Welcome to ChannelFireball’s official MTG glossary, your one-stop-shop for all things MTG info!
A
Absorb – a static ability. “Absorb N” means “If a source would deal damage to this creature, prevent N of that damage.”
Abzan – the color combination of white, black and green
Affinity – a spell with affinity costs one less for each permanent you control of the affinity type.
Afflict – a triggered ability. “Afflict N” means “Whenever this creature becomes blocked, defending player loses N life.”
Afterlife – a triggered ability. “Afterlife N” means “When this permanent is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, create N 1/1 white and black Spirit creature tokens with flying.”
Aftermath – Aftermath is an ability found on some split cards. It represents three static abilities. “Aftermath” means “You may cast this half of this split card from your graveyard,” “This half of this split card can’t be cast from any zone other than a graveyard,” and “If this spell was cast from a graveyard, exile it instead of putting it anywhere else any time it would leave the stack.”
Aggro – a strategy of trying to close out a game as quickly as possible
Amplify – a creature with amplify enters the battlefield with an additional amount of +1/+1 counters equal to the number of creatures revealed from its controller’s hand that share a type with it times the amplify number.
Annihilator – a triggered ability. “Annihilator N” means “Whenever this creature attacks, defending player sacrifices N permanents.”
Arcane – a spell type for instants and sorceries. See also: splice.
Aristocrats – in Magic, a deck whose strategy revolves around sacrificing creatures for value
Ascend – cards with ascend make you have the City’s Blessing if you control 10 or more permanents.
Assist – when casting a card with assist, any player may pay towards the generic mana cost of a spell.
Aura – an enchantment type, Auras attach to permanents. All “enchant X” cards are erratad to be Auras.
Aura swap – an activated ability of some Aura cards. “Aura swap [cost]” means “[Cost]: You may exchange this permanent with an Aura card in your hand.”
Awaken – Awaken appears on some instants and sorceries. It represents two abilities: a static ability that functions while the spell with awaken is on the stack and a spell ability. “Awaken N – [cost]” means “You may pay [cost] rather than pay this spell’s mana cost as you cast this spell” and “If this spell’s awaken cost was paid, put N +1/+1 counters on target land you control. That land becomes a 0/0 Elemental creature with haste. It’s still a land.”
Azorius – the color combination of white and blue
B
Banding – As a player declares attackers, they may declare that one or more attacking creatures with banding and up to one attacking creature without banding (even if it has “bands with other”) are all in a “band.” They may also declare that one or more attacking [quality] creatures with “bands with other [quality]” and any number of other attacking [quality] creatures are all in a band. A player may declare as many attacking bands as they want, but each creature may be a member of only one of them.
Bant – the color combination of white, blue and green
Battle cry – a triggered ability. “Battle cry” means “Whenever this creature attacks, each other attacking creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn.”
Bear – In Magic, two-mana 2/2 creatures. This is a reference to Grizzly Bears
Bestow – an ability of certain enchantment creatures that lets them be cast as Auras “bestowing” certain abilities. When the creature enchanted by a bestowed Aura dies, the bestowed Aura becomes a creature.
Bloodthirst – a static ability. “Bloodthirst N” means “If an opponent was dealt damage this turn, this permanent enters the battlefield with N +1/+1 counters on it.”
Boast – a special kind of activated ability. “Boast — [Cost]: [Effect]” means “[Cost]: [Effect]. Activate this ability only if this creature attacked this turn and only once each turn.”
Boros – the color combination of white and red
Bolt – shorthand for “Lightning Bolt” or used to reference dealing three direct damage to a target
Burn – a Magic strategy looking to deal damage directly to the opponent and play aggressively
Bushido – if a creature with bushido blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +X/+X, where is X is the bushido number.
Buyback – a spell with buyback is returned to its owner’s hand instead of the graveyard upon resolution if the additional buyback cost was paid.
