rule 308, "Declare Attackers Step," and rule 309,
"Declare Blockers Step.")
500.2. The active player checks each creature declared as an attacker for any
restriction on attacking when combined with the rest of the proposed attack.
Likewise, he or she checks each creature not declared as an attacker for any
attacking requirements that don't conflict with the rest of the proposed
attack. If either of these is the case, that set of attackers is illegal, and
the active player must propose another attack. Similar restrictions apply to
declaring blockers.
EXAMPLE: A player controls two creatures, each with a restriction that states
" can't attack unless another creature attacks. It's legal to
declare both as attackers. If one creature "attacks if able" and an effect
states "Only one creature may attack each turn," it's legal to declare either
creature as an attacker but illegal to attack with both or neither.
501. Evasion Abilities
----------------------
501.1. Evasion abilities restrict what can block an attacking creature. These
are static abilities that modify the declare blockers step of combat.
501.2. Evasion abilities are cumulative.
EXAMPLE: A Wall without flying can't block a creature that can be blocked only
by Walls and by creatures with flying.
501.3. Some creatures have abilities that restrict how they can block. As with
evasion abilities, these modify only the rules for the declare blockers step
of combat.
502. Keyword Abilities
----------------------
502.1. Most creature abilities describe exactly what they do in the card's
rules text. Some, though, are very common or would require too much space to
define on the card. In these cases, the card lists only the name of the
ability as a "keyword"; sometimes reminder text summarizes the game rule.
502.2. First Strike
502.2a First strike is a static ability that modifies the rules for the
combat damage step.
502.2b During the combat damage step, if at least one attacking or blocking
creature has first strike, creatures without first strike don't assign
combat damage. Instead of proceeding to end of combat, the phase gets a
second combat damage step to handle the remaining creatures.
502.2c Adding or removing first strike after the first combat damage step
won't prevent a creature from dealing combat damage or allow it to deal
combat damage twice.
502.2d Multiple copies of first strike on the same creature are redundant.
502.3. Flanking
502.3a Flanking is a triggered ability that modifies the declare blockers
step.
502.3b Whenever a creature with flanking is blocked by a creature without
flanking, the blocking creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.
502.3c If a creature has multiple copies of flanking, each triggers
separately.
502.4. Flying
502.4a Flying is an evasion ability.
502.4b A creature with flying can't be blocked by creatures without flying.
A creature with flying can block a creature with or without flying.
502.4c Multiple copies of flying on the same creature are redundant.
502.5. Haste
502.5a Haste is a static ability.
502.5b A creature with haste can attack or use activated abilities whose
cost includes tapping the creature even if it hasn't been controlled by the
player continuously since the most recent beginning of that controller's
turn.
502.5c Multiple copies of haste on the same creature are redundant.
502.6. Landwalk
502.6a Landwalk is a generic term; a card's rules text usually names a
specific type of land (such as in "islandwalk" or "swampwalk").
502.6b Landwalk is an evasion ability. A creature with landwalk is
unblockable as long as the defending player controls at least one land of
the specified type.
502.6c Landwalk abilities don't "cancel" one another.
EXAMPLE: Controlling a creature with forestwalk doesn't let a defending
player block a creature with forestwalk if he or she controls a forest.
502.6d Multiple copies of the same type of landwalk on the same creature are
redundant.
502.7. Protection
502.7a Protection is a static ability, written "Protection from ."
This quality is usually a color (as in "protection from black") but can be
any characteristic, such as a permanent type.
502.7b A permanent with protection can't be targeted by spells or abilities
and can't be enchanted by enchantments that have the stated quality. In
addition, any damage that would be dealt to it from sources having that
quality is prevented. If it attacks, it can't be blocked by creatures having
that quality.
502.7c Multiple copies of protection from the same quality on the same
permanent are redundant.
502.8. Shadow
502.8a Shadow is an evasion ability.
502.8b A creature with shadow can't be blocked by creatures without shadow,
and a creature without shadow can't be blocked by creatures with shadow.
502.8c Multiple copies of shadow on the same creature are redundant.
502.9. Trample
502.9a Trample is a static ability that modifies the rules for assigning an
attacking creature's combat damage. A creature with trample has no special
abilities when blocking or dealing noncombat damage.
502.9b The controller of an attacking creature with trample first assigns
damage to the creature(s) blocking it. If all those blocking creatures
receive lethal damage, any remaining damage is assigned as its controller
chooses among the blocking creatures and the defending player. The
controller need not assign lethal damage to all blocking creatures but can't
assign any damage to the defending player in this case.
502.9c If all the creatures blocking an attacking creature with trample are
removed from combat before the combat damage step, all its damage is
assigned to the defending player.
502.9d An attacking creature with trample ignores any blocking creatures
that can't have damage assigned to them.
502.9e Assigning damage from a creature with trample considers only the
actual toughness of a blocking creature, not any abilities or effects that
might change the final amount of damage dealt.
502.9f When there are several attacking creatures, it's legal to assign
damage from those without trample so as to maximize the damage of those
with trample.
EXAMPLE: A 2/2 creature with an ability that enables it to block multiple
attackers blocks two attackers, one 1/1 with no special abilities and the
other 3/3 with trample. The active player could assign 1 damage from the
first attacker and 1 damage from the second to the blocking creature and 2
damage to the defending player from the creature with trample.
502.9g Multiple copies of trample on the same creature are redundant.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Glossary
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ability
"Ability" and "effect" are often confused with one another. An instruction
in a permanent's text is an ability. The result of following such an
instruction, or of a spell, is an effect.
A permanent may have one or more abilities or no abilities at all. For more
information, see section 4, "Spells, Abilities, and Effects."
Activated Ability
An activated ability is written as "activation cost: effect." By paying the
activation cost, a player may play such abilities whenever he or she has
priority. See rule 403, "Activated Abilities."
Activation Cost
The activation cost of an activated ability is everything before the colon
in "activation cost: effect" and must be paid to play the ability. For
example, the activation cost of an ability that reads "{2}, {Tap}: Gain 1
life" is two mana of any color plus tapping the permanent. See rule 403,
"Activated Abilities."
Active Player
The active player is the player whose turn it is. The active player gets
priority at the start of each phase or step and after any spell or ability
(except mana abilities) resolves.
Whenever both players are instructed to make choices at the same time, the
active player makes all his or her choices first, then the nonactive player.
Additional Cost
Some spells or abilities have additional costs listed in their text, which
are paid at the same time as the player pays the mana cost. See rule 409,
"Playing Spells and Activated Abilities."
