Glossary

This creature can only be blocked by creatures with flying or reach.

“This creature can't be blocked except by creatures with flying and/or reach.”

This creature deals combat damage before creatures without first strike.

“This creature deals combat damage before creatures without first strike.”

This creature deals both first-strike and regular combat damage.

“This creature deals both first-strike and regular combat damage.”

Any amount of damage this deals to a creature is enough to destroy it.

“Any amount of damage this deals to a creature is enough to destroy it.”

This creature can't attack.

“This creature can't attack.”

This creature can attack and use its tap- or untap-symbol abilities without waiting until your next turn. Other timing rules still apply.

This permanent can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.

“This creature can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.”

Effects that say "destroy" don't destroy this permanent. A creature with indestructible can't be destroyed by damage.

“Damage and effects that say "destroy" don't destroy this permanent.”

Damage dealt by this permanent also causes you to gain that much life.

“Damage dealt by this creature also causes you to gain that much life.”

This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.

“This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.”

This creature can block creatures with flying.

“This creature can block creatures with flying.”

After assigning lethal damage to every blocker, this creature can assign excess combat damage to the player, planeswalker, or battle it is attacking.

Attacking doesn't cause this creature to tap.

“Attacking doesn't cause this creature to tap.”

Whenever this permanent becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter it unless that player pays the ward cost.

“Whenever this permanent becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter it unless that player pays [cost].”

You may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant.

“You may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant.”

To put an activated ability on the stack and pay its costs.

To move an Equipment or Aura onto a creature or other permanent.

To take a spell from your hand (or another zone) and put it on the stack, paying its costs.

To cancel a spell or ability so it doesn't resolve and none of its effects occur.

To move a permanent from the battlefield to its owner's graveyard. Indestructible permanents can't be destroyed.

To move a card from your hand to your graveyard.

Move an object to the exile zone. It remains a game zone; other effects may let an exiled card return or be played.

To move a permanent you control to its owner's graveyard. You can't sacrifice permanents you don't control.

Look at the top N cards of your library, then put any number on the bottom in any order and the rest on top in any order.

“Look at the top N cards of your library, then put any number of them on the bottom and the rest on top in any order.”

To look at all cards in a stated zone and find cards that match the given criteria.

To randomize the order of cards in your library.

To turn a permanent sideways, indicating it has been used. Tapped creatures cannot block.

To return a tapped permanent to its upright position, readying it for use again.

You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost, then exile it.

“You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.”

You may pay an additional cost as you cast this spell. If you do, additional effects occur.

“You may pay an additional [cost] as you cast this spell.”

Pay the equip cost and attach this Equipment to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.

“[Cost]: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.”

Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.

“Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.”

Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that creature's color.

“Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that creature's color.”

When you cast this spell, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card that costs less. You may cast it without paying its mana cost. Put the exiled cards on the bottom in a random order.

“When you cast this spell, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card that costs less. You may cast it without paying its mana cost. Put the exiled cards on the bottom of your library in a random order.”

Each card you exile from your graveyard while casting this spell pays for 1.

“Each card you exile from your graveyard while casting this spell pays for 1.”

Pay the cycling cost and discard this card: Draw a card.

“[Cost], Discard this card: Draw a card.”

Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, this ability triggers.

Whenever this creature attacks, defending player sacrifices N permanents.

“Whenever this creature attacks, defending player sacrifices N permanents.”

This spell costs 1 less to cast for each [object] you control.

“This spell costs 1 less to cast for each [object] you control.”

This creature enters the battlefield with N +1/+1 counters on it. When it dies, you may put its +1/+1 counters on target artifact creature.

“This creature enters the battlefield with N +1/+1 counters on it. When it dies, you may put its +1/+1 counters on target artifact creature.”

This permanent can't be blocked, targeted, dealt damage, enchanted, or equipped by anything with the stated quality.

“This creature can't be blocked, targeted, dealt damage, or enchanted by anything [quality].”

