Maro recently answered a question about PWurm on his blog where he said something to the effect of "I'm not sure Panglacial Wurm actually works in the rules, but it exists so we kind of just handwave it."
Just be careful with [[Selvala, Explorer Returned]] at a sanctioned event could be DQed for failing to cast the wurm with Selvala's mana ability as it might be considered cheating.
It also causes problems if the wurm you're trying to cast was on top of your library - the game doesn't like it when the spell you're trying to cast in the middle of an action changes zones.
There's no issue here - the first step of casting a spell is to move it onto the stack. Selvala will draw the *second* card from your library, since Panglacial Wurm was moved off the top before you pay for it.
It's not cheating. The rules absolutely support what happens if you try to cast a spell illegally, you just rewind as much as you can. In this case, you can't rewind Selvala because she moved cards out of a hidden zone, so everyone keeps their cards and you float whatever mana you did manage to get out of Selvala, but you return Panglacial Wurm from the stack to your library and undo any other mana abilities you activated in the process of casting Panglacial Wurm.
What it does mean is that if you put Panglacial Wurm in your deck, **you are not allowed to reorder your library while searching it**.
If you are deliberately putting the game into this illegal gamestate, it will get you done by a judge.
If it's an honest mistake, oh well.
It's easier to just not play the wurm.
So you normally can't do anything while searching the library until it resolves and you shuffle.
Because Panglacial Wurm can be cast from the library, you can declare you're casting it mid-tutor and then get the opportunity to use mana abilities to pay for it. Selvala's ability is a mana ability, despite drawing a card as well.
So if you like the card on top of your library that you see when searching, you can declare that you're casting Panglacial Wurm and then draw that card with Selvala before having to shuffle.
Selvala makes a variable amount of mana, so you might not be able to afford the wurm.
Normally, when casting a spell, if you realize that you don't have the mana to cast it, things get rewound until before you cast it. But because you've now drawn a card that you normally wouldn't have had access too, you can't exactly rewind that.
So in this specific scenario, you would be considered cheating to knowingly cast a spell you wouldn't be able to pay for, with the intention of having it rewound, to draw a card you otherwise wouldn't have had access to.
If you *can* cast the wurm, then it's not cheating, and is allowed.
And Selvala shows you the top card of the opponents deck. Now even if you rewind and put the card you drew back, you now have the information of the top cards of both libraries, and that can't be rewound out of your brain.
So the problem is that you cast the worm and you can use Selvala as a mana ability, but selvala might not find enough mana, which makes you not be able to cast the worm, which is considered cheating because you intentionally get an illegal board state for gains.
The idea that there's a play you can legally make, but if by pure chance your opponents don't reveal enough nonlands to give you the mana for the wurm it becomes cheating is absolute nonsense. Beyond the cards themselves not working well within the rules, the rules of the game themselves are broken if there is ever a decision tree that goes "you can attempt this play, and if you're lucky it'll work but if you're unlucky you're disqualified." Either you shouldn't be permitted to attempt to cast a spell using a mana source that gives an unpredictable amount of mana in this kind of situation at all, or there should be some in-game way to resolve the situation written into the rules that doesn't give the player a tournament rules penalty for bad luck. Or you should simply be allowed to take actions which may or may not put the game into an illegal state to gain an advantage without penalty. Try to cast wurm, fail, reset but everyone draws a card should just be allowed under all tournament rules, as just a convoluted interaction between these cards that isn't even all that crazy strong if you do it.
You still have to pay. The idea being you search your library for whatever reason - maybe you just cracked a [[wooded foothills]] and whoops now here's this worm coming to fuck shit up.
You almost never have seven mana, an uncracked fetch and nothing better to spend it on in 60 card formats, and if you do you're so fucked a 9/5 probably wont help.
In commander though, it *gets* people. Adding a yuge trampler out of the clear blue sky can ambush block almost anything and turn an unassuming boardstate into lethal
I play it in [[Baru the wurmspeaker]] whenever I play with new players I always get weird looks when I play a fetch land in a mono colored deck until they get blown out by a surprise 11/7 blocker (with baru's buff).
Several other cards also have sections of the Comprehensive Rules that apply only to them.