C
Cantrip – often refers to any inexpensive instant or sorcery that looks at a number of cards and replaces itself with one of those cards. This references “cantrips,” free spells in Dungeons and Dragons
Champion – Champion represents two triggered abilities. “Champion an [object]” means “When this permanent enters the battlefield, sacrifice it unless you exile another [object] you control” and “When this permanent leaves the battlefield, return the exiled card to the battlefield under its owner’s control.”
Cascade – a triggered ability that functions only while the spell with cascade is on the stack. “Cascade” means “When you cast this spell, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card whose mana value is less than this spell’s mana value. You may cast that card without paying its mana cost if the resulting spell’s mana value is less than this spell’s mana value. Then put all cards exiled this way that weren’t cast on the bottom of your library in a random order.”
Changeling – a characteristic-defining ability. “Changeling” means “This object is every creature type.” This ability works everywhere, even outside the game.
Cipher – Cipher appears on some instants and sorceries. It represents two abilities. The first is a spell ability that functions while the spell with cipher is on the stack. The second is a static ability that functions while the card with cipher is in the exile zone. “Cipher” means “If this spell is represented by a card, you may exile this card encoded on a creature you control” and “For as long as this card is encoded on that creature, that creature has ‘Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, you may copy the encoded card and you may cast the copy without paying its mana cost.’”
Companion – a keyword ability that functions outside the game. It’s written as “Companion – [Condition].” Before the game begins, you may reveal one card you own from outside the game with a companion ability whose condition is fulfilled by your starting deck. Once during the game, any time you have priority and the stack is empty, but only during a main phase of your turn, you may pay {3} and put that card into your hand. This is a special action that doesn’t use the stack.
Constructed – any tournament format that comprises of decks that are pre-built by players and registered for entry.
Control – a strategy of making a game go long and taking advantage of an abundance of resources.
Conspiracy – a card type found in Conspiracy and Conspiracy: Take the Crown. Conspiracies are draftable cards that offer pre-game benefits depending on the Conspiracy and if they have any conditions that need to be met.
Conspire – a keyword that represents two abilities. The first is a static ability that functions while the spell with conspire is on the stack. The second is a triggered ability that functions while the spell with conspire is on the stack. “Conspire” means “As an additional cost to cast this spell, you may tap two untapped creatures you control that each share a color with it” and “When you cast this spell, if its conspire cost was paid, copy it. If the spell has any targets, you may choose new targets for the copy.”
Converge – the spell gains additional benefits equal to the number of colors used to cast it. See also: sunburst.
Convoke – a static ability that functions while the spell with convoke is on the stack. “Convoke” means “For each colored mana in this spell’s total cost, you may tap an untapped creature of that color you control rather than pay that mana. For each generic mana in this spell’s total cost, you may tap an untapped creature you control rather than pay that mana.”
Counterspell – any spell that counters another spell. A reference to the original card, Counterspell.
Creatureland – any land that animates itself into a creature.
Crew – an activated ability of Vehicle cards. “Crew N” means “Tap any number of untapped creatures you control with total power N or greater: This permanent becomes an artifact creature until end of turn.”
Cumulative upkeep – a triggered ability that imposes an increasing cost on a permanent. “Cumulative upkeep [cost]” means “At the beginning of your upkeep, if this permanent is on the battlefield, put an age counter on this permanent. Then you may pay [cost] for each age counter on it. If you don’t, sacrifice it.” If [cost] has choices associated with it, each choice is made separately for each age counter, then either the entire set of costs is paid, or none of them is paid. Partial payments aren’t allowed.
Cycle – any card that replaces itself with another card, often through drawing a card.
D
Dash – an ability for creatures, a creature cast for its dash cost enters the battlefield with haste, then returns to its owner’s hand at the end of turn.
Daybound and nightbound – the game becomes either day or night, depending on the conditions of a card making it daybound or nightbound. If it’s day, it becomes night if no spells are cast by the active player on their turn. If it’s night, it becomes day if two or more spells are cast by the active player during their turn.
Deathtouch – all damage dealt by a source with deathtouch is considered lethal damage.
