Characteristic-Setting Ability
Some objects have intrinsic static abilities which state that that object “has” one or more characteristics; “is” one or more particular types, supertypes, subtypes, or colors; or that one or more of its characteristics “is” or “are” a particular value. These abilities are characteristic-setting abilities. See rule 405.2.
Cleanup Step
Cleanup is the second and final step of the end phase. Spells and abilities may be played during this step only if the conditions for any state-based effects exist or if any abilities have triggered. In that case, the step repeats. See rule 314, “Cleanup Step.”
Collector Number
Some card sets feature collector numbers. This information is printed in the form [card number]/[total cards in the set], immediately following the legal text. These numbers have no effect on game play. See rule 211, “Collector Number.”
Color
The only colors in the Magic game are white, blue, black, red, and green. An object can be one or more of those colors or it can be colorless. “Colorless” isn’t a color; neither are “artifact,” “land,” “brown,” “gold,” and so on. See rule 203.2.
An object’s color is determined by the color(s) of the mana symbols in its mana cost.
Effects may change an object’s color. If an effect gives an object a new color, the new color replaces all previous colors the object had.
Colorless
An object with no color is colorless. Lands are colorless because they have no mana cost. Artifacts are colorless because they have no colored mana in their mana costs. Face-down creatures are colorless due to the effects that turn them face down. A colorless object can be given a color by an effect. See rule 203.2.
Colorless mana
Numeral symbols (such as {1}) and variable symbols (such as {X}) can represent colorless mana if they appear in the effect of a spell or ability that reads, “add [mana symbol] to your mana pool,” or something similar. See rule 104.3d.
Combat Damage
Combat damage is dealt during the combat damage step of the combat phase by attacking creatures and blocking creatures. It doesn’t include damage dealt by spells and abilities during the combat phase. See rule 310, “Combat Damage Step.”
Combat Damage Step
The combat damage step is the fourth step of the combat phase. Attacking and blocking creatures deal damage in the combat damage step. A player may play spells and abilities during this step whenever he or she has priority. See rule 310, “Combat Damage Step.” If any attacking or blocking creature has first strike (see rule 502.2) or double strike (see rule 502.28), there are two combat damage steps.
Combat Phase
Combat is the third phase of the turn. The combat phase has five steps: beginning of combat, declare attackers, declare blockers, combat damage, and end of combat. See rules 306-311.
Comes into Play
A permanent comes into play when the card or token representing it is moved into the in-play zone. A permanent whose type or controller changes doesn’t “come into play.”
Permanents come into play untapped and under the control of whoever put them into play.
When a permanent comes into play, first apply any replacement effects, then apply continuous effects, then check to determine if the current form of the permanent generates any triggered abilities.
Example: If an instruction causes something to come into play tapped, it isn’t put into play untapped and then tapped.
Concede
A player may concede a game at any time. A player who concedes leaves the game immediately. He or she loses the game. See rule 102.
Constructed
In constructed play, each player needs his or her own deck of at least sixty cards, small items to represent any tokens and counters, and some way to clearly track life totals. A constructed deck can have any number of basic land cards and no more than four of any card with a particular English name other than basic land cards. See rule 100.2.
Continuous Effect
Continuous effects are usually active as long as the permanent with the associated static ability remains in play or the object with the associated static ability remains in the appropriate zone.
A spell or ability can create a continuous effect that doesn’t depend on a permanent. These last as long as the spell or ability specifies. If no duration is specified, a continuous effect lasts the rest of the game. See rule 418, “Continuous Effects.”
Continuous Artifact (Obsolete)
Some older cards used the term “continuous artifact” on the card’s type line. They were artifacts without activated abilities. Cards that were printed with the term “continuous artifact” now simply use “artifact.”
Control, Controller
A permanent’s controller is whoever put it into play unless the spell or ability that put the permanent into play states otherwise. Other effects can later change a permanent’s controller.
A spell or activated ability on the stack is controlled by whoever played it. A copy of a spell is controlled by the player who put it on the stack. A triggered ability on the stack is controlled by the player who controlled its source at the time it triggered.