If you would draw a card, instead you may mill N cards. If you do, return this card from your graveyard to your hand.

“If you would draw a card, you may instead put N cards from the top of your library into your graveyard. If you do, return this card from your graveyard to your hand.”

If you discard this card, discard it into exile. When you do, cast it for its madness cost or put it in your graveyard.

“If you discard this card, discard it into exile. When you do, cast it for its madness cost or put it into your graveyard.”

You may cast this card from your graveyard for its escape cost by exiling the required number of other cards from your graveyard.

“You may cast this card from your graveyard for its escape cost.”

Pay the embalm cost and exile this card from your graveyard to create a token copy. The copy is white, has no mana cost, and adds Zombie to its other creature types. Activate only as a sorcery.

Pay the eternalize cost and exile this card from your graveyard to create a token copy. It is black, 4/4, has no mana cost, and adds Zombie to its other creature types. Activate only as a sorcery.

You may cast this card from your graveyard transformed for its disturb cost.

“You may cast this card from your graveyard transformed for its disturb cost.”

Return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield. It gains haste. Exile it at the beginning of the next end step or if it would leave the battlefield. Unearth only as a sorcery.

“Return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield. It gains haste. Exile it at the beginning of the next end step or if it would leave the battlefield. Unearth only as a sorcery.”

When this creature dies, if it had no -1/-1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control with a -1/-1 counter on it.

“When this creature dies, if it had no -1/-1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control with a -1/-1 counter on it.”

When this creature dies, if it had no +1/+1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control with a +1/+1 counter on it.

“When this creature dies, if it had no +1/+1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control with a +1/+1 counter on it.”

This creature deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters.

“This creature deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters.”

This creature deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters. A player with 10 or more poison counters loses the game.

“This creature deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.”

Combat damage this creature deals to a player also gives that player poison counters equal to its total toxic value. Normal damage still happens; toxic is not a separate trigger.

At the beginning of your precombat main phase, mill a card for each rad counter you have. For each nonland card milled this way, lose 1 life and remove one rad counter.

A resource counter represented by ⚡. Cards give you energy counters or let you pay energy counters for effects. Energy does not reset between turns.

“(Each ⚡ is an energy counter.)”

A counter placed on you as a player (not on a permanent). Certain legendary commanders get stronger as you accumulate more experience counters.

If this creature has no +1/+1 counters on it, put N +1/+1 counters on it.

“If this creature has no +1/+1 counters on it, put N +1/+1 counter(s) on it.”

This creature enters the battlefield with N +1/+1 counters on it. Whenever another creature enters the battlefield, you may move a +1/+1 counter from this creature onto that creature.

“This creature enters the battlefield with N +1/+1 counters on it. Whenever another creature enters the battlefield, you may move a +1/+1 counter from this creature onto it.”

Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind that permanent or player already has.

“Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind that permanent or player already has.”

Return an unblocked attacking creature you control to its owner's hand: Put this card from your hand onto the battlefield tapped and attacking.

“Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.”

Tap any number of creatures you control with total power N or greater: This Vehicle becomes an artifact creature until end of turn.

“Tap any number of creatures you control with total power N or greater: This Vehicle becomes an artifact creature until end of turn.”

If you cast this card for its bestow cost, it's an Aura spell with enchant creature. It becomes a creature again if it's not attached to a creature.

“If you cast this card for its bestow cost, it's an Aura spell with enchant creature. It becomes a creature again if it's not attached to a creature.”

You may cast this spell for its dash cost. If you do, it gains haste, and it's returned from the battlefield to its owner's hand at the beginning of the next end step.

“You may cast this spell for its dash cost. If you do, it gains haste, and it's returned from the battlefield to its owner's hand at the beginning of the next end step.”

If you cast this spell for its blitz cost, it gains haste and "when this creature dies, draw a card," and it's sacrificed at the beginning of the next end step.