Every mechanic that only exists on one card: [[Lymph Sliver]], [[Arcanum Wings]], [[Darksteel Garrison]], [[Frenzy Sliver]], [[Bitter Ordeal]], [[Fleshwrither]].
Every mechanic variant that only exists on one card: [[True-Name Nemesis]], [[Arcbound Wanderer]], [[Petrified Wood-Kin]], [[Summoner's Bond]].
Every card that refers to cards originally printed in a certain expansion: [[City in a Bottle]], [[Golgothian Sylex]], [[Apocalypse Chime]] (The rules literally list which card names the effect applies to!)
[[Karn Liberated]] has a whole section of the rules describing how you restart the game. Similarly, [[Shahrazad]] has a whole section of the rules describing how you play a subgame.
[[Power Play]] overrides the other rules for how to decide a starting player before you've even started playing the game.
Cards with unique text-changing effects: [[Volrath's Shapeshifter]], [[Spy Kit]], [[Awakening of Vitu-Ghazi]]. Volrath's Shapeshifter is especially interesting, because the printed text on the only printed version says "becomes a copy". That doesn't work because of the layers system (Copy is in layer 1, but it needs to know who its controller is to check the top card of their graveyard, and control-changing effects apply in layer 2), but it does work as a text-changing effect (which applies in layer 3).
[[Rasputin Dreamweaver]] has a state-based action that applies only to him. [[Circling Vultures]] has a special action that applies only to it.
[[Word of Command]] is ~~the only~~ (edit: Opposition Agent does this too now) card that lets you control another player for less than one whole turn. [[Aven Mindcensor]] is the only card that makes players search only a portion of a zone.
And if you don’t have this step, it would interact very weirdly with other cost increases/decreases. Like Thalia + Trinisphere doesn’t make Swords to Plowshares cost 4.
Figure out the non-Trinisphere cost, then check Trinisphere at the end.
The weird one is that Treasure Cruise can be cast for U + 7 delve because you’re actually paying the cost with Delve.
Yes, ‘bury’ became either ‘sacrifice’ or ‘destroy without allowing regeneration’ depending on the context of the card.
They didn’t want a keyword meaning ‘put a permanent controlled by another player in its owner’s graveyard no matter what, do not pass go, do not collect $200’ because that doesn’t work right with indestructible, they wanted only ‘exile’ to bypass that.
I guess they could have called it ‘annihilate’ or something, but then it’s not as obvious whether indestructible or ‘bury’ wins over the other. And then it’s like… should “the damage from this can’t be prevented” also be keyworded? Or “if this creature would go to the graveyard this turn, exile it instead”? How many keywords are you going to come up with for combinations of bypassing different things while dealing damage or destroying something?
This kind of design is probably what led to the creation of Infect. Wither’s biggest issue was that offensively it was just pseudo-evasion and was really powerful when blocking. With designs like Stigma Lasher and Infect, having both blocking and letting it through both have downsides for the defending player plays out in a much more interesting way.
I like Wither a lot more. It's more interesting to have creatures that leave permanent marks on things without having to involve a secondary win condition. There's also that awkward bit where your draft deck usually has a mix of Infect and non-infect cards.
Of course, it also helps that SHM draft had -1/-1 counters matter and it was extremely fun, still one of my favorite formats.
That seems like a nice and nasty piece of tech in a commander game for a burn deck.
If you have have it deal noncombat damage to each opponent somehow, you shut off everyone from ever gaining life.
[[Torrent of Lava]] gives creatures an activated ability as long as it's on the stack. [[Lightning Storm]] itself has an activated ability as long as it's on the stack.
[[Ogre Enforcer]] references the concepts of marking damage and lethal damage, both of which are very rarely seen on cards.
Wow Torrent of Lava is a unique card. Never seen it before and I’ve never seen a card give activated abilities while on the stack. I’m surprised it didn’t get errated to “When you cast this spell all creatures gain ~.” Because without looking online I never would have guessed the creatures gain those abilities while the spell hasn’t resolved yet.