Objects in zones other than in play or the stack have no controller. If anything asks for the controller of an object that doesn’t have a controller, use its owner instead.
Controlling Another Player’s Turn
One card (Mindslaver) allows a player to control another player’s turn. The controller of another player’s turn makes all choices and decisions that player is allowed to make, or is told to make, during that turn by rules or by any objects. A player doesn’t lose life due to mana burn while another player controls his or her turn. See rule 507, “Controlling Another Player’s Turn.”
Converted Mana Cost
The converted mana cost of an object is the total amount of mana in its mana cost, regardless of color. If an object has no mana cost, its converted mana cost is 0. See rule 203, “Mana Cost and Color.”
Example: An Air Elemental has a mana cost of {3}{U}{U} and a converted mana cost of 5.
Convoke
Convoke is a static ability that functions while the spell is on the stack. “Convoke” means “As an additional cost to play this spell, you may tap any number of untapped creatures you control. Each creature tapped this way reduces the cost to play this spell by {1} or by one mana of any of that creature’s colors.” Using the convoke ability follows the rules for paying additional costs in rules 409.1b and 409.1f-h. It can’t reduce the cost to play a spell to less than 0. See rule 502.46, “Convoke.”
Copiable Values
An object’s “copiable values” are the values that are printed on the object, as modified by other copy effects, plus any values set for face-down spells or permanents and any values set by “comes into play as” abilities. Other effects (including type-changing effects) and counters are not copied. See rules 503.2 and 503.3.
Copy
A “copy” of an object is an object whose copiable values have been set to those of the first object. See rule 503, “Copying Objects.”
Cost
Playing spells and activated abilities requires paying a cost. Most costs are paid in mana, but costs may also include paying life, tapping or sacrificing permanents, discarding cards, and so on.
A player can’t pay a cost unless he or she has the necessary resources to pay it fully. For example, a player with only 1 life can’t pay a cost of 2 life, and a permanent that’s already tapped can’t be tapped to pay a cost. See rule 203, “Mana Cost and Color,” and rule 403, “Activated Abilities.”
Counter
Counter has two meanings in the Magic game.
1. To counter a spell or ability is to cancel it, removing it from the stack. It doesn’t resolve and none of its effects occur. A countered spell is put into its owner’s graveyard. See rule 414, “Countering Spells and Abilities.”
2. A count
er is a marker placed on an object, either modifying its characteristics or interacting with an effect. A +X/+Y counter on a permanent, where X and Y are numbers, adds X to that permanent’s power and Y to that permanent’s toughness. These bonuses are added after permanent-type changing effects and after most other power and toughness changing effects. Similarly, -X/-Y counters subtract from power and toughness. See rule 418.5a. Counters with the same name or description are interchangeable. Counters may also be given to players. For information about poison counters, see rule 102.3d.
If a permanent has both a +1/+1 counter and a -1/-1 counter on it, N +1/+1 and N -1/-1 counters are removed from it, where N is the smaller of the number of +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters on it. This is a state-based effect; see rule 420.5n.
Counts As (Obsolete)
Some older cards were printed with text stating that the card “counts as” something. As far as the game rules and other cards are concerned, the card is that thing. (Newer Magic cards use “is” instead.)
Creature
Creature is a type. The active player may play creatures during his or her main phase when the stack is empty. When a creature spell resolves, its controller puts it into play under his or her control. See rule 212.3, “Creatures.”
Creature Type
Creature subtypes are always a single word and are listed after a long dash: “Creature – Human Soldier,” “Artifact Creature – Golem,” and so on. Creature subtypes are also called creature types. Creatures may have multiple subtypes.