“If you cast this spell for its blitz cost, it gains haste and "when this creature dies, draw a card," and it's sacrificed at the beginning of the next end step.”

Draw a card, then discard a card. If you discarded a nonland card, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.

“Draw a card, then discard a card. If you discarded a nonland card, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.”

Whenever this creature attacks with another creature with greater power, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.

“Whenever this creature attacks with another creature with greater power, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.”

When this creature enters, put N +1/+1 counters on target creature. If it is another creature, it gains the abilities printed below this backup ability until end of turn.

You may exert this creature as it attacks. When you do, it doesn't untap during your next untap step, but an additional effect occurs.

“You may exert this creature as it attacks. (An exerted creature won't untap during your next untap step.)”

Whenever this creature and at least two other creatures attack, a bonus effect occurs.

“Whenever this creature and at least two other creatures attack, [effect].”

Discard this card: Target attacking creature gets a bonus until end of turn.

“Discard this card: Target attacking creature gets [bonus] until end of turn.”

A bonus effect that applies if you attacked with a creature this turn.

A bonus effect that applies if you control a creature with power 4 or greater.

You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for 3. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.

“You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for 3. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.”

You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for 3. Turn it face up any time for its megamorph cost and put a +1/+1 counter on it.

“You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for 3. Turn it face up any time for its megamorph cost and put a +1/+1 counter on it.”

You may pay an additional buyback cost as you cast this spell. If you do, put this spell into its owner's hand instead of the graveyard as it resolves.

“You may pay an additional [cost] as you cast this spell. If you do, put this card into its owner's hand as it resolves.”

When you cast this spell, you may pay its replicate cost any number of times. For each time you pay it, copy the spell.

“When you cast this spell, copy it for each time you paid its replicate cost.”

As you cast a spell of the specified kind, you may reveal this card from your hand and pay its splice cost to add its rules text to that spell.

You may cast this spell for its overload cost. If you do, change its text by replacing all instances of "target" with "each."

“You may cast this spell for its overload cost. If you do, change its text by replacing all instances of "target" with "each."”

You may cast this card from your graveyard by discarding a card in addition to paying its other costs. Then exile this card.

“You may cast this card from your graveyard by discarding a card in addition to paying its other costs. Then exile this card.”

If you cast this spell from your hand, exile it as it resolves. At the beginning of your next upkeep, you may cast this card from exile without paying its mana cost.

“If you cast this spell from your hand, exile it as it resolves. At the beginning of your next upkeep, you may cast this card from exile without paying its mana cost.”

When you cast this spell, copy it for each spell cast before it this turn.

“When you cast this spell, copy it for each spell cast before it this turn. You may choose new targets for the copies.”

Rather than cast this card from your hand, pay its suspend cost and exile it with time counters. At the start of your upkeep, remove a counter; when the last is removed, cast the spell for free.

“Rather than cast this card from your hand, you may pay its suspend cost. If you do, exile it with [N] time counters on it. At the beginning of each of your upkeeps, remove a time counter. When the last is removed, cast it without paying its mana cost.”

You may cast this spell for its spectacle cost rather than its mana cost if an opponent lost life this turn.

“You may cast this spell for its spectacle cost rather than its mana cost if an opponent lost life this turn.”

Choose one or more additional costs as you cast this spell, each with their own effects. You must choose at least one.

“Choose one or more additional costs.”

Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.

“Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for 1.”

Look at the top N cards of your library, then put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest on top of your library in any order.

“Look at the top N cards of your library, then put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest on top in any order.”

Create a Clue artifact token with "2, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card."

“(It's an artifact with "2, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")”

Reveal the top card of your library. If it's a land, put it into your hand. Otherwise, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature and put the card back or into your graveyard.

“Reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if it's a land. Otherwise, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature, then put the card back or into your graveyard.”

You may reveal a Lesson card from outside the game and put it into your hand, or discard a card to draw a card.

“You may reveal a Lesson card you own from outside the game and put it into your hand, or discard a card to draw a card.”