Alternative Cost
The rules text of some spells reads, "You may to play
instead of paying its mana cost." These are alternative costs. Other spells
and abilities that refer to a spell's mana cost don't consider any
alternative cost. If an effect requires paying additional costs to play a
spell, they still apply to the alternative cost.
Ante (Obsolete)
The Magic game once included an optional ante rule. When using this rule, at
the beginning of the game each player puts one random card from his or her
deck into the ante zone. At the end of the game, the winner becomes the
owner of all cards in the ante.
Artifact
An artifact is both a card and a permanent type. Artifact spells can be
played only during the active player's main phase when the stack is empty.
Artifact Creature
This permanent is a combination of artifact and creature, subject to the
rules for both. See rule 214, "Permanent Type."
Attack
A creature attacks when it is declared as an attacker during the combat
phase. See rule 308, "Declare Attackers Step."
Attacking Creature
A creature becomes an attacking creature when declared as an attacker during
the combat phase. It remains an attacking creature until it's removed from
combat, it stops being a creature, its controller changes, or the combat
phase ends. Attacking creatures don't exist outside of the combat phase.
See rule 308, "Declare Attackers Step."
Banding, Bands with Other (Obsolete)
Banding is a static ability that affects the combat phase.
"Bands with other" is a specialized version of the ability.
Basic Land
There are five basic lands: plains, island, swamp, mountain, and forest.
Every basic land has an intrinsic mana ability. See rule 214.9, "Lands."
Becomes
Some trigger events use the word "becomes"; for example, "becomes tapped" or
"becomes blocked." These trigger only at the time the named event
happens--they don't trigger if that state already exists or retrigger if it
persists. For example, "becomes tapped" triggers once, and only when a
permanent's status changes from untapped to tapped.
Beginning of Turn
An ability that triggers on "beginning of turn" goes on the stack the first
time a player has priority--normally, the beginning of the upkeep step. See
rule 410, "Handling Triggered Abilities."
Beginning Phase
The beginning phase is the first phase of the turn. It has three steps:
untap, upkeep, and draw. See rule 301, "Beginning Phase."
Block
A creature blocks when it's declared as a blocker during the combat phase.
See rule 309, "Declare Blockers Step."
Blocked Creature
An attacking creature becomes a blocked creature when another creature
blocks it or an effect causes it to become blocked during the combat phase.
It remains a blocked creature until it's removed from combat, it stops being
a creature, its controller changes, or the combat phase ends. A blocked
creature doesn't become unblocked if the blocking creature is later removed
from combat. Blocked creatures don't exist outside of the combat phase. See
rule 309, "Declare Blockers Step."
Blocking Creature
A creature becomes a blocking creature when it blocks an attacking creature
during the combat phase. It remains a blocking creature until it's removed
from combat, it stops being a creature, its controller changes, or the
combat phase ends. Blocking creatures don't exist outside of the combat
phase. See rule 309, "Declare Blockers Step."
Bury (Obsolete)
This is the act of putting a permanent into its owner's graveyard.
Regeneration can't replace a "bury" effect.
Buyback
Buyback is a replacement ability. When playing an instant or sorcery spell
with buyback, the controller of the spell may pay an additional cost
specified on the card. If he or she does, when the spell resolves, the card
is put into its owner's hand instead of into its owner's graveyard.
Cantrip (Informal)
This is a nickname for any spell that has "Draw a card" as part of its
effect.
Card
This is specifically a Magic card, and is always considered a card
regardless of which zone it's in. Tokens aren't cards. See section 2,
"Cards."
Cast (Obsolete)
This is a synonym for playing a spell.
Caster (Obsolete)
The caster of a spell is the player who played it.
Casting Cost (Obsolete)
This is the old term for mana cost.
Characteristics
A card's characteristics are: name, mana cost, color, type and subtype,
expansion symbol, abilities, power, and toughness. A card's characteristics
at any given time start with the initial values, then are adjusted by any
counters (on a permanent), then by continuous effects. Characteristics don't
include other information about a card, such as being tapped or untapped,
its controller, its target, and so on.
Cleanup
Cleanup is the second and final step of the end phase. Spells and abilities
may be played during this step only in response to a state-based effect or
triggered ability. In that case, the step repeats. See rule 314,
"Cleanup Step."
Color
The only colors in Magic are white, blue, black, red, and green. A permanent
can be one or more of those colors or it can be colorless. "Colorless" isn't
a color; neither are "artifact", "land", "brown", etc.
A card's initial color is determined by the color(s) of the mana symbols in
its mana cost.
Spells and abilities may change a permanent's color temporarily or
permanently.
Colorless
A card with no color is colorless. Lands and artifacts are colorless.
Combat Damage
Combat damage is dealt during the combat damage step of the combat phase by
attacking creatures and blocking creatures. It doesn't include damage dealt
by spells and abilities during the combat phase. See rule 310,
"Combat Damage Step."
Combat Phase
Combat is the third phase of the turn. The combat phase has five steps:
beginning of combat, declare attackers, declare blockers, combat damage, and
end of combat. See rules 306-311.
Comes into Play
A permanent comes into play when the card or token representing it is moved
into the in-play zone. A permanent whose type or controller changes doesn't
"come into play."
Permanents come into play untapped and under the control of whoever
controlled the spell or ability that created them.
Effects that alter permanents coming into play do so as they come into play.
For example, if an effect causes something to come into play tapped, it
isn't put into play untapped and then tapped.
Continuous Ability (Obsolete)
This is the old term for static ability.
Continuous Effect
Continuous effects are usually active as long as the permanent with the
associated static ability remains in play. A spell or ability can also
create a continuous effect that doesn't depend on a permanent; these last
for the specified time. See rule 418, "Continuous Effects."
Control/Controller
Every permanent, spell, and ability has a controller.
When a permanent comes into play, its controller is whoever played the spell
or ability that created it. Other effects can later change the controller.
Cards in zones other than in play or the stack have no controller. A spell
or ability on the stack is controlled by whoever played it. A triggered
ability is controlled by the controller of the permanent that generated it.
Converted Mana Cost
The converted mana cost of a card is the total amount of mana in its mana
cost, regardless of color. For example, Air Elemental has a mana cost of
{3}{U}{U} and a converted mana cost of 5. See rule 203, "Mana Cost."
Cost
Playing spells and activated abilities requires paying a cost. Most costs
are in mana, but they also include paying life, tapping or sacrificing
permanents, or discarding cards.
It's illegal to pay a cost without having the necessary resources. For
example, a player with only 1 life can't pay a cost of 2 life, and a
permanent that's already tapped can't be tapped to pay a cost. See rule 203,
"Mana Cost," and rule 403, "Activated Abilities."