Decayed – a static ability and a triggered ability. “Decayed” means “This creature can’t block” and “When this creature attacks, sacrifice it at end of combat.”
Defender – a creature with defender cannot attack.
Delve – a static ability that functions while the spell with delve is on the stack. “Delve” means “For each generic mana in this spell’s total cost, you may exile a card from your graveyard rather than pay that mana.”
Delver – a tempo or aggro-control archetype often based around Delver of Secrets. Named for its namesake card.
Demonstrate – a triggered ability. “Demonstrate” means “When you cast this spell, you may copy it and you may choose new targets for the copy. If you copy the spell, choose an opponent. That player copies the spell and may choose new targets for that copy.”
Dethrone – a triggered ability. “Dethrone” means “Whenever this creature attacks the player with the most life or tied for most life, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.”
Devoid – a characteristic-defining ability. “Devoid” means “This object is colorless.” This ability functions everywhere, even outside the game.
Devour – a static ability. “Devour N” means “As this object enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice any number of creatures. This permanent enters the battlefield with N +1/+1 counters on it for each creature sacrificed this way.”
Dimir – the color combination of blue and black
Disturb – an ability found on the front face of some transforming double-faced cards. “Disturb [cost]” means “You may cast this card transformed from your graveyard by paying [cost] rather than its mana cost.”
Dork – a cheap creature that taps to produce mana. See also: mana dork.
Double strike – the creature deals both first strike damage and regular damage.
Dredge – a static ability that functions only while the card with dredge is in a player’s graveyard. “Dredge N” means “As long as you have at least N cards in your library, if you would draw a card, you may instead mill N cards and return this card from your graveyard to your hand.”
Dual land – general shorthand for any land that taps for two colors, but this can also refer to the original cycle of lands that have two land types. Often referred to as “duals”
E
Echo – a permanent must be sacrificed if its echo cost is not paid on the upkeep of its owner’s next turn.
EDH – the original and unofficial name for Commander. It stands for “Elder Dragon Highlander,” a reference to the five Elder Dragons from Legends.
Embalm – an activated ability that functions while the card with embalm is in a graveyard. “Embalm [cost]” means “[Cost], Exile this card from your graveyard: Create a token that’s a copy of this card, except it’s white, it has no mana cost, and it’s a Zombie in addition to its other types. Activate only as a sorcery.”
Enchantment – a permanent type that often has passive abilities.
Encore – an activated ability that functions while the card with encore is in a graveyard. “Encore [cost]” means “[Cost], Exile this card from your graveyard: For each opponent, create a token that’s a copy of this card that attacks that opponent this turn if able. The tokens gain haste. Sacrifice them at the beginning of the next end step. Activate only as a sorcery.”
Emerge – as an alternate casting cost a card may be cast by sacrificing a creature for its emerge cost. The emerge cost is reduced by generic mana equal to the sacrificed creature’s mana value.
Entwine – instead of choosing one mode, choose all.
Epic – Epic represents two spell abilities, one of which creates a delayed triggered ability. “Epic” means “For the rest of the game, you can’t cast spells,” and “At the beginning of each of your upkeeps for the rest of the game, copy this spell except for its epic ability. If the spell has any targets, you may choose new targets for the copy.”
Equipment – an artifact subtype, an Equipment can be equipped to provide certain abilities. See also: equip.
Equip – the activated ability of Equipments to equip. See also: equipment.
Escalate – a static ability of modal spells that functions while the spell with escalate is on the stack. “Escalate [cost]” means “For each mode you choose beyond the first as you cast this spell, you pay an additional [cost].”
Escape – a static ability that functions while the card with escape is in a player’s graveyard. “Escape [cost]” means “You may cast this card from your graveyard by paying [cost] rather than paying its mana cost.”
Esper – the color combination of white, blue and black
Eternalize – an activated ability that functions while the card with eternalize is in a graveyard. “Eternalize [cost]” means “[Cost], Exile this card from your graveyard: Create a token that’s a copy of this card, except it’s black, it’s 4/4, it has no mana cost, and it’s a Zombie in addition to its other types. Activate only as a sorcery.”
