Magic: The Gathering rules

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Magic: The Gathering is a collectible card game with extremely detailed and at times complex rules. However, only a basic understanding of the rules is necessary to play the game. The most important rule is that if the text on a card contradicts a game rule, the card text always takes precedence. Magic is thus constantly breaking its own rules, making it a highly challenging and intricate game.

Wizards of the Coast makes the Comprehensive Rules of the game available on their website.

[edit] Areas of play

At any given time, every card is located in one of the following areas:

Library: A player's deck. These cards are kept face down and should be randomly ordered.

Graveyard: A player's discard pile. When a card in play is destroyed, it is put in its owner's graveyard. These cards are face up, and can be examined by either player at any time.

Hand: A player's hand of cards. They are kept hidden from other players. The number of cards each player has is public.

In play: Most cards need to be put into play before they can affect the game. Unlike other zones, the in play zone is shared by all players.

The stack: This is the place for cards that have been played from hand but not yet resolved. This zone is also shared by all players. See the stack.

Removed from Game: Cards that have been removed from the game by a certain effect wind up here. The text of a card may specify whether a card is removed face-up for all players to see, or face-down.

[edit] Beginning and ending the game

At the beginning of a game, each player shuffles his or her deck. A randomly selected player decides which player will take the first turn. The players then draw seven cards each to form their starting hand. Each player may then decide to mulligan; that player shuffles his or her hand and library together and draws a new hand of one less card. A player can do this as many times as he or she wishes, drawing one less card each time.

The player who takes the first turn does not draw a card for that turn.

A player wins the game by eliminating all opponents. Players begin the game with 20 life; if a player ever has 0 or less life, he or she immediately loses. Additionally, if a player is required to draw a card but has no cards left in his or her library, he or she loses. Specific cards may dictate other ways of winning or losing the game.

[edit] Paying costs

[edit] Tapping and untapping

To tap a card means to temporarily use it. Tapped cards are turned sideways to indicate that they have been used for that turn. They may not be further tapped. At the beginning of each player's turn, that player untaps all cards he or she controls and returns them to their original orientation. The mechanic allows cards to only be used once per turn cycle.

[edit] Mana costs and colors

All cards except lands have a mana cost. This is the amount of mana that must be spent to pay for the card. Each mana symbol in the top right corner of the card represents one mana of that color that must be paid. There may be a number in a gray circle next to the mana symbols. This represents how much additional mana must be paid; this additional mana can be of any color or colorless.

For example, the cards below all cost 3 mana. However, the card on the left requires three red mana, while the card on the right can be paid for with three mana of any color or combination of colors. The middle two cards require 2 and 1 mana, respectively, that must be red; the remainder can be any color. Note that the first three cards are red, but Disrupting Scepter is colorless.

These cards all cost 3 mana to play

These cards are both green and black regardless of how they enter play.

Some cards may require their owner to pay mana of two or more colors. These cards have multiple colors. Some cards also use hybrid or guild mana, which can be paid with one of two different colours. For example, the card Golgari Guildmage can be played by spending either two black, two green, or one black and one green mana. In all cases, a card's color is determined by the mana symbols in its cost, and not by the specific mana used to play it. A card's color can change from effects of other cards.

[edit] Abilities

There are three main types of abilities: activated abilities, triggered abilities, and static abilities.

Activated abilities are abilities of a card that their controller can use whenever he or she wants (and can pay for it). These abilities are always written in the form "{Cost}: {Effect}". Paying the cost allows a player to produce the effect. Costs may include paying mana, tapping the card, discarding cards, or other things. Like instants, these abilities can be played at nearly any time during the game (see timing and the stack).

Triggered abilities are not used by any player, but simply look for a particular event, time, or game state, and then produce an effect when that event/time/state occurs. These abilities contain a trigger condition (which will use one of the words 'when, 'whenever', or 'at'), usually at the start of the ability, and then an effect. Whenever the trigger condition is met, the card produces the effect. The card may also lay out additional conditions that must be met for the effect to occur (using the word "if").