Counter
1. To counter a spell or ability is to cancel it, removing it from the stack
zone. A countered spell is put into its owner's graveyard.
2. A counter is a marker placed on a permanent, either modifying its
characteristics or interacting with an ability. For example, some creatures
come into play with a number of +1/+1 counters, increasing their power and
toughness. Counters with the same name or description are interchangeable.
Counts As
If a card's text states that it "counts as" something, then as far as the
game rules and other cards are concerned the card is that thing. This isn't
an ability; it applies even when the card's not in play. For example, a card
that "counts as a forest" can be retrieved with a spell that searches the
library for a forest card, and once in play it allows forestwalk.
Creature
A creature is both a card and permanent type. The active player can play
creature spells only during his or her main phase when the stack is empty.
See rule 214.7, "Creatures."
Cumulative Upkeep
Cumulative upkeep is an upkeep-triggered ability.
"Cumulative upkeep - " means "At the beginning of your upkeep, put a
cumulative upkeep counter on this card. You may pay for each
cumulative upkeep counter on the card. If you don't, sacrifice it." See
section 410, "Handling Triggered Abilities."
Cycling
Cycling is an activated ability that affects a spell's resolution.
"Cycling " means "Pay , discard this card: Draw a card. Play
this ability only when this card is in your hand."
Damage
Many spells and abilities deal damage to creatures and/or players. Creatures
may also deal combat damage during the combat phase.
Damage dealt to a player is subtracted from his or her life total. Damage
dealt to a creature stays on the creature. A creature with damage greater
than or equal to its toughness has lethal damage and is destroyed. (See
rule 420, "State-Based Effects.") During the cleanup step, all damage is
removed from creatures.
Costs and effects that read "lose life" or "pay life" aren't damage and
can't be prevented by damage-prevention effects.
Damage-Prevention Ability
A damage-prevention ability is a static ability that generates a
damage-prevention effect.
Deck
The deck is the collection of cards each player starts the game with. When
the game begins, each player's deck becomes his or her library.
Delayed Ability
A delayed ability is an activated or triggered ability created by effects
generated when some spells or abilities resolve. See rule 406.2,
"Delayed Abilities."
Destroy
To destroy a permanent is to move it from the in-play zone to its owner's
graveyard. Regeneration or other destruction-replacement effects can replace
this action. See rule 419, "Replacement and Prevention Effects."
Discard
A player discards a card by putting the card from his or her hand into his
or her graveyard. This may allow a choice (written "choose and discard") or
not ("discard at random").
Draw
1. A player draws a card by putting the top card of his or her library into
his or her hand. A spell or ability may move cards from a player's library
to the hand without "drawing" them; this makes a difference for abilities
that trigger on drawing cards or that replace card draws.
2. A game ends in a draw if both players lose or win simultaneously.
Draw Step
The draw step is the third step of the beginning phase, with a triggered
ability that requires the active player to draw a card at the beginning of
the step. A player may play spells and abilities during this step whenever
he or she has priority. See rule 304, "Draw Step."
Duel (Obsolete)
This is a synonym for a game of Magic. See also Match.
During (Obsolete)
Phase-triggered abilities were sometimes written "During , . . . ."
These should be read as "At the beginning of , . . . ."
Echo
Echo is a upkeep-triggered ability. "Echo" in a permanent's rules text means
"At the beginning of your upkeep, if this card came under your control since
the beginning of your last upkeep, you may pay its mana cost. If you don't,
sacrifice it."
Effect
"Ability" and "effect" are often confused with one another. An instruction
in a permanent's text is an ability. The result of carrying out such an
instruction, or that of a spell, is an effect. See rule 416, "Effects."
When a spell or ability resolves, it creates an effect. There are three
basic types: one-shot, continuous, and replacement or prevention effects.
Some effects may in turn create delayed abilities to be played later.
Enchant World (Obsolete)
Enchant world is a category of global enchantment found only in out-of-print
cards. Whenever two or more enchant world cards are in play, the oldest is
put into its owner's graveyard. This is a state-based effect.
Enchantment
An enchantment is both a card and a permanent type. The active player can
play enchantment spells only during his or her main phase when the stack is
empty. See rule 214.8, "Enchantments." See also Global Enchantment,
Local Enchantment.
End of Turn
This is the first step of the end phase. See rule 313, "End of Turn Step."
End Phase
The end phase is the fifth and final phase of the turn. It has two steps:
end of turn and cleanup. See rule 312, "End Phase."
Evasion Ability
Evasion abilities restrict what creatures can block an attacking creature.
These are static abilities that modify the declare blockers step of the
combat phase. See rule 501, "Evasion Abilities."
Event
Anything that happens in a game is an event. Multiple events may take place
during the resolution of a spell or ability.
Exchange
A spell or ability may instruct players to exchange something when it is
played; for example, life totals or control of two permanents. When such a
spell or ability resolves, if it can't exchange the chosen things, it has
no effect. For example, if a spell attempts to exchange control of two
target creatures but one of them is destroyed before it resolves, the spell
does nothing.
When life totals are exchanged, each player gains or loses the amount of
life necessary to equal the other player's previous life total. Replacement
effects may modify these gains and losses, and triggered abilities may
trigger on them.
Expansion Symbol
The small icon printed below the right edge of the illustration on a Magic
card is the expansion symbol, indicating in which set the card was
published. Cards reprinted in the basic set receive its expansion symbol and
no longer count as part of their original set. This is important only to
spells and abilities that affect cards from a particular expansion. The
first five editions of the basic set had no expansion symbol. The expansion
symbols to date are:
Expansion and Editions
----------------------
Arabian Nights Scimitar (sword)
Antiquities Anvil
Legends Top of a greek column
The Dark Partially eclipsed moon
Fallen Empires Crown
Ice Age Snowflake
Homelands Planet (a circle with 3 blotches on it)
Alliances Flag
Mirage Palm tree
Visions Stylized letter 'V'
Weatherlight Book
Tempest Cloud with lightning bolt
Stronghold A barred door
Exodus Bridge
Urza's Saga Two meshed gears
Urza's Legacy Long-handled hammer
Classic-(Sixth Edition) Roman numeral for 6 'VI'
Starter-Level Sets
Portal Circle in 5 sections
Portal Second Age Pentagram in 5 sections
Portal Three Kingdoms ??