Evoke – Evoke represents two abilities: a static ability that functions in any zone from which the card with evoke can be cast and a triggered ability that functions on the battlefield. “Evoke [cost]” means “You may cast this card by paying [cost] rather than paying its mana cost” and “When this permanent enters the battlefield, if its evoke cost was paid, its controller sacrifices it.”
Evolve – a triggered ability. “Evolve” means “Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, if that creature’s power is greater than this creature’s power and/or that creature’s toughness is greater than this creature’s toughness, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.”
Exalted – a triggered ability. “Exalted” means “Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.”
Exploit – a triggered ability. “Exploit” means “When this creature enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice a creature.”
Extort – Extort is a triggered ability. “Extort” means “Whenever you cast a spell, you may pay {W/B}. If you do, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain life equal to the total life lost this way.”
F
Fabricate – a triggered ability. “Fabricate N” means “When this permanent enters the battlefield, you may put N +1/+1 counters on it. If you don’t, create N 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature tokens.”
Fading – a permanent with fading enters the battlefield with X fading counters on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a fading counter from the permanent. If a counter can’t be removed, sacrifice the permanent. See also: vanishing.
Fear – a creature with fear can only be blocked by black or artifact creatures.
Fetch – shorthand for searching a library for a land and putting it onto the battlefield. Named after the term “fetchlands.”
Fetchland – any land that is sacrificed to search for another land. Cycles include tapped lands from Mirage, fetchlands from Onslaught and Prismatic Vista from Modern Horizons.
Firebreathing – a shortcut for the rules text “R: [card name] gets +1/+0 until end of turn.”
First strike – the creature deals combat damage before regular damage is dealt.
Flanking – creatures that block a creature with flanking get -1/-1.
Flashback – a spell with flashback may be cast from the graveyard for its flashback cost. If it is, exile it instead of putting it in the graveyard.
Flying – the creature can only be blocked by other creatures with flying or reach.
Forecast – forecast ability may be activated only during the upkeep step of the card’s owner and only once each turn. The controller of the forecast ability reveals the card with that ability from their hand as the ability is activated. That player plays with that card revealed in their hand until it leaves the player’s hand or until a step or phase that isn’t an upkeep step begins, whichever comes first.
Foretell – a keyword that functions while the card with foretell is in a player’s hand. Any time a player has priority during their turn, that player may pay {2} and exile a card with foretell from their hand face down. That player may look at that card as long as it remains in exile. They may cast that card after the current turn has ended by paying any foretell cost it has rather than paying that spell’s mana cost.
Fortify – an activated ability of Fortification cards. “Fortify [cost]” means “[Cost]: Attach this Fortification to target land you control. Activate only as a sorcery.”
Frenzy – a triggered ability. “Frenzy N” means “Whenever this creature attacks and isn’t blocked, it gets +N/+0 until end of turn.”
Fuse – a static ability found on some split cards that applies while the card with fuse is in a player’s hand. If a player casts a split card with fuse from their hand, the player may choose to cast both halves of that split card rather than choose one half. This choice is made before putting the split card with fuse onto the stack. The resulting spell is a fused split spell.
G
Golgari – the color combination of black and green
Graft – Graft represents both a static ability and a triggered ability. “Graft N” means “This permanent enters the battlefield with N +1/+1 counters on it” and “Whenever another creature enters the battlefield, if this permanent has a +1/+1 counter on it, you may move a +1/+1 counter from this permanent onto that creature.”
Gravestorm – a triggered ability that functions on the stack. “Gravestorm” means “When you cast this spell, copy it for each permanent that was put into a graveyard from the battlefield this turn. If the spell has any targets, you may choose new targets for any of the copies.”