The list of creature types, updated through the Time Spiral set, is as follows:
Abomination, Aboroth, Advisor, Aladdin, Albatross, Alchemist, Ali-Baba, Ali-from-Cairo, Alligator, Ambush-Party, Angel, Ant, Antelope, Ape, Archaeologist, Archer, Archon, Artificer, Asp, Assassin, Assembly-Worker, Atog, Aurochs, Avatar, Avenger, Avizoa, Badger, Ball-Lightning, Bandit, Banshee, Barbarian, Barishi, Basilisk, Bat, Bear, Beast, Bee, Beeble, Being, Berserker, Bird, Blinkmoth, Boar, Bodyguard, Bringer, Brother, Brownie, Brushwagg, Bull, Bureaucrat, Camarid, Camel, Caravan, Caribou, Carnivore, Carriage, Carrier, Cat, Cave-People, Centaur, Cephalid, Cheetah, Chicken, Child, Chimera, Citizen, Clamfolk, Cleric, Cobra, Cockatrice, Constable, Construct, Cow, Crab, Crocodile, Crusader, Cyclops, Dauthi, Demon, Deserter, Designer, Devil, Devouring-Deep, Dinosaur, Djinn, Dog, Donkey, Doppelganger, Dragon, Dragonfly, Drake, Dreadnought, Drill-Sergeant, Drone, Druid, Dryad, Dwarf, Eater, Eel, Effigy, Efreet, Egg, Elder, Elemental, Elephant, Elf, El-Hajjвj, Enchantress, Entity, Erne, Essence, Exorcist, Expansion-Symbol, Eye, Faerie, Fallen, Farmer, Ferret, Fiend, Fish, Flagbearer, Fox, Frog, Frostbeast, Fungus, Fungusaur, Gaea’s-Avenger, Gamer, Gargoyle, Gatekeeper, General, Ghost, Ghoul, Giant, Gnome, Goat, Goblin, Golem, Gorgon, Graveborn, Gremlin, Griffin, Guardian, Gus, Gypsy, Hag, Harlequin, Heretic, Hero, Hipparion, Hippo, Homarid, Hornet, Horror, Horse, Horseman, Hound, Human, Hydra, Hyena, Illusion, Imp, Incarnation, Infernal-Denizen, Inquisitor, Insect, Island-Fish, Jackal, Jellyfish, Juggernaut, Kavu, Keeper, Kelp, King, Kirin, Kithkin, Knight, Kobold, Kor, Kraken, Lady-of-Proper-Etiquette, Lammasu, Leech, Legionnaire, Lemure, Leper, Leviathan, Lhurgoyf, Licid, Lizard, Lord, Lurker, Lycanthrope, Mage, Maiden, Mammoth, Manticore, Marid, Martyr, Master, Medusa, Mercenary, Merchant, Merfolk, Mime, Minion, Minor, Minotaur, Miracle-Worker, Mist, Mob, Mold-Demon, Monger, Mongoose, Monk, Monster, Moonfolk, Mummy, Murk-Dwellers, Mutant, Myr, Mystic, Nameless-Race, Narwhal, Nephilim, Niall-Silvain, Nightmare, Nightstalker, Ninja, Noble, Nomad, Octopus, Ogre, Ooze, Orb, Orc, Orgg, Ouphe, Ox, Oyster, Paladin, Paratrooper, Peacekeeper, Pegasus, Penguin, Pentavite, People-of-the-Woods, Pest, Phantasm, Phelddagrif, Phoenix, Pig, Pikemen, Pincher, Pirate, Pixie-Queen, Plant, Poison-Snake, Poltergeist, Pony, Preacher, Priest, Prism, Pyknite, Rabbit, Raider, Ranger, Rat, Rebel, Reflection, Rhino, Robber, Roc, Rock-Sled, Rogue, Sage, Salamander, Samurai, Sand, Saproling, Satyr, Scavenger, Scorpion, Scout, Serf, Serpent, Shade, Shaman, Shapeshifter, Shark, Sheep, Ship, Shyft, Singing-Tree, Sister, Skeleton, Slith, Sliver, Slug, Smith, Snake, Soldier, Soltari, Sorceress, Spawn, Speaker, Specter, Spellshaper, Sphinx, Spider, Spike, Spirit, Splinter, Sponge, Spuzzem, Spy, Squirrel, Stangg-Twin, Starfish, Strider, Survivor, Swarm, Tactician, Tarpan, Teddy, Tetravite, Thief, The-Biggest-Baddest-Nastiest-Scariest-Creature-You’ll-Ever-See, Thopter, Thrull, Thundermare, Tiger, Titan, Toad, Tortoise, Townsfolk, Tracker, Treefolk, Triskelavite, Troll, Turtle, Twin, Undead, Unicorn, Vampire, Vedalken, Viashino, Villain, Viper, Volver, Vulture, Waiter, Walking-Dead, Wall, War-Rider, Warrior, Wasp, Weird, Whale, Whippoorwill, Wight, Wiitigo, Wirefly, Witch, Wizard, Wolf, Wolverine, Wolverine-Pack, Wolves-of-the-Hunt, Wombat, Worm, Wraith, Wretched, Wurm, Yeti, Zombie, Zubera
Cumulative Upkeep