Promotional Cards
DragonCon Dragon
Magic novels Pen
Arena league cards Stylized 'M'
Reprints
Cards reprinted in Chronicles, Anthologies, and other reprint sets have
the same expansion symbol as the original cards. These cards are treated
as belonging to the original set.
Social-Play Sets
Unglued Cracked egg
Fast Effect (Obsolete)
This is an old term for instant spells and activated abilities.
First Strike
First strike is a static ability that modifies the rules for the combat
phase. Creatures with first strike deal their damage first, then surviving
creatures without first strike deal their damage. See rule 502.2,
"First Strike."
Fizzle (Obsolete)
Older versions of Magic rules use the term "fizzle" when spells or abilities
are countered due to missing or illegal targets on resolution.
Flanking
Flanking is a triggered ability that modifies the declare blockers step of
the combat phase. The word "flanking" in a creature card's rules text means
"Whenever this creature becomes blocked by a creature without flanking, the
blocking creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn." See rule 502.3, "Flanking."
Flavor Text
This is text in italics appearing below the rules text on a card. It
provides a mood or gives interesting background detail for the game world
but has no effect on play.
Flying
Flying is an evasion ability. A creature with flying can't be blocked by
creatures without flying. A creature with flying can block a creature with
or without flying. See rule 502.4, "Flying."
Forestwalk
See Landwalk.
Generic Mana Cost
A generic mana cost is represented by a number in a gray circle, such as
{1}. Any color of mana, as well as colorless, may be used to pay a generic
mana cost.
Global Enchantment
Global enchantments are a category of enchantments. They are labeled
"Enchantment" and aren't attached to another permanent while they're in
play.
Graveyard
Each player's discard pile is his or her graveyard. Countered spells,
destroyed or sacrificed permanents, and discarded cards are put into their
owner's graveyard. See section 217, "Zones."
Hand
The hand is the zone where a player holds cards. See section 217, "Zones."
Haste
Normally a creature can't attack or use activated abilities whose cost
includes tapping the creature unless it's been controlled by the player
continuously since the most recent beginning of that controller's turn.
Haste is a static ability that allows a creature to ignore this rule. See
rule 502.5, "Haste."
Hidden Information (Obsolete)
In earlier Magic rules, choices involved in playing spells and abilities
were made during announcement, except sacrifices and certain categories of
choices involving "hidden information" defined by complex rules. Under
Classic rules, all choices except mode and targets called for by a spell or
ability are made during resolution and are unknown to the opponent until
then.
If
A triggered ability may read "When(ever)/At . . . , if . . . , ."
The ability checks for the stated condition to be true when the trigger
event occurs. If it is, the ability triggers and goes on the stack. On
resolution, the ability rechecks the condition. If the condition isn't true
at either of those times, the ability does nothing.
In Play
In play is the zone in which permanents exist. When an artifact, creature,
or enchantment spell resolves, the card is put into the in-play zone as a
permanent. Tokens and lands also exist in this zone. See rule 217, "Zones."
Infinity Rule
There's no such thing as "infinity" in Magic rules. Occasionally the game
can get into a state where a set of actions could be repeated forever. The
"infinity rule" governs how to break such loops. See rule 421,
"Handling 'Infinite' Loops."
Initial Value
The initial values of a card's characteristics are printed on the card or in
the rules text of the spell or ability that creates a token.
Effects that change a card's type change the initial values for one or more
of its characteristics, not the current values. They don't override
continuous effects that are changing those characteristics. See rule 214.5.
Instant
An instant is a card type. A player may play instant spells whenever he or
she has priority. Instant spells are put into their owner's graveyard as the
last step of resolution. See rule 409, "Playing Spells and Activated
Abilities."
Interrupt (Obsolete)
An interrupt is a form of instant that targets a spell or ability.
Islandwalk
See Landwalk.
Land
Land is both a card and permanent type. Lands aren't spells and don't go on
the stack; they are simply put in play from the hand. The active player may
play a land once each turn during his or her main phase when he or she has
priority and the stack is empty. See rule 214.9, "Lands."
Landhome (Obsolete)
"Landhome" is a generic term; a card's rules text names a specific type of
land, such as "islandhome." A creature with landhome can't be declared as
an attacking creature during the combat phase unless the defending player
controls at least one land of the specified type. If its controller controls
no land of the specified type, the creature is put into its owner's
graveyard as a triggered ability.
Landwalk
"Landwalk" is a generic term; a card's rules text usually names a specific
type of land, such as "islandwalk."
Landwalk is an evasion ability. A creature with landwalk is unblockable as
long as the defending player controls at least one land of the specified
type. See rule 502.6, "Landwalk."
Leaves Play
A permanent leaves play when it moves from the in-play zone to any other
zone. See rule 410.10c.
If a token leaves play, it ceases to exist. This is a state-based effect.
If a card leaves play and later returns, it's treated as an entirely new
permanent with no "memory" of anything from its former existence.
Legend/Legend Rule
A Legend is a special permanent subtype. Whenever two or more Legends with
the same name are in play, all but the first played are put into their
owners' graveyards. This "Legend rule" is a state-based effect.
Legendary
The word "Legendary" in a card's text gives it the Legend subtype.
Lethal Damage
Lethal damage is an amount of damage greater than 0 and greater than or
equal to a creature's toughness. A creature with lethal damage is destroyed.
This is a state-based effect.
Library
The library is the zone from which a player draws cards. When a game begins,
each player's deck becomes his or her library. See section 217.2, "Library."
Life/Life Total
Life total is a sort of score. Each player starts the game with 20 life, and
a player whose life total drops to 0 loses. This is a state-based effect.
LIFO
An acronym for "Last In, First Out," LIFO is the order in which spells and
abilities resolve after going on the stack. The last played is resolved
first. See section 413, "Resolving Spells and Abilities."
Local Enchantment
Local enchantments are a category of enchantments. They are labeled
"Enchant " and are attached to another permanent while in play. See
rule 214.8, "Enchantments."
Main Phase
The term "main phase" comprises the first main and second main phases, which
precede and follow the combat phase, respectively. Artifact, creature,
enchantment, and sorcery spells may be played only by the active player
during his or her main phase, and only when the stack is empty. A player may
also play one land each turn during his or her main phase.
Mana
Mana is the energy used to play spells and usually is produced by lands.
Mana is created by a spell or mana ability and can be used to pay costs
immediately or can go into the player's mana pool.
Colored mana costs, represented by colored mana symbols, can be paid only
with the appropriate color of mana. Generic mana costs can be paid with any
color of, or with colorless, mana.
Specialized types of mana can exist. For example, an ability might produce
mana that can be used only to play creature spells, or to pay activation
costs.