Grey Ogre – a three-mana 2/2 creature. A reference to original card, Grey Ogre
Grixis – the color combination of blue, black and red
Gruul – the color combination of red and green
H
Haunt – a triggered ability. “Haunt” on a permanent means “When this permanent is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, exile it haunting target creature.” “Haunt” on an instant or sorcery spell means “When this spell is put into a graveyard during its resolution, exile it haunting target creature.”
Haste – the creature is unaffected by summoning sickness.
Hexproof – the creature can only be targeted by spells and abilities its controller controls.
Hidden agenda – a static ability that functions as a conspiracy card with hidden agenda is put into the command zone. “Hidden agenda” means “As you put this conspiracy card into the command zone, turn it face down and secretly choose a card name.”
Hideaway – Hideaway represents a static ability and a triggered ability. “Hideaway” means “This permanent enters the battlefield tapped” and “When this permanent enters the battlefield, look at the top four cards of your library. Exile one of them face down and put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order. The exiled card gains ‘Any player who has controlled the permanent that exiled this card may look at this card in the exile zone.’”
High roll – a common method to determine who goes first. Players roll dice and whoever has the highest number chooses play or draw.
Horsemanship – creatures with horsemanship can only be blocked by other creatures with horsemanship.
I
Improvise – a static ability that functions while the spell with improvise is on the stack. “Improvise” means “For each generic mana in this spell’s total cost, you may tap an untapped artifact you control rather than pay that mana.”
Indestructible – the permanent cannot be destroyed or die from lethal damage.
Infect – damage dealt by a source with infect is dealt as -1/-1 counters to creatures or poison counters to players.
Ingest – a triggered ability. “Ingest” means “Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, that player exiles the top card of their library.”
Intimidate – the creature can only be blocked by artifact creatures and creatures that share a color with it.
Izzet – the color combination of blue and red
J
Jeskai – the color combination white, blue and red
Jump-start – Jump-start appears on some instants and sorceries. It represents two static abilities: one that functions while the card is in a player’s graveyard and another that functions while the card is on the stack. “Jump-start” means “You may cast this card from your graveyard if the resulting spell is an instant or sorcery spell by discarding a card as an additional cost to cast it” and “If this spell was cast using its jump-start ability, exile this card instead of putting it anywhere else any time it would leave the stack.”
Jund – the color combination of black, red and green. Also references a long-running Modern deck archetype
K
Kicker – a spell gains additional abilities if its kicker cost is paid in addition to its mana cost.
L
Landwalk – the creature is unblockable as long as defending player controls a corresponding land type of the landwalk ability, ie: a creature with forestwalk is unblockable if defending player controls a Forest.
Level up – an activated ability. “Level up [cost]” means “[Cost]: Put a level counter on this permanent. Activate only as a sorcery.”
Lifelink – a source with lifelink’s controller gains life equal to the damage dealt by the source.
Limited – any format that requires deck construction on entry with a random pool of cards. Cards can either be drafted (Draft) or a player can be given a certain pool of cards from which to build a deck from (Sealed).
Living weapon – a triggered ability. “Living weapon” means “When this Equipment enters the battlefield, create a 0/0 black Phyrexian Germ creature token, then attach this Equipment to it.”
M
Madness – when a spell with madness is discarded, it is discarded into exile. Then, the spell may be cast for its madness cost.
Mana dork – any creature that produces mana
Mardu – the color combination white, black and red
Melee – a triggered ability. “Melee” means “Whenever this creature attacks, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn for each opponent you attacked with a creature this combat.”
Menace – a creature with menace can only be blocked by two or more creatures.
Mentor – a triggered ability. “Mentor” means “Whenever this creature attacks, put a +1/+1 counter on target attacking creature with power less than this creature’s power.”
Midrange – a strategy that meets halfway between aggro and control, looking to close out games in a slower fashion than aggro but quicker than control
Miracle – a static ability linked to a triggered ability. “Miracle [cost]” means “You may reveal this card from your hand as you draw it if it’s the first card you’ve drawn this turn. When you reveal this card this way, you may cast it by paying [cost] rather than its mana cost.”