Triggered abilities are automatically "played" whenever their condition is met. They go on the stack and resolve like other spells and abilities. If multiple triggered abilities' conditions are met at the same time, those controlled by the active player are put on the stack first. Each player may choose the order in which his or her triggered abilities are played.

Static abilities are general effects that alter cards in play or the rules of the game. If an ability is not activated or triggered, it is static. These abilities are always "on". Static abilities only work while the card is in play, unless otherwise stated or if the ability only makes sense if it applies from a different zone. For example, a card that refers to playing itself from the graveyard will still work from the graveyard; one that refers to playing any card from the graveyard will not. A static ability takes effect as soon as the card is in play. Once the card leaves play, the ability stops working. Static abilities never use the stack, although they may change the game state and trigger triggered abilities.

[edit] Types of cards

[edit] Lands

Land cards tap to produce mana that is used to play other cards. They cost no mana to play; however, a player may play no more than one land on each of his or her turns. There are five types of basic lands, one for each color. These lands can each be tapped to produce one mana of the appropriate color. Other lands are non-basic and may produce other combinations or amounts of mana, or may have other abilities.

[edit] Creatures Creatures represent people or beasts that are summoned to attack opposing players and defend their controller from the attacks of enemy creatures. Once in play, they do not require any additional mana unless they specifically say so. Creatures have two values that represent their strength in combat: power and toughness. These values are printed on the lower right-hand corner of the card, with a slash separating them. The first number is the creature's power; the amount of damage it deals in combat. The second number is its toughness; if it receives that much damage in a single turn, it is destroyed and placed in the graveyard. Creatures also have one or more creature types, located after the word "creature" in the type line. Creature types are simply markers and have no inherent abilities; for example, being a Bird does not automatically give a creature the flying ability.

[edit] Enchantments Enchantments represent persistent magical effects; they are spells that remain in play and alter some aspect of the game. Some enchantments are attached to other cards in play (often creatures); these are known as Auras. If the card an Aura is attached to leaves play, the Aura goes to the graveyard. [edit] Artifacts Artifacts represent magical items, animated constructs, pieces of equipment, or other objects and devices. Like enchantments, artifacts remain in play until something removes them. Artifacts are distinct from other cards in that they are colorless, and can be played using any color or colors of mana. Many artifacts are also creatures; they may attack and defend as other creatures, and are affected by anything that affects either artifacts or creatures. Some artifacts are Equipment. Equipment cards come into play just like any other artifact, but may be attached to creatures using their Equip ability. Unlike Auras, however, if an Equipment is attached to a creature and the creature is killed, the Equipment stays in play.

[edit] Sorceries and Instants Sorceries and instants both represent one-shot or short-term magical spells. They are never put into the in-play zone. Instead, they take effect when their mana cost is paid, and then are immediately put into the player's graveyard. Sorceries and instants differ only in when they can be played. Sorceries can only be played during the player's main phase, and only when nothing else is on the stack. Instants, on the other hand, can be played at any time, including during other player's turns and while another spell or ability is waiting to resolve (see timing and the stack).

[edit] Parts of a turn

This creature requires four green mana during its controller's upkeep step, or it damages its controller. Since a player untaps first, four of the same lands used to play the card may be tapped to pay its upkeep cost every turn.

[edit] Beginning phase

The beginning phase is composed of three parts. The first thing a player does is untap all cards he or she controls. Then any abilities that trigger on the "upkeep step" happen. These often include cards that require mana payments every turn. Then the player draws a card. The player who takes the first turn does not draw a card on the first turn as a balancing factor.

[edit] Main phase

Most of the game's actions happen during the main phase. With the exception of Instants, cards can only be played during a player's main phase. There are two main phases each turn: one before and one after the combat phase.

[edit] Combat phase

The combat phase is split up into steps. Except for instants, players may not play cards during combat. However, instants and abilities may be played before and after each step.