Mana Ability
This is an ability category and is either activated or triggered. A mana
ability doesn't go on the stack--it resolves immediately.
A player may play a mana ability whenever he or she has priority and
whenever a rule or effect asks for a mana payment. This is the only type of
ability that can be played in the middle of playing or resolving a spell or
ability. See rule 406.1, "Mana Abilities."
Mana Burn
When a phase ends, any unused mana remaining in a player's mana pool is
lost. The player loses 1 life for each one mana lost this way. This is
called "mana burn."
Mana Cost
The mana cost of a nonland card is indicated by the mana symbols printed on
its upper right corner. The mana cost of a land card or a token is 0. See
rule 203, "Mana Cost."
Mana Pool
When a spell or ability creates mana that's not used immediately to pay a
cost, the mana is stored in the mana pool, an imaginary area. From there, it
can be used to pay for spells and abilities. The mana pool is cleared at the
end of each phase. See also Mana Burn.
Mana Symbol
The mana symbols are {W}, {U}, {B}, {R}, {G}, {0}, numerals, and {X}.
Each of the colored mana symbols represents one colored mana: {W} white,
{U} blue, {B} black, {R} red, and {G} green.
Numeral symbols (such as {1}) are generic mana costs and represent an amount
of mana that can be paid with any color of, or colorless, mana.
The symbol {X} represents an unspecified amount of mana; when playing a
spell or activated ability with {X} in its cost, its controller decides the
value of X.
The symbol {0} represents zero mana and is used as a placeholder when a
spell or activated ability costs nothing to play.
Match
A match is a series of Magic games and is important only for tournament or
league play. A match usually consists of the best two of three games, or
sometimes the best three of five. For more information, consult the DCI(TM)
Standard Floor Rules.
Maximum Hand Size
Each player's maximum hand size is normally seven cards, though effects may
modify this. At the beginning of the active player's cleanup step, if he or
she has too many cards in his or her hand, that player chooses and discards
as many cards as needed to reduce his or her hand to its maximum size (but
no more than that). See rule 314, "Cleanup Step."
Modal/Mode
A spell is modal if it offers a choice of effects. Its controller must
choose the mode as part of playing the spell. On current cards, modal spells
are always written "Choose one - ."
Mountainwalk
See Landwalk.
Move
A spell or ability may instruct a player to "move" a local enchantment or a
counter from one permanent to another. If the enchantment or counter no
longer exists or the new permanent is no longer in play when the spell or
ability resolves, nothing happens. Similarly, an enchantment that can't
enchant the new permanent stays where it was.
A moved enchantment stops enchanting the previous permanent and starts
enchanting the new one. Nothing else about the enchantment changes. The
enchantment never left play, so no comes-into-play or leaves-play triggered
abilities will trigger.
Mulligan
A player can "mulligan" by discarding his or her hand, reshuffling the
library, and drawing a new hand with one fewer card before taking the first
turn. Any player dissatisfied with his or her starting hand may mulligan as
often as he or she wishes, drawing one fewer card each time. See rule 101.5.
Multicolored
A multicolored card has two or more colors. Multicolored cards are printed
with gold frames to reinforce this.
A multicolored permanent is affected by anything that singles out any of its
colors. For example, a black-and-green creature is destroyed by a spell that
reads, "Destroy all green creatures." Something that can't affect a
particular color won't affect a multicolored permanent with that color, so
the above creature can't be targeted by a spell or ability that reads,
"Destroy target nonblack creature."
Name
The name of a card is printed on its upper-left corner. See rule 202,
"Name."
Nonbasic Land
Any land other than a basic land (plains, island, swamp, mountain, forest)
is nonbasic. A nonbasic land that "counts as" a basic land has that land's
mana ability and is subject to any spells or abilities that act on that land
type, but it isn't a basic land.
One-Shot Effect
One-shot effects are effects that do something only once and then end. See
also Continuous Effects.
Opponent
The word "opponent" in a spell or ability's rules text always refers to the
opponent of the player playing the spell or ability.
In a team game, only members of the opposing team are opponents; teammates
aren't opponents. In a free-for-all, all other players are a player's
opponents.
Owner
The owner of a card is the player who started the game with that card in his
or her deck. (Legal ownership is irrelevant to the game rules.) The owner of
a token is the controller of the spell or ability that created it.
A spell or ability can change a permanent's controller but never its owner.
A card is always put into its owner's library, hand, or graveyard,
regardless of who currently controls the card.
Pass
To pass is to decline to play a spell or ability. When a player passes, his
or her opponent receives priority. If both players pass in succession, the
last-played spell or ability on the stack resolves. If the stack is empty,
the phase or step ends.
Pay
Playing most spells and activated abilities requires paying costs.
Paying mana is done by either playing a mana ability or removing the
indicated amount of mana from the player's mana pool. (Zero-mana costs can
always be paid.) Paying life subtracts the indicated amount of life from the
player's life total. A player can't pay more mana or life than he or she
currently has.
To pay any other cost, the player carries out the instructions specified in
the card's rules text. It's illegal to attempt paying a cost when unable to
successfully follow the instructions. For example, a player can't pay a cost
that requires tapping a creature if that creature is already tapped.
Each payment applies to only one spell or ability. For example, a player
can't sacrifice just one creature to play activated abilities of two
permanents that require sacrificing a creature as a cost.
Permanent
A permanent is any card or token in the in-play zone. See rule 214,
"Permanent Type."
Permanently (Obsolete)
Some older cards use the word "permanently" to indicate effects with no
expiration. For example, "Gain control of permanently" grants control
of it until something else changes the controller. It doesn't make the
permanent immune to other control effects.
Phase
Each turn is divided into five phases: beginning, first main, combat,
second main, and end. See section 3, "Turn Structure."
Phase Ability (Obsolete)
This is a term for triggered abilities written "During , . . . ."
These should be read as "At the beginning of , . . . ."
Phased Out (Obsolete)
The "phased out" zone is a special zone for permanents with phasing that are
temporarily out of play.
Phasing (Obsolete)
Phasing is a static ability that causes a permanent to leave play and later
return, without losing its "memory."
Plainswalk
See Landwalk.
Play
The act of playing a spell, land, or ability involves announcing the action
and taking the necessary steps to complete it.
Playing a spell or activated ability requires paying any costs and choosing
any required modes and/or targets. The spell or ability then goes on the
stack. See section 409, "Playing Spells and Activated Abilities."
Playing a land simply requires choosing a land card from the hand and
putting it into play.
Playing a mana ability requires paying any costs, then immediately resolving
the ability. See rule 411, "Playing Mana Abilities."