Cumulative upkeep is a triggered ability that imposes an increasing cost on a permanent. “Cumulative upkeep [cost]” means “At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on this permanent, then sacrifice this permanent unless you pay [cost] for each age counter on 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 are paid. Partial payments aren’t allowed. Note that if a permanent has more than one instance of cumulative upkeep, each creates a separate triggered ability at the beginning of upkeep that counts all the age counters on the permanent from all abilities. See rule 502.13, “Cumulative Upkeep.”
Cycling
Cycling is an activated ability that functions only while the card with cycling is in a player’s hand. “Cycling [cost]” means “[Cost], Discard this card: Draw a card.” See rule 502.18, “Cycling.”
Damage
Damage can be dealt to creatures and/or players.
Damage dealt to a player is subtracted from his or her life total.
Damage dealt to a creature stays on the permanent until end of turn, even if it stops being a creature. A creature with damage greater than or equal to its toughness has been dealt lethal damage and is destroyed. (See rule 420, “State-Based Effects.”) Damage doesn’t alter a creature’s toughness. A noncreature permanent isn’t affected by damage (but if it becomes a creature again before the damage is removed, the creature may be destroyed). During the cleanup step, all damage is removed from permanents.
Costs and effects that read “lose life” or “pay life” don’t deal damage, and that loss of life can’t be prevented or otherwise altered by effects that prevent or replace damage.
Deck
A player’s deck is the collection of cards that player starts the game with. When the game begins, each player’s deck becomes his or her library. See section 100, “General,” and section 101, “Starting the Game.”
Declare Attackers
To declare attackers, the active player chooses a set of creatures that will attack and pays any costs they require to attack. Only creatures can attack, and the following creatures can’t attack: tapped creatures (even those that can attack without tapping) and creatures the active player didn’t control continuously since the beginning of the turn (except those with haste). Other effects may also affect whether or not a set of creatures could attack. See rule 500, “Legal Attacks and Blocks.”
Declare Attackers Step
The declare attackers step is the second step of the combat phase. The active player declares attackers during this step (or chooses not to attack). Then the active player gets priority and players may play spells and abilities. See rule 308, “Declare Attackers Step.”
Declare Blockers
To declare blockers, the defending player chooses a set of creatures that will block and pays any costs they require to block. Only untapped creatures can block, but blocking doesn’t cause creatures to tap. Other effects may also affect whether or not a set of creatures could block. See rule 500, “Legal Attacks and Blocks.”
Declare Blockers Step
The declare blockers step is the third step of the combat phase. The defending player declares blockers during this step (or chooses not to block). Then the active player gets pr
iority and players may play spells and abilities. See rule 309, “Declare Blockers Step.”
Defender
Defender is a static ability. Creatures with defender can’t attack.
Defending Player
During the combat phase, the active player is attacking and is the attacking player. As the combat phase starts, the active player chooses one opponent. The chosen opponent is being attacked and is the defending player. Creatures can attack only the defending player; they can’t attack other creatures. During phases other than combat, there is no defending player. See rule 306.3.
Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules Page 18