[edit] Attacking

The player whose turn it is may attack another player with creatures he or she controls. Creatures that are tapped or that were played this turn may not attack. Attacking causes a creature to become tapped. A player can attack with as many creatures as he or she wants; they all tap and attack at the same time.

[edit] Blocking

The player being attacked may block the attacking creatures with his or her own creatures, but is not required to do so. Tapped creatures cannot block, but blocking doesn't tap a creature. Each creature may only block one attacking creature, but multiple creatures may all block the same attacker. As with attacking creatures, blocking creatures all block at the same time.

[edit] Damage

Attacking creatures that weren't blocked deal damage equal to their power to the player they attacked; the amount of damage caused is deducted from the player's life total. Attacking creatures that were blocked deal damage equal to their power to the creature or creatures that blocked them, and blocking creatures deal damage equal to their power to the attacking creature they blocked. If a creature could deal damage to several creatures that blocked it, the player that controls the attacking creature chooses how to distribute the damage. An attacker that is blocked, but whose blocker is removed from combat before this time deals no damage at all. If a creature is dealt as much or more damage than its toughness, it is destroyed and must be put in its controller's graveyard.

Combat damage does use the stack, unlike other game actions, so players may respond to it with instants or abilities. Players decide how their creatures' damage will be assigned as combat damage is "played", and it is dealt when it "resolves". Creatures that leave play while combat damage is on the stack still deal their damage; damage that was assigned to them is not dealt.

[edit] Second main phase

[edit] End phase

The end phase has two steps: "End of turn" and "Cleanup". During the first, abilities that trigger "at end of turn" take place. Then, during the cleanup step, the player whose turn it is discards down to 7 cards. Effects that last "until end of turn" or "this turn" wear off, and non-lethal damage is removed from creatures. Players may play instants or abilities during the end of turn step, but not during the cleanup step.

[edit] Timing and the stack

Even though this card is a creature, it may be played at "instant speed."

In general, there are two "speeds" of spells and abilities in Magic. A player may only play "sorcery speed" cards during the main phase of his or her turn, and only if the stack is empty. Creatures, artifacts, enchantments, sorceries, lands, and abilities that say "play this ability only any time you could play a sorcery", are all played in this manner.

In contrast, "instant speed" cards may be played during any phase, on other player's turns, and even when other spells or abilities are on the stack. Abilities on cards in play are normally played at this speed, as are instants. Cards with the keyword flash may be played at this speed as well. Though instants can be played while other spells and abilities are waiting to resolve, they cannot be played in the middle of another one resolving.

"Speed" should not be taken literally: reaction time plays no role in Magic. The rules for dealing with timing conflicts are presented below.

[edit] The stack

This mechanic is nearly identical to the concept of a stack in computer science.

When a player plays a spell, it does not immediately take effect. Instead, it is placed on the stack, and each player has a chance to respond to it with instant-speed spells or abilities. Each new spell or ability is put on top of the stack in turn, with the newest on top and the oldest at the bottom. Once both players are finished adding spells or abilities to the stack, the top-most spell or ability resolves. If it was a sorcery, instant, or ability, the player carries out the instructions; if it was a creature, enchantment, or artifact, it comes into play.

Every time a spell or ability resolves, players can once again add more to the stack; if they don't, the new top-most spell or ability will resolve. Players add spells and abilities to the stack in turn order: the player whose turn it is adds theirs first, then the next player, and so on. Only when all players pass in succession does the stack begin resolving. After one item has resolved, players can play more spells and abilities if they wish. If they don't, the stack continues to resolve this way.

A player can add as many spells or abilities to the stack as they can afford while they have priority, but they are not required to. If a player wants to play multiple spells before passing priority to the next player, they can do so as long as they have enough mana to pay for those spells.

When the stack is empty, the player whose turn it is has priority first. If they don't play anything, and their opponents don't either, the game proceeds to the next part of the turn.

[edit] Example

Alice is attacking Bob with a Hill Giant, a 3/3 creature (meaning it has 3 power and 3 toughness). Bob chooses to block with his Grizzly Bears, a weaker 2/2 creature. If nothing else happened, the Hill Giant would deal 3 damage to the Grizzly Bears and kill them, while the Bears would deal 2 damage to the Giant, which would survive.