Mise – to guess or play to your outs. It references the card “Mise,” which involves you guessing the top card of your library
Modular – a creature with modular enters the battlefield with +1/+1 counters on it equal to its modular amount. When that creature dies, you may move the +1/+1 counters to another artifact creature.
Morph – a card with morph may be cast as a 2/2 colorless creature spell with no name or abilities, face down, for three generic mana. The card may turned face up at any time by paying its morph cost.
Mutate – Mutate appears on some creature cards. It represents a static ability that functions while the spell with mutate is on the stack. “Mutate [cost]” means “You may pay [cost] rather than pay this spell’s mana cost. If you do, it becomes a mutating creature spell and targets a non-Human creature with the same owner as this spell.”
Myriad – a triggered ability that may also create a delayed triggered ability. “Myriad” means “Whenever this creature attacks, for each opponent other than defending player, you may create a token that’s a copy of this creature that’s tapped and attacking that player or a planeswalker they control. If one or more tokens are created this way, exile the tokens at end of combat.”
N
Naya – the color combination of white, red and green
Ninjitsu – an activated ability that functions only while the card with ninjutsu is in a player’s hand. “Ninjutsu [cost]” means “[Cost], Reveal this card from your hand, Return an unblocked attacking creature you control to its owner’s hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.”
O
Offering – a static ability that functions while the spell with offering is on the stack. “[Subtype] offering” means “As an additional cost to cast this spell, you may sacrifice a [subtype] permanent. If you chose to pay the additional cost, this spell’s total cost is reduced by the sacrificed permanent’s mana cost, and you may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant.”
Orzhov – the color combination of white and black
Outlast – an activated ability. “Outlast [cost]” means “[Cost], {T}: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. Activate only as a sorcery.”
Overload – a keyword that represents two static abilities that function while the spell with overload is on the stack. Overload [cost] means “You may choose to pay [cost] rather than pay this spell’s mana cost” and “If you chose to pay this spell’s overload cost, change its text by replacing all instances of the word ‘target’ with the word ‘each.’”
P
Partner – an ability that modifies the rules for deck construction in the Commander variant, and it functions before the game begins. Rather than a single legendary creature card, you may designate two legendary creature cards as your commander if each has partner. “Partner with” cards can only be partnered with the named card.
Persist – a triggered ability. “Persist” means “When this permanent is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, 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.”
Phasing – a static ability that modifies the rules of the untap step. During each player’s untap step, before the active player untaps permanents, all phased-in permanents with phasing that player controls “phase out.” Simultaneously, all phased-out permanents that had phased out under that player’s control “phase in.”
Ping – used to reference dealing a single, non-combat damage to a target.
Poisonous – a triggered ability. “Poisonous N” means “Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, that player gets N poison counters.” See also: infect.
Ponza – references land destruction strategies
Protection – a source with protection cannot be targeted, blocked and damage is prevented from what it is protected from.
Provoke – when a creature with provoke attacks, you may untap target creature defending player controls. That creature must block this creature if able.
Prowess (ability) – a triggered ability. “Prowess” means “Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.”
Prowess (archetype) – a strategy of using cheap, aggressive creatures with prowess with cheap spells to trigger prowess.
Prowl – a static ability that functions on the stack. “Prowl [cost]” means “You may pay [cost] rather than pay this spell’s mana cost if a player was dealt combat damage this turn by a source that, at the time it dealt that damage, was under your control and had any of this spell’s creature types.”
Q
R
Rakdos – the color combination of black and red
Ramp – accelerate your mana, an homage to the “original” ramp card, Rampant Growth
Rampage – a triggered ability. “Rampage N” means “Whenever this creature becomes blocked, it gets +N/+N until end of turn for each creature blocking it beyond the first.”
Reach – a creature with reach can block as though it had flying.
Rebound – Rebound appears on some instants and sorceries. It represents a static ability that functions while the spell is on the stack and may create a delayed triggered ability. “Rebound” means “If this spell was cast from your hand, instead of putting it into your graveyard as it resolves, exile it and, at the beginning of your next upkeep, you may cast this card from exile without paying its mana cost.”