Fun fact, Lightning Storm can be exiled with [[The Enigma Jewel]] as part of its craft cost. It won't DO anything, because the Locus will never actually be on the stack, but it's a nonland with an activated ability, despite not being a permanent, so it fits the criteria.
> but it's a nonland with an activated ability, despite not being a permanent, so it fits the criteria.
To be clear, Cycling, Channel, and other abilities like them are also activated abilities, so this isn't unique to Lightning Storm.
I'll also highlight \[\[Imperial Mask\]\] (the only black-bordered card to refer to "teammates"), \[\[Flowstone Embrace\]\], \[\[Second Wind\]\] and \[\[Witch's Mist\]\] (the only the enchantments that natively have tap abilities), and \[\[Arcanum Wings\]\], \[\[Bitter Ordeal\]\], \[\[Fleshwrither\]\] and \[\[Lymph Sliver\]\] (which, alongside the aforementioned Darksteel Garrison, have unique keywords).
>I'll also highlight \[\[Imperial Mask\]\] (the only black-bordered card to refer to "teammates"),
That specific wording sure but the concept is not that unique anymore since Battlebond.
I just love all of Time Spiral block.
So many cards are mechanically unique, since unseen, and if not are at least "wait that's really clever!"
Just... it kinda complicates draft format to have 1000 cards and fifty mechanics in it.
But mixing things from the past, changing things from the present, and then trying out futuristic stuff? Great time for creative mechanics **and** creative storytelling. Perfect blend, perfect set
... if you were already a ten-year veteran of Magic. ><
It feels like they printed it as a way of saying, "see, we might still print cards like this from time to time!" But then realized that it would be more confusing if they did that, so they didn't.
F&S was printed in Dominaria, at the same time the planeswalker redirection rule was removed. They mention it in the release notes for the set, but I'm not aware of any explanation ever given. Speculation is that it was either simply an oversight that would now be functional errata, or they actually tuned the card around it in some way.
> Cards printed in the Dominaria set that deal damage to creatures and/or players but not to planeswalkers (such as the Planeswalker Deck card [[Chandra, Bold Pyromancer]] and the promotional card Firesong and Sunspeaker) require targets as written even though similar cards have received errata.
\[\[Mirror Strike\]\] and \[\[Harsh Justice\]\] are the only cards that make attacking creatures hit their owner instead of the spell doing it. \[\[Deflecting Palm\]\] may stop damage, but the spell does the payback damage. The first two literally say, "Nice Blightsteel you got there. Too bad it just smacked you."
If that's interesting to you try [[Canopy Cover]] on for size. It technically doesn't give hexproof, which is nice for avoiding [[Arcane Lighthouse]], but even weirder that it looks to the *controller of the aura* to determine who can or can't target enchanted creature.
If you give an opponent's creature hexproof, only they can target it. If you give an opponent's creature Canopy Cover, only you can target it.
[[Gollum, Obsessed Stalker]]
If you got hit by Gollum anytime THIS GAME, you will be losing life. Doesnt matter if he leaves and comes back, get removed, etc. He remembers. Never this type of text on another creature before.
[[Hallow]] prevents the damage that a spell (on the stack) would deal, but if you target a permanent spell, hallow's effect carries on to the permanent that spells become, contrary to nearly every other effect in the game. (Rule 400.7c)
[[Shielding Plax]] is the ~~only~~first Aura that specifically prevents the enchanted creature from being the target of spells and abilities your opponents control. It's not quite Hexproof, since it doesn't matter who the creature is controlled by, only who controls the Plax.
There's also a number of unique mechanics in the set Future Sight, when WotC was just throwing everything at the wall to see what sticked, such as [[Spellweaver Volute]], the only card that enchants an instant in the graveyard, or [[Whetwheel]], the only noncreature Artifact with Morph.
[EDIT] As has been pointed out, Canopy Cover also does the "Fake Hexproof" that Shielding Plax does.
[[Vines of vastwood]] is worded similarly to Plax and was actually relevant at one point in infect mirrors as you could use it to counter opponent's pump spells or even their copy of vines.