However, Bob decides to play his Giant Growth spell on his Grizzly Bears before combat damage is dealt. He taps a forest to pay for the spell, and puts it on the stack. Alice, who does not want to give the Grizzly Bears a chance to grow to 5/5 and kill her Hill Giant, responds by playing Shock. She taps one mountain, tells Bob she is targeting the Grizzly Bears, and puts Shock on the stack on top of Giant Growth.

If Bob had no other spells, then Alice's Shock would resolve first and deal 2 damage to the Grizzly Bears, killing them. His Giant Growth would then go to the graveyard with no effect because the Bears would no longer be in play and would thus be an illegal target. Fortunately for Bob, he has another spell to play. He taps a plains and plays Mending Hands on his Grizzly Bears. Now Mending Hands is on top of the stack, with Shock and then Giant Growth beneath it.

Since both players are out of spells to play, the top spell resolves. Mending Hands puts a "damage shield" that can prevent up to 4 points of damage on the Grizzly Bears, and is put into Bob's graveyard. Neither player chooses play anything else at this point, so Shock resolves. It attempts to deal 2 damage to Grizzly Bears, but Mending Hands' damage shield prevents the damage, and Shock is put into Alice's graveyard. Finally, Giant Growth resolves and makes Grizzly Bears a 5/5 creature until end of turn. Giant Growth then goes to Bob's graveyard.

Once combat damage is dealt, the now 5/5 Grizzly Bears will deal 5 damage to the Hill Giant and destroy it. Hill Giant will attempt to deal 3 damage to the Grizzly Bears, but the remainder of Mending Hands' damage shield will prevent a further 2 damage (totaling 4 damage) and Grizzly Bears will only take 1 damage.

When the turn ends, the single point of damage is removed from the Grizzly Bears, and the Giant Growth effect wears off at the same time. When Bob's turn comes around again, he'll find his Grizzly Bears undamaged and 2/2.

[edit] Countering

Certain spells allow a player to counter other spells. These spells target the spell they are to counter, and must be played while the first spell is on the stack. If a spell is countered, it is moved from the stack to its owner's graveyard. It does not resolve, and has no effect. If the spell was a permanent, it never comes into play. Some spells state that they cannot be countered. However, the ability "can't be the target of spells or abilities" only applies while in play, and so a card with such an ability can still be countered.

There is one other way for a spell to be countered. If the spell targets something (such as Giant Growth or Shock), then the target must be legal both when the spell is played and when it resolves. If it is illegal when played, the player cannot play the spell. If it is illegal when the spell resolves, most commonly because the target is no longer in play, then the spell is countered. If a spell is countered this way, then no part of the spell - even an untargeted effect of the spell - takes place.

If a spell has multiple targets, then all of them must be illegal for the spell to be countered. For example, the card Swelter deals 2 damage to two target creatures. If one creature becomes an illegal target before Swelter resolves, the other will still be damaged. But if they are both illegal, then the entire spell is countered. Note that a spell must have all targets available for it to be played. If there is only one legal target for Swelter, then Swelter can't be played.

[edit] Keyword abilities

Some cards have abilities that are not fully explained on the card. These are known as "keyword" abilities, and consist of a word or phrase whose meaning is defined by the rules. Keyword abilities are usually given reminder text in the set in which they are introduced. There are over forty such abilities; only the most common are explained here.

[edit] Combat abilities

[edit] Defender

A creature with defender may not attack.

[edit] Haste

A creature with haste may attack or tap the turn it comes into play.

[edit] Vigilance

A creature with vigilance does not tap to attack. It must still be untapped to attack.

[edit] First strike and double strike

Creatures with first strike or double strike deal damage before creatures without it. If any creatures in combat have first strike or double strike, then during the combat damage step those creatures deal damage first. Then any creature with lethal damage is destroyed, and then any surviving creatures without first strike deal damage.