Recover – a triggered ability that functions only while the card with recover is in a player’s graveyard. “Recover [cost]” means “When a creature is put into your graveyard from the battlefield, you may pay [cost]. If you do, return this card from your graveyard to your hand. Otherwise, exile this card.”
Reinforce – an activated ability that functions only while the card with reinforce is in a player’s hand. “Reinforce N—[cost]” means “[Cost], Discard this card: Put N +1/+1 counters on target creature.”
Renown – a triggered ability. “Renown N” means “When this creature deals combat damage to a player, if it isn’t renowned, put N +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes renowned.” Renowned creatures cannot be renowned again if they’re already renowned.
Replicate – a keyword that represents two abilities. The first is a static ability that functions while the spell with replicate is on the stack. The second is a triggered ability that functions while the spell with replicate is on the stack. “Replicate [cost]” means “As an additional cost to cast this spell, you may pay [cost] any number of times” and “When you cast this spell, if a replicate cost was paid for it, copy it for each time its replicate cost was paid. If the spell has any targets, you may choose new targets for any of the copies.”
Retrace – Retrace appears on some instants and sorceries. It represents a static ability that functions while the card with retrace is in a player’s graveyard. “Retrace” means “You may cast this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card as an additional cost to cast it.”
Riot – a static ability. “Riot” means “You may have this permanent enter the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter on it. If you don’t, it gains haste.”
Ripple – a triggered ability that functions only while the card with ripple is on the stack. “Ripple N” means “When you cast this spell, you may reveal the top N cards of your library, or, if there are fewer than N cards in your library, you may reveal all the cards in your library. If you reveal cards from your library this way, you may cast any of those cards with the same name as this spell without paying their mana costs, then put all revealed cards not cast this way on the bottom of your library in any order.”
S
Sac – shorthand for “sacrifice,” can be used interchangeably.
Scavenge – an activated ability that functions only while the card with scavenge is in a graveyard. “Scavenge [cost]” means “[Cost], Exile this card from your graveyard: Put a number of +1/+1 counters equal to the power of the card you exiled on target creature. Activate only as a sorcery.”
Scoop – to concede the game, “scooping” up your cards to put them away or shuffle again.
Selesnya – the color combination of white and green
Shadow – creatures with shadow can only block and be blocked by creatures with shadow.
Shard – any of the five original three-color combinations from Shards of Alara (Bant, Esper, Grixis, Jund, Naya)
Shock – referencing the card Shock, shorthand for dealing two direct damage to a target
Shockland – any land from the three Ravnica blocks that has two land types and enters the battlefield tapped unless you pay two life.
Shroud – a permanent with shroud cannot be the target of spells or abilities.
Simic – the color combination of blue and green
Skulk – a creature with skulk cannot be blocked by creatures with higher power than it.
Soulbound – a keyword that represents two triggered abilities. “Soulbond” means “When this creature enters the battlefield, if you control both this creature and another creature and both are unpaired, you may pair this creature with another unpaired creature you control for as long as both remain creatures on the battlefield under your control” and “Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, if you control both that creature and this one and both are unpaired, you may pair that creature with this creature for as long as both remain creatures on the battlefield under your control.”
Soulshift – when this creature dies, return a Spirit card with mana value X or less from your graveyard to your hand, where X is the soulshift value.
Spectacle – a static ability that functions on the stack. “Spectacle [cost]” means “You may pay [cost] rather than pay this spell’s mana cost if an opponent lost life this turn.”
Splice – reveal a splice card from your hand when casting a spell associated with its splice ability and paying the splice cost. Add the splice card’s text to the cast spell. Often used for splice onto Arcane.
Split second – a static ability that functions only while the spell with split second is on the stack. “Split second” means “As long as this spell is on the stack, players can’t cast other spells or activate abilities that aren’t mana abilities.”
Storm – when a spell with storm is cast, copy it for each spell cast before it this turn.