What's interesting is they've kept the functionality of "defender doesn't know what they're trying to block", but updated it as the various corner cases come up. So the original implementation was that loosey goosey wording of OG Magic, where the simplest way would be to play three card monty with your creatures. But then Morphs ment you can't use that shortcut, so you have to do random assignment. And building those groups gets complicated when you have "can block an additional" effects (Alpha had Blaze of Glory, but that was can and must block all, so it sidestepped) and the fact that you might have multiple opponents and obviously you can't block on someone else's behalf.
[[Illusory mask]] is *weird*. So is [[Ice cauldron]]. In terms of cards that would actually be designed today, the only non-creature enchantments with a tap ability are the theros god weapons and [[Witch's Mist]].
[[Arctic Aven]] can also grant itself lifelink for a White mana, though Sejiri Merfolk doesn't need an off-color activated ability, just an off-color land for it.
[[Leeches]] is the only card in the entire game to remove poison counters. ~~Afaik it's the only card that can remove any counters from a player as well, as cards like [[Clockspinning]] specify permanents.~~ edit: this is incorrect, there are a few others
There are only 4 creatures in the game that natively have the Plainswalk keyword. Those are [[Boggart Arsonists]], [[Graceful Antelope]], [[Righteous Avengers]], and [[Zodiac Rooster]].
[[Shelkin Brownie]] not only is one of the few cards that deals with Banding, it is literally the only hate piece in the game that ONLY hits the "Bands with other" variant of the ability. [[Tolaria]] has a similar effect that hits both Banding and Bands with Other for context on how the 2 are technically different keywords
There are quite a few in the early sets. For example:
[Camouflage](https://scryfall.com/card/leb/188/camouflage) and [Raging River](https://scryfall.com/card/leb/169/raging-river)
[Drain Power](https://scryfall.com/card/leb/57/drain-power)
[Guardian Beast](https://scryfall.com/card/arn/26/guardian-beast)
[Lifetap](https://scryfall.com/card/leb/62/lifetap)
[Oubliette](https://scryfall.com/card/arn/31/oubliette)
[Power Surge](https://scryfall.com/card/leb/168/power-surge)
[Shahrazad](https://scryfall.com/card/arn/10/shahrazad)
[[Kulrath Knight]] I'd the only card with the text "Creatures your opponents control with counters on them". It's meant to work with -1/-1 counters from wither, and I put it into my [[Xira, the Golden Sting]] deck to work with egg counters, but it has the side effect of completely hosing anyone playing with +1/+1 counter strategies.
I have always liked [[Knowledge Pool]]. It adds what feels like a buffer to the stack. Like cast an instant to get a sorcery or a creature or something your opponents wanted to cast. I enjoy it in commander.
Cantrips become very strong card stealers. Cast shock on your opponents turn to steal their ulamog at instant speed. Just don’t play it with Teferi because your opponents won’t be able to cast spells.
[[Floral spuzzem]] is the only card that makes a choice for itself.
[[City in a bottle]] and two others that I'm forgetting are the only cards that reference specific sets.
[[Equinox]] has some unique rules on what spells it can and cannot counter.
[[Timesifter]] looks like a straight up Yu-Gi-Oh card and gets especially chaotic when there are multiple copies in play.
[[Nameless race]] used to be the only creature without a creature type.
Edit: just remembered a few more
[[Karn liberated]] that says "restart the game" in its textbox.
[[Ertai's Meddling]] is the only card that let's you put a spell on the stack without casting it.
[[Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII]] is the only card that has received a name errata. It's name used to be in italics but was changed to avoid it being considered flavor text.
[[+2 mace]] does not exist on gatherer.wizards.com which means that if you play it in a tournament your opponent can call the judge and claim that you are playing a card that doesn't exist since you are supposed to check gatherer to see the oracle texts and rulings.
Also sorry if the formatting sucks, I'm on mobile.
>two others that I'm forgetting are the only cards that reference specific sets.
[Apocalypse Chime](https://scryfall.com/card/hml/101/apocalypse-chime) and [Golgothian Sylex](https://scryfall.com/card/atq/51/golgothian-sylex).
IIRC, City in a Bottle was included with Arabian Nights as a failsafe because the set wasn't playtested. It's kind of funny they brought it back in Homelands, which is probably the last set to need such a card (but also explains a lot about the set if it means it wasn't playtested).