Double strike allows a creature to deal damage twice, once during the first strike damage step and once during the regular damage step. If an attacker with double strike kills all its blockers with first strike damage, it does not get to deal regular damage to the defending player (unless it has trample). Double strike overrides first strike, and having multiple instances of either has no additional effect. A creature with first strike twice still deals damage at the same time as a creature that only has the ability once.

[edit] Trample

Normally when a creature is blocked, it deals all its damage to the blocker and none to the defending player. A creature with trample may deal its extra damage to the defending player. When the attacking player is deciding how to assign damage to blocking creatures, he also decides how much damage attackers with trample will deal to the defending player. However, he must first assign enough damage to destroy all blocking creatures. Specifically, he must assign damage equal to the blocker's toughness, less any damage already present. If a creature with trample has no blockers left when damage is assigned, it deals full damage to the defending player.

[edit] Evasion abilities

Evasion abilities affect how creatures block. A creature that has an evasion ability is more difficult to block in some fashion. If a creature has multiple kinds of evasion abilities, all of them apply. For example, a creature with both flying and fear cannot be blocked by a blue creature with flying nor by a black creature without flying.

[edit] Fear

A creature with fear may only be blocked by black creatures and/or by artifact creatures. Creatures that are both black and some other color may block a creature with fear, as may artifact creatures that have gained a color.

[edit] Flying

A creature with flying cannot be blocked by a creature without flying. It may still block non-flying creatures normally.

[edit] Landwalk

Landwalk is a category of several related abilities. A creature will not have the ability landwalk but will have mountainwalk, swampwalk, and so on. If the defending player controls a land of the appropriate type, the creature cannot be blocked by any creature, even if the blocker also has landwalk. Different types of landwalk on the same creature apply separately. Some enchatments and creatures allow landwalk to be blocked.

[edit] Shadow

A creature with shadow can only block or be blocked by other creatures with shadow.

[edit] Other abilities

[edit] Flash

A card with flash may be played any time an instant could be played. See timing and the stack.

[edit] Protection

Protection, like landwalk, is not a single ability but a family of abilities. A permanent will not have protection; it will have protection from <quality>. For example, it might have protection from black, protection from blue, protection from creatures, etc. Protection has a number of effects.

• A permanent with protection may not be targeted by spells with the given quality or by abilities of cards with the given quality.
• It may not be enchanted by Auras with the given quality, and if it is a creature it may not be equipped by Equipment with the given quality. If a permanent with an Aura attached to it gains a protection ability that would prevent it from being enchanted, the Aura is put into the graveyard. In the case of Equipment, it would become unattached but remain in play.
• Any damage that would be dealt by something with the quality to the permanent with protection is prevented.
• If a creature has protection, it may not be blocked by other creatures with the quality. This is an evasion ability.

If a permanent has protection from multiple different qualities, all of them apply.

An easy way to remember what protection stops is to remember the acronym DEBT: Damage, Enchant/Equip, Block, Target. Protection does not affect anything that does not do one of those four things.

[edit] Equip

All Equipment has the ability Equip <cost>. Equipment comes into play not attached to any creature. Equip {cost} means "{Cost}: Attach this Equipment to target creature you control. Play this ability only any time you could play a sorcery." Equip may not be used to unattach an equipment, and if the targeted creature is not in play when the ability resolves, the equipment stays where it is. If an Equipment has multiple equip abilities, any of them may be used.

[edit] Enchant

All Auras have the ability Enchant <something>. An Aura may only be attached to a permanent that is the specified type of permanent. When an Aura is played, it must target the appropriate type of card and comes into play attached to that permanent. If the permanent ever stops being the specified type, or if it leaves play, the Aura is put into its owner's graveyard. If an Aura has multiple enchant abilities, all of them apply and must be satisfied.

Note that an Aura targets the card it will enchant as it is being played, but not once it comes into play. Thus, while a card with the ability "cannot be targeted by spells or abilities" may not be the target of an Aura being played, a card enchanted by an Aura can later gain that ability without losing any Auras already attached.