Triggered abilities and static abilities aren't played--they happen
automatically.
Play/Draw
At the start of a game, one player gets to choose the order of play. Whoever
plays first can't draw a card during his or her first draw step. This is
referred to as the "play/draw" choice. See rule 101, "Starting the Game."
Power
The number before the slash printed on the lower-right corner of a creature
card is the creature's power. A creature's current power is the initial
value (the printed number), modified by any counters that adjust power and
then by any continuous effects.
Creatures that attack or block deal combat damage equal to their power. (See
rule 310, "Combat Damage Step.")
A few creature cards have power represented by '*' instead of a number. This
signifies that the creature has a static ability setting its power according
to some stated condition. If a spell or ability attempts to read the power
when the creature card isn't in play, the * is equal to 0.
Prevention
Effects that prevent something from happening replace it with "do nothing."
(See rule 419, "Replacement and Prevention Effects.") These effects must be
active before the event they're intended to prevent.
Effects that prevent a specific amount of damage act as "shields" and stay
active until that amount of damage has been prevented or the turn ends. The
damage doesn't have to be dealt by a single source or all at once.
Effects that prevent all damage from a specific source apply to the next
damage dealt by that source, regardless of the amount. These effects expire
when the turn ends.
Priority
The player who has the option to play a spell or ability at any given time
has priority.
Each time a spell or ability (other than a mana ability) resolves, and at
the beginning of most phases or steps, the active player receives priority.
When a player passes, his or her opponent receives priority. If both players
pass in succession, the phase or step ends.
Protection
Protection is a static ability. A permanent with protection from
can't be targeted by spells or abilities, or enchanted
by enchantments. If it attacks, it can't be blocked by
creatures. In addition, all damage dealt to it from sources is
reduced to 0. See rule 502.7, "Protection."
Pseudospell
A pseudospell is an activated or triggered ability that goes on the stack
like a spell.
Rampage (Obsolete)
Rampage is a triggered ability that triggers in the declare blockers step of
the combat phase. "Rampage " means "When this creature becomes blocked,
it gets +/+ until end of turn for each creature after the first
blocking it."
Redirect (Obsolete)
To redirect damage is to deal it to a different player or creature than
originally specified by the spell, ability, or combat damage assignment.
This doesn't change the source or type of damage. A damage-redirection
ability creates a replacement effect, which must be active before the damage
is actually dealt.
Regenerate
Regeneration is a damage-replacement effect. "Regenerate " means
"Instead of destroying , remove all damage from it, tap it, and
(if it's in combat) remove it from combat." Because it's a replacement
effect, it must be active before the attempted destruction event.
Reminder Text
Reminder text appears after a keyword ability printed on a card and is
italicized and in parentheses. This text provides a summary of the game rule
but isn't itself considered rules text.
Removed from the Game
A card removed from the game is out of play and can't be affected by spells
or abilities. However, the spell or ability that removed it may specify a
way for it to return. Some cards use the expression "set aside" for
situations in which a card removed from the game can return to play. See
rule 217.7, "Removed from the Game."
Replacement Ability
A replacement ability is a static ability that generates a replacement
effect.
Replacement Effect
A replacement effect is a type of continuous effect that "watches" for a
specified event and replaces it with a different one. See rule 419,
"Replacement and Prevention Effects."
Resolve
When the spell or ability on top of the stack resolves, its controller
executes the instructions printed on the card, in the order written. See
rule 413, "Resolving Spells and Abilities."
Respond/Response (Informal)
A player can choose to play an instant spell or activated ability when
something else is already on the stack, rather than waiting for the earlier
spell or ability to resolve first. The spell or ability is said to be played
"in response to" the earlier spell or ability.
Reveal
To reveal a card is to show that card to all players. This is a one-shot
effect; after all players have seen the card, itÕs returned to its former
state.
Saboteur (Informal)
This is a nickname for any creature with abilities that trigger when it's
unblocked or that can be played only when it's unblocked.
Sacrifice
To sacrifice a permanent, its controller moves it from the in-play zone
directly to its owner's graveyard. If an effect instructs a player to
sacrifice a permanent that he or she doesn't control, nothing happens.
Set Aside
To set aside a card is to remove it from the game; however, there is a
condition that allows the set-aside card to return to play. See also
Removed from the Game.
Shadow
Shadow is an evasion ability. Attacking creatures with shadow can't be
blocked by creatures without shadow, and attacking creatures without shadow
can't be blocked by creatures with shadow. See rule 502.8, "Shadow."
Skip
To skip a step, phase, or turn is to proceed past it as though it didn't
exist. Skipping is a prevention or replacement effect. "Skip " is
the same as "Prevent " or "Instead of doing , do
nothing."
Once a step, phase, or turn has started, it can no longer be skipped--any
skip effects will wait until the next occurrence.
Anything scheduled for a skipped step, phase, or turn won't happen. Anything
scheduled for the "next" occurrence of something waits for the first
occurrence that isn't skipped. If two effects each cause a player to skip
his or her next occurrence, that player must skip the next two.
Snow-Covered (Obsolete)
A land may be snow-covered in addition to its land type. This doesn't change
its type or whether it's basic or nonbasic. For example, a snow-covered
forest is still a forest. "Snow-covered" doesn't restrict the type and can't
be chosen when a spell or ability specifies a land type.
Effects that change a land's type don't add or remove snow-covered status.
Sorcery
A sorcery is a card type. Sorcery spells can be played only during their
controller's main phase when the stack is empty. See rule 408, "Timing of
Spells and Abilities."
Source
The source of an ability or of damage is the card or token that generated
it. If an effect requires a player to choose a source, he or she may choose
either a permanent or a spell on the stack (including one that creates a
permanent). The effect will apply to the next damage dealt by that spell or
by that permanent (in combat or by one of its abilities).
Spell
A nonland card becomes a spell when played and remains a spell until it is
countered or resolves. Nonland cards can also be referred to as "spell
cards." See rule 213, "Spell Type."
Stack
A spell or ability goes on top of the stack when played. Whenever both
players pass in succession, the top spell or ability on the stack resolves
and the active player receives priority again. See rule 217.6, "Stack" and
rule 408.1, "Timing, Priority, and the Stack."
State-Based Effects
State-based effects continually "watch" the game for a particular state. At
the start of each step or phase and whenever a player receives priority,
state-based effects are checked and applied.