Sultai – the color combination of blue, black and green
Summoning sickness – creatures enter the battlefield with summoning sickness and cannot attack or use tap abilities until its controller’s next turn.
Sunburst – a card with sunburst enters the battlefield with charge counters (if it’s a noncreature permanent) or +1/+1 counters (if it’s a creature) equal to the number of colors used to cast it. See also: converge.
Surge – a static ability that functions while the spell with surge is on the stack. “Surge [cost]” means “You may pay [cost] rather than pay this spell’s mana cost as you cast this spell if you or one of your teammates has cast another spell this turn.”
Suspend – a keyword that represents three abilities. The first is a static ability that functions while the card with suspend is in a player’s hand. The second and third are triggered abilities that function in the exile zone. “Suspend N—[cost]” means “If you could begin to cast this card by putting it onto the stack from your hand, you may pay [cost] and exile it with N time counters on it. This action doesn’t use the stack,” and “At the beginning of your upkeep, if this card is suspended, remove a time counter from it,” and “When the last time counter is removed from this card, if it’s exiled, play it without paying its mana cost if able. If you can’t, it remains exiled. If you cast a creature spell this way, it gains haste until you lose control of the spell or the permanent it becomes.”
T
Temur – the color combination of blue, red and green
Totem armor – a static ability that appears on some Auras. “Totem armor” means “If enchanted permanent would be destroyed, instead remove all damage marked on it and destroy this Aura.”
Trample – excess combat damage dealt by an attacking creature with trample is dealt to the opponent blocking.
Transfigure – an activated ability. “Transfigure [cost]” means “[Cost], Sacrifice this permanent: Search your library for a creature card with the same mana value as this permanent and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library. Activate only as a sorcery.”
Transmute – an activated ability that functions only while the card with transmute is in a player’s hand. “Transmute [cost]” means “[Cost], Discard this card: Search your library for a card with the same mana value as the discarded card, reveal that card, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library. Activate only as a sorcery.”
Tribute – a static ability that functions as the creature with tribute is entering the battlefield. “Tribute N” means “As this creature enters the battlefield, choose an opponent. That player may put an additional N +1/+1 counters on it as it enters the battlefield.”
Tutor – in Magic, to search your library for a card. A reference to the original card, Demonic Tutor
U
Undaunted – a static ability that functions while the spell with undaunted is on the stack. Undaunted means “This spell costs {1} less to cast for each opponent you have.”
Undying – a triggered ability. “Undying” means “When this permanent is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, 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.”
Unearth – an activated ability that functions while the card with unearth is in a graveyard. “Unearth [cost]” means “[Cost]: Return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield. It gains haste. Exile it at the beginning of the next end step. If it would leave the battlefield, exile it instead of putting it anywhere else. Activate only as a sorcery.”
Unleash – a keyword that represents two static abilities. “Unleash” means “You may have this permanent enter the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter on it” and “This permanent can’t block as long as it has a +1/+1 counter on it.”
V
Vanishing – a keyword that represents three abilities. “Vanishing N” means “This permanent enters the battlefield with N time counters on it,” “At the beginning of your upkeep, if this permanent has a time counter on it, remove a time counter from it,” and “When the last time counter is removed from this permanent, sacrifice it.” See also: fading.
Vehicle – an artifact subtype, Vehicles become creatures when their activated abilities are activated, often (but not always) through a crew cost.
Vigilance – attacking doesn’t cause this creature to tap.
W
Ward – spells and abilities targeting a source with ward are countered unless that spell or ability’s controller pays the ward cost.
Wedge – any of the second set of three-color combinations from Khans of Tarkir (Abzan, Jeskai, Sultai, Mardu, Temur)
Wither – a static ability. Damage dealt to a creature by a source with wither isn’t marked on that creature. Rather, it causes that source’s controller to put that many -1/-1 counters on that creature.
WURBG – all five colors of Magic. White, Blue, Black, Red, Green
WotC – shorthand for “Wizards of the Coast”
X
Y