During your turn, you may pay 2 and exile this card from your hand face down. Cast it on a later turn for its foretell cost.

“During your turn, you may pay 2 and exile this card from your hand face down. Cast it on a later turn for its foretell cost.”

You may pay the plot cost and exile this card from your hand. Cast it as a sorcery on a later turn without paying its mana cost.

“You may pay [cost] and exile this card from your hand. Cast it as a sorcery on a later turn without paying its mana cost. Plot only as a sorcery.”

Exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card with mana value N or less. Cast it without paying its mana cost or put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom in a random order.

“Exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card with mana value N or less. Cast it without paying its mana cost or put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom in a random order.”

To put that many cards from the top of your library into your graveyard.

“Put the top N cards of your library into your graveyard.”

If your starting deck meets this companion's condition, you may begin the game with this card in a separate zone. Once per game, for 3, you may put it into your hand.

“If this card is your chosen companion, you may put it into your hand from your sideboard for [3] any time you could cast a sorcery.”

If you cast this spell for its mutate cost, put it over or under target non-Human creature you own. They mutate into the creature on top plus all abilities of the ones under it.

“If you cast this spell for its mutate cost, put it over or under target non-Human creature you own. They mutate into the creature on top plus all abilities of the ones under it.”

Exile two specified cards you control, then put the combined meld card onto the battlefield.

If it is night, this permanent enters transformed. At the next untap step, day becomes night if the previous active player cast no spells on their turn. Daybound permanents transform when it becomes night.

At the next untap step, night becomes day if the previous active player cast at least two spells on their turn. Nightbound permanents transform when it becomes day.

Lore counters advance a Saga through its chapters as your precombat main phase begins. Normally it enters with one lore counter. Sacrifice it once its final chapter is reached and its pending chapter abilities have left the stack.

An artifact token with "Tap, Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color."

“(It's an artifact with "Tap, Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color.")”

An artifact token with "2, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card."

“(It's an artifact with "2, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")”

An artifact token with "2, Tap, Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life."

“(It's an artifact with "2, Tap, Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.")”

An artifact token with "1, Tap, Discard a card, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card."

“(It's an artifact with "1, Tap, Discard a card, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")”

A colorless artifact token. Pay 1, tap it, and sacrifice it to have a target creature you control explore. Activate only as a sorcery.

Your devotion to a color is the number of mana symbols of that color among the mana costs of permanents you control.

A bonus effect that applies if there are four or more card types among cards in your graveyard.

A bonus effect that applies if you have seven or more cards in your graveyard.

A bonus effect that applies if you have no cards in hand.

A bonus effect that applies if you control three or more artifacts.

A bonus effect that applies if a creature died this turn.

A bonus effect that applies if you control creatures with total power 8 or greater.

A bonus that scales with the number of creature cards in your graveyard.

The next time this permanent would be destroyed this turn, instead tap it, remove it from combat, and remove all damage from it.

Any creatures with banding, and up to one without, can attack in a band. The attacking player assigns damage for blocked bands.

“Any creatures with banding, and up to one without, can attack in a band. Bands are blocked as a group. If any creatures with banding you control are blocking or being blocked by a creature, you divide that creature's combat damage, not its controller, among any of the creatures it's being blocked by or is blocking.”

This permanent can't be the target of spells or abilities. Unlike hexproof, this applies to your own spells too.

This creature can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or creatures that share a color with it. Retired in favor of menace.

This creature can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or black creatures. Retired in favor of intimidate, then menace.

This creature can only block or be blocked by creatures with shadow. A niche evasion ability from Tempest block.

“This creature can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow.”

This creature can't be blocked except by creatures with horsemanship. Essentially flying for Portal Three Kingdoms.

“This creature can't be blocked except by creatures with horsemanship.”

During your untap step, your permanents with phasing phase out and eligible phased-out permanents phase in. Phased-out objects are treated as absent; this does not cause them to leave or enter the battlefield.