Static Ability
Static abilities do something all the time rather than being played at
specific times. Static abilities create continuous effects, which are active
as long as the permanent with the ability remains in play. A spell or
ability can also create a continuous effect that doesn't depend on a
permanent; these may last a specified length of time or for the rest of the
game. See rule 412, "Handling Static Abilities."
Step
Some phases of the turn are further subdivided into steps. See section 3,
"Turn Structure."
Successfully Cast (Obsolete)
Any ability that's written as triggering when a spell becomes "successfully
cast" should be read as triggering when the spell is played.
Summon (Obsolete)
A summon spell is any creature spell that isn't an artifact spell.
"Summoning a creature" is playing a nonartifact creature spell.
Summoning Sickness (Obsolete)
This is an old term for a creature's inability to attack or tap to use
activated abilities when it's just come under a player's control since that
player's most recent beginning of turn. See also Haste.
Swampwalk
See Landwalk.
Tap
To tap a permanent is to turn the card sideways. The symbol {Tap} in an
activation cost means "Tap this permanent"--a permanent that's already
tapped can't be tapped again to pay the cost. Creatures that haven't been
under a player's control continuously since his or her most recent beginning
of turn can't use any ability with {Tap} in the cost.
Target
Whenever the word "target" appears in the rules text of a spell or ability,
the controller of the spell or ability chooses something that matches
whatever follows that word. This may be as simple as "target land" or more
complex, such as "target tapped creature one of your opponents controls."
The choice is made when playing the spell or ability, which "targets"
whatever was chosen.
Text Box
The text box is printed below the illustration on a Magic card and contains
rules and flavor text.
Token
A token is an object in play representing a noncard permanent created by a
spell or ability. Tokens can be tapped and untapped just like cards, though
an alternative to rotation might be needed to distinguish their status. See
rule 216, "Tokens."
Total Casting Cost (Obsolete)
This is the old term for converted mana cost.
Toughness
The number after the slash printed on the lower-right corner of a creature
card is the creature's toughness. A creature's current toughness is the
initial value (the printed number), modified by any counters that adjust
toughness and then by any continuous effects.
A creature that's been dealt damage greater than or equal to its toughness
(and greater than 0) has lethal damage and will be destroyed the next time
any player receives priority. This is a state-based effect.
A few creature cards have toughness represented by '*' instead of a number.
This signifies that the creature has a static ability setting its toughness
according to some stated condition. If a spell or ability attempts to read
the toughness when the creature card isn't in play, the is equal to 0.
Trample
Trample is a static ability modifying the combat damage step of the combat
phase. It lets an attacking creature "trample over" blocking creatures and
deal part of its combat damage to the defending player. See rule 502.9,
"Trample."
Trigger/Triggered Ability
Triggered abilities begin with the word "when," "whenever," or "at."
Whenever the trigger event occurs, the ability goes on top of the stack the
next time a player receives priority. See rule 404, "Triggered Abilities."
Type
The word "type" by itself is ambiguousÑit may mean the basic type of a card,
spell, and so on, or a subtype (such as creature or enchantment type). See
rules 212-215.
The card type (and subtype, if applicable) is printed directly below the
illustration on a card. The spell type for a nonland card is the same as the
card type, even if the rules text states it can be played "as" some other
type (that is, following the timing rules for playing that other type). The
permanent type for a card in play is the same as its card type. Tokens have
no card or spell type but do have a permanent type.
When a spell or ability changes a permanent's type, the new type replaces
all previous types. If the spell or ability is adding a type, it will say
so.
A creature's type is printed after the word "creature" below the
illustration on the card, or defined by the spell or ability that created a
token. A creature may have multiple types. A noncreature card that's changed
into a creature by a spell or ability has no creature type unless the
spell/ability gives it one.
Categories of cards, such as basic land or local enchantment, aren't types
and can't be named when a type must be chosen.
Unblockable
If an ability states that an attacking creature is "unblockable," no
creatures can block it.
Unblocked Creature
An attacking creature becomes an unblocked creature after the declare
blockers step of the combat phase if no creature blocks it. It remains an
unblocked creature until a spell or ability causes it to become blocked,
it's removed from combat, it stops being a creature, its controller changes,
or the combat phase ends. Unblocked creatures don't exist outside of the
combat phase or before the declare blockers step. See rule 309,
"Declare Blockers Step."
Untap
1. To untap a tapped card is to rotate it back to the upright position. See
also Tap.
2. Untap is the first step of the beginning phase of the turn. All
permanents controlled by the active player normally untap at this time. See
rule 302, "Untap Step."
Upkeep
Upkeep is the second step of the beginning phase of the turn. Some cards
have abilities that trigger at the beginning of the upkeep step; such an
ability is called an "upkeep cost" or an "upkeep effect." An upkeep cost is
usually written in the form "At the beginning of your upkeep, you may . If you don't, sacrifice ." See rule 303, "Upkeep Step."
Vanguard Card
The Vanguard(TM) supplements consist of oversized cards that modify the
game. A Vanguard card is put into play before the game begins, adjusting a
player's starting and maximum hand size and starting life total. Any
abilities printed on a Vanguard card are played exactly like those of an
in-play Magic card. However, it's not a Magic card, so it can't be affected
by spells or abilities.
Wall
A Wall is a type of creature that can't be declared as an attacker. In all
other respects, it's the same as any other creature.
X
If a cost has an '{X}' in it, the value of X must be announced as part of
playing the spell or ability. While the spell or ability is on the stack,
{X} in its mana cost equals that amount of generic mana. If a card in any
other zone has {X} in its mana cost, the amount is treated as {0}. In other
cases X will be defined by the text of the ability. If X isn't defined, the
controller of the spell or ability chooses the value of X. All Xs on a card
have the same value.
Yield Priority (Obsolete)
To yield priority is to pass.
You/Your
The words "you" and "your" on a card always refer to its current controller.