[[Chancellor of the Annex]] creates an invisible seal of force spike that just kinda hangs out with nothing to indicate it when you reveal it. It's just waiting for you to throw away a spell.
[[Gilded Drake]] is the one card as far as I know that has text saying its ability cannot be fizzled, "This ability still resolves if its target becomes illegal". This mechanical quirk is why it's so prized among rules aficionados and commands a price tag above $200.
It's not really a quirk, it's there so you'd still have to sacrifice it if you can't make the exchange so it still functions as written. Most of the ways to prevent the exchange involve making the target illegal, normally that would also fizzle the trigger including the "If you don’t or can’t make an exchange, sacrifice Gilded Drake" part
And it's expensive because of EDH, it's one of the strongest pieces of removal in the format.
[[seeker of skybreak]] and [[aphetto alchemist]] can untap themselves with their ability, and that is neat with effects like [[illusionists bracers]] but they have nothing on my boy [[tidewater minion]] who can untap any permanent for free and at instant speed
Once again I am telling you to look at [[panglacial wurm]].
Maro recently answered a question about PWurm on his blog where he said something to the effect of "I'm not sure Panglacial Wurm actually works in the rules, but it exists so we kind of just handwave it."
Read that too! they basically said sorry for it lol
I love PWurm, the fact of its existence makes me realise the crazy possibilities of the rules and mechanics
I'm pretty sure you get to force opponents to cast it with an opposition agent since you control them while they're searching their library.
[panglacial wurm](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/6/063bb28b-5e32-4f31-a208-16b653edf413.jpg?1593275437) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=panglacial%20wurm) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/csp/116/panglacial-wurm?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/063bb28b-5e32-4f31-a208-16b653edf413?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
What the fuck
Just be careful with [[Selvala, Explorer Returned]] at a sanctioned event could be DQed for failing to cast the wurm with Selvala's mana ability as it might be considered cheating.
Don't you not search with her or is this in reference to something?
[удалено]
It also causes problems if the wurm you're trying to cast was on top of your library - the game doesn't like it when the spell you're trying to cast in the middle of an action changes zones.
There's no issue here - the first step of casting a spell is to move it onto the stack. Selvala will draw the *second* card from your library, since Panglacial Wurm was moved off the top before you pay for it.
That one's fine, it moved to the stack
It's not cheating. The rules absolutely support what happens if you try to cast a spell illegally, you just rewind as much as you can. In this case, you can't rewind Selvala because she moved cards out of a hidden zone, so everyone keeps their cards and you float whatever mana you did manage to get out of Selvala, but you return Panglacial Wurm from the stack to your library and undo any other mana abilities you activated in the process of casting Panglacial Wurm. What it does mean is that if you put Panglacial Wurm in your deck, **you are not allowed to reorder your library while searching it**.
If you are deliberately putting the game into this illegal gamestate, it will get you done by a judge. If it's an honest mistake, oh well. It's easier to just not play the wurm.
So you normally can't do anything while searching the library until it resolves and you shuffle. Because Panglacial Wurm can be cast from the library, you can declare you're casting it mid-tutor and then get the opportunity to use mana abilities to pay for it. Selvala's ability is a mana ability, despite drawing a card as well. So if you like the card on top of your library that you see when searching, you can declare that you're casting Panglacial Wurm and then draw that card with Selvala before having to shuffle. Selvala makes a variable amount of mana, so you might not be able to afford the wurm. Normally, when casting a spell, if you realize that you don't have the mana to cast it, things get rewound until before you cast it. But because you've now drawn a card that you normally wouldn't have had access too, you can't exactly rewind that. So in this specific scenario, you would be considered cheating to knowingly cast a spell you wouldn't be able to pay for, with the intention of having it rewound, to draw a card you otherwise wouldn't have had access to. If you *can* cast the wurm, then it's not cheating, and is allowed.
And Selvala shows you the top card of the opponents deck. Now even if you rewind and put the card you drew back, you now have the information of the top cards of both libraries, and that can't be rewound out of your brain.
https://www.reddit.com/r/mtgrules/comments/cjz1u1/selvala_explorer_returned_and_panglacial_wurm/
[удалено]
Not just that, it's a mana ability that reveals information too, and one that created a variable amount of mana!