Whenever a creature without flanking blocks this creature, the blocking creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.

“Whenever a creature without flanking blocks this creature, the blocking creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.”

At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on this permanent, then sacrifice it unless you pay its upkeep cost for each age counter on it.

“At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on this permanent, then sacrifice it unless you pay its upkeep cost for each age counter on it.”

At the beginning of your upkeep, if this permanent came under your control since the beginning of your last upkeep, sacrifice it unless you pay its echo cost.

“At the beginning of your upkeep, if this came under your control since the beginning of your last upkeep, sacrifice it unless you pay its echo cost.”

This permanent enters the battlefield with N fade counters on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a fade counter. If you can't, sacrifice it.

“This permanent enters the battlefield with N fade counters on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a fade counter from it. If you can't, sacrifice it.”

This permanent enters with N time counters. At the start of your upkeep, remove one. When the last is removed, sacrifice it. Like Fading but using time counters.

“This permanent enters the battlefield with N time counters on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a time counter from it. When the last is removed, sacrifice it.”

Whenever this creature blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +N/+N until end of turn.

“Whenever this creature blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +N/+N until end of turn.”

When this creature dies, you may return target Spirit card with mana value N or less from your graveyard to your hand.

“When this creature dies, you may return target Spirit card with mana value N or less from your graveyard to your hand.”

You may cast this card any time you could cast an instant by sacrificing a [creature type] and paying the difference in mana costs.

An activated ability used from your hand, only during your upkeep and once each turn. Pay its costs and reveal the card; it stays revealed until it leaves your hand or the upkeep ends.

If an opponent was dealt damage this turn, this creature enters the battlefield with N +1/+1 counters on it.

“If an opponent was dealt damage this turn, this creature enters the battlefield with N +1/+1 counters on it.”

A permanent with haunt can exile itself haunting a creature when it dies; an instant or sorcery can do so when it resolves. Its other text describes the effect that triggers when the haunted creature dies.

When you cast this spell, you may reveal the top N cards of your library. You may cast any card revealed this way with the same name without paying its mana cost.

“When you cast this spell, you may reveal the top N cards of your library. You may cast any revealed cards with the same name as this spell without paying their mana costs.”

While this card is in your graveyard, another creature going to your graveyard from the battlefield triggers recover. Pay the recover cost to return this card to hand; otherwise exile it.

When you cast this spell, copy it for each permanent put into a graveyard this turn.

“When you cast this spell, copy it for each permanent put into a graveyard this turn.”

For the rest of the game, you can't cast spells. At the beginning of each of your upkeeps, copy this spell except for its epic ability.

“For the rest of the game, you can't cast spells. At the beginning of each of your upkeeps, copy this spell except for its epic ability. You may choose new targets for the copy.”

Exile a card onto this permanent, which remembers it. Other abilities reference the imprinted card.

Whenever this creature attacks, you may have target creature defending player controls untap and block this creature if able.

“Whenever this creature attacks, you may have target creature defending player controls untap and block this creature if able.”

If a source would deal damage to this creature, prevent N of that damage. This applies separately to each source and damage event.

Whenever this creature becomes blocked, it gets +N/+N until end of turn for each creature blocking it beyond the first.

“Whenever this creature becomes blocked, it gets +N/+N until end of turn for each creature blocking it beyond the first.”

This creature can't be blocked if defending player controls a [land type]. Variants: Islandwalk, Swampwalk, Forestwalk, Plainswalk, Mountainwalk. Retired in favor of evasion that doesn't reference basic land types.

World is a supertype. If multiple world permanents are on the battlefield, keep only the one that has been world for the shortest time; if tied, all are put into their owners’ graveyards.

You may exchange this Aura with an Aura card in your hand.

“[Cost]: You may exchange this Aura with an Aura card in your hand.”

Allows attacking bands among creatures with the same specified bands-with-other ability. It also changes who assigns damage in those combats. Sharing only the creature type is not enough.