Zone
A zone is any place that Magic cards can be during a game. See rule 217,
"Zones."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Index
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Abilities, 402
activated ability, 403, 406.1d
delayed ability, 406.2
evasion ability, 501
keyword ability, 502
mana ability, 214.9f, 406.1, 408.2e, 411, 413.2e
static ability, 405, 408.1h, 408.2b, 418.1, 418.4a
triggered ability, 404, 408.1f, 408.2e, 410, 420.1
Active player, 408.1c, 413.2d
Artifacts, 214.6, 305.3, 401.3
Basic set, 206.3
Beginning phase, 301
draw step, 304
untap step, 302
upkeep step, 303
Card, 200.1
Collector number, 211
Color, 203.2, 217.6b, 402.3
colorless, 203.2
Combat phase, 306
attacking creature, 308.5, 309.1, 309.3, 410.9b
beginning of combat, 307
blocked creature, 309.3, 310.1c
blocking creature, 309.3, 310.1, 310.1d
combat damage step, 310, 502.2b
declare attackers step, 308
declare blockers step, 309
end of combat step, 311
removed from combat, 306.2, 309.4
unblocked creature, 309.3, 310.1b
Comes into play, 214.3, 410.10a
Controller, 214.8i, 403.2, 410.2, 410.4, 413.2b
Cost, 308.2, 309.2, 409.1f
activation cost, 403.1, 409.1f-g, 411.1
additional cost, 203.4, 402.4, 409.1f
alternative cost, 402.4, 409.1f
converted mana cost, 203.3
mana cost, 203, 409.1f, 413.2f
Countering spells, 401.3, 414
Creatures, 208.1, 214.7, 216.1, 401.3
power, 208, 310.1a
toughness, 208, 420.5b
Damage, 214.4, 314.1b
Deck, 100.2, 100.4, 217.2a
Destroy, 217.4a
Discard, 217.3b, 217.4a, 314.1a
Draw, 102.2, 102.4, 102.6, 304.1
Duration, 418.3a
Effects, 214.4, 300.3, 314.1b, 402.1, 408.2a, 416
continuous effect, 214.5, 410.10b, 412.1, 418
dependent effect, 418.5c
independent effect, 418.5c
one-shot effect, 417
prevention effect, 314.1b, 419, 419.7-8
replacement effect, 314.1b, 419, 419.6, 419.8
state-based effect, 314.1c, 408.2c, 420
Enchantments, 214.8, 305.3, 401.3
enchanted permanent, 214.8g-i
global enchantment, 214.8a-b
local enchantment, 214.8a, 214.8c-i, 412.2, 420.5d
End phase, 312
cleanup step, 312.1, 314
end of turn step, 312.1, 313
Expansion symbol, 206
First strike, 502.2
Flanking, 502.3
Flavor text, 207.2
Flying, 502.4
Game state, 410.8a-b
Haste, 502.5
Illegal plays, 422
Illustration, 204
Infinity, 421
Initial value, 214.5, 418.3c
Lands, 203.1, 213.1, 214.9, 305.4, 408.2d
basic land, 214.9d-g
nonbasic land, 214.9g-h
Landwalk, 502.6
Leaves play, 214.3, 216.3, 410.10c-d
Legend, 215
Legend rule, 215.1, 420.5e
Lethal damage, 420.5c
Life, 420.5a
life total, 101.3, 102.1
Main phase, 305, 408.1d
first main phase, 305.1
second main phase, 305.1
Mana pool, 300.4, 406.1a
Mana symbols, 203.1, 203.2
Match, 101.2
Maximum hand size, 217.3b, 314.1a
Mode, 409.1b, 415.2a
Name, 202, 216.1
Pass, 300.2, 408.1c, 413.1
Permanent, 214.1-5, 214.9f, 217.5b-c, 402.8
Phase, 300.1-3, 408.1c, 410.1
Priority, 302.2, 408.1b-d, 420.3
Protection, 502.7
Pseudospell, 217.6b, 409.1a, 410.2
Rarity, 206.2
Regeneration, 419.6b
Reminder text, 207.2
Resolve, 217.6c, 401.1, 401.3, 413
Response, 217.6b, 419.4
Rules text, 207.1
Sacrifice, 217.4a
Set aside, 217.7a
Shadow, 502.8
Shield, 419.1, 419.7b
Source, 402.6, 419.7c
Spell, 213.1, 217.5b, 217.6a-b, 401, 408.1e
Step, 300.1-3, 408.1c, 410.1
Subtype, 212.2, 214.2, 214.7a
Tap, 308.2
Target, 409.1c-e, 413.2a, 415.2
Text box, 207
Token, 200.1, 203.1, 214.2, 214.5, 216, 413.2f
Trample, 502.9
Trigger event, 404.1-2, 406.2b, 410.2, 410.6-7
Type, 205, 212, 213, 214
Untap, 217.5d, 302.1
Zone, 217, 402.3, 406.2d, 410.10
graveyard, 217.4
hand, 101.3, 217.3
in play, 217.5
library, 217.2
stack, 217.6, 310.2, 408.1c, 408.1e-g, 408.2, 409.1a, 413.1
removed from game, 217.7
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Credits
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Magic: The Gathering Original Game Design: Richard Garfield
Comprehensive Rules Design and Development: Beth Moursund and Bill Rose, with
contributions from William Jockusch, Paul Barclay, Charlie Cantata,
Stephen D'Angelo, Brady Dommermuth, Skaff Elias, Mike Elliott,
Richard Garfield, Dan Gray, Robert Gutschera, Collin Jackson, Jeff Jordan,
Jim Lin, Michael Phoenix, Mark Rosewater, David Sachs, Henry Stern, Tom Wylie,
and Donald X
Editing: Darla A. Kennerud, Brady Dommermuth, and Jennifer Clarke Wilkes
Magic Lead Design: Bill Rose
Graphic Design: Dave Woods
Product Management: Shirley Carlson, Judy Holman, and Tina Trenkler
Production: Chris Nitz and Hans Reifenrath, with contributions from the
Production and Prepress crew
Magic: The Gathering was designed by Richard Garfield, with contributions from
Charlie Cantata, Skaff Elias, Don Felice, Tom Fontaine, Jim Lin, Joel Mick,
Chris Page, Dave Pettey, Barry "Bit" Reich, Bill Rose, and Elliott Segal. The
mana symbols were designed by Christopher Rush.
Thanks to all our project team members and the many others too numerous to
mention who have contributed to this product.
Special thanks to Peter Adkison for recognizing good ideas while having them himself, and for recognizing good people while being one himself.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact Information
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Copyrights
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These rules are current as of April 23, 1999.
(C)1993-1999 Wizards of the Coast, Inc. WIZARDS OF THE COAST,
Magic: The Gathering, Magic, Arabian Nights, Antiquities, Legends, and
The Dark are registered trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. ARENA, DCI,
Classic, Fallen Empires, Ice Age, Homelands, Alliances, Mirage, Visions,
Weatherlight, Tempest, Stronghold, Exodus, Urza's Saga, Urza's Legacy, Portal,
Portal Second Age, Portal Three Kingdoms, Chronicles, Unglued, Vanguard,
the batwing "M", the mana and tap symbols ({W}, {U}, {B}, {R}, {G}, {Tap}),
and the pentagon of colors are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. U.S.A.
Patent 5662332. Foreign patent pending.
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