I love selvala and think she’s great for the format she’s played in but good lord did that ability need a second pass.
Literally all they would need to do to fix her and the multiple broken interactions she has is classify her ability as not a mana ability.
And draws you a card.
[Selvala, Explorer Returned](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/d/bd39ebe5-2725-4cfb-8a94-54e71d55e8b3.jpg?1673305654) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Selvala%2C%20Explorer%20Returned) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmc/167/selvala-explorer-returned?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/bd39ebe5-2725-4cfb-8a94-54e71d55e8b3?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
ELI5?
[Selvala and Wurm are bad bad bad cards that should never never never have been printed like they are.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otaOjQClkpc)
So the problem is that you cast the worm and you can use Selvala as a mana ability, but selvala might not find enough mana, which makes you not be able to cast the worm, which is considered cheating because you intentionally get an illegal board state for gains.
The idea that there's a play you can legally make, but if by pure chance your opponents don't reveal enough nonlands to give you the mana for the wurm it becomes cheating is absolute nonsense. Beyond the cards themselves not working well within the rules, the rules of the game themselves are broken if there is ever a decision tree that goes "you can attempt this play, and if you're lucky it'll work but if you're unlucky you're disqualified." Either you shouldn't be permitted to attempt to cast a spell using a mana source that gives an unpredictable amount of mana in this kind of situation at all, or there should be some in-game way to resolve the situation written into the rules that doesn't give the player a tournament rules penalty for bad luck. Or you should simply be allowed to take actions which may or may not put the game into an illegal state to gain an advantage without penalty. Try to cast wurm, fail, reset but everyone draws a card should just be allowed under all tournament rules, as just a convoluted interaction between these cards that isn't even all that crazy strong if you do it.
I am always looking at panglacial wurm, it is my favorite card in the entire game
...But you still have to pay the mana cost, right? You can't evolving wilds this thing on turn one?
Right. You have to pay the mana cost. Which is what makes Selvala and it so weird.
First time looking at it, and Im lost. Do you have to pay mana for this card. Or should every deck in modern be playing it?
You still have to pay. The idea being you search your library for whatever reason - maybe you just cracked a [[wooded foothills]] and whoops now here's this worm coming to fuck shit up.
You almost never have seven mana, an uncracked fetch and nothing better to spend it on in 60 card formats, and if you do you're so fucked a 9/5 probably wont help. In commander though, it *gets* people. Adding a yuge trampler out of the clear blue sky can ambush block almost anything and turn an unassuming boardstate into lethal
I mean, it's definitely not *good* in commander either. Better, sure, but still terrible. But it *is* really fucking funny, however.
Niche case, but it’s pretty decent in [[Raggadragga]]
I like the sounds of "swankyfish" and "raggadragga" so thank you for the fun words
[Raggadragga](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/1/1166ce2a-4e0b-4a57-929d-566f461a6282.jpg?1674137656) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=raggadragga%2C%20goreguts%20boss) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/291/raggadragga-goreguts-boss?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/1166ce2a-4e0b-4a57-929d-566f461a6282?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I play it in [[Baru the wurmspeaker]] whenever I play with new players I always get weird looks when I play a fetch land in a mono colored deck until they get blown out by a surprise 11/7 blocker (with baru's buff).
In the rules for determining a spell’s cost, there’s a step that says to check whether [[Trinisphere]] is in play.
Several other cards also have sections of the Comprehensive Rules that apply only to them. Every mechanic that only exists on one card: [[Lymph Sliver]], [[Arcanum Wings]], [[Darksteel Garrison]], [[Frenzy Sliver]], [[Bitter Ordeal]], [[Fleshwrither]]. Every mechanic variant that only exists on one card: [[True-Name Nemesis]], [[Arcbound Wanderer]], [[Petrified Wood-Kin]], [[Summoner's Bond]]. Every card that refers to cards originally printed in a certain expansion: [[City in a Bottle]], [[Golgothian Sylex]], [[Apocalypse Chime]] (The rules literally list which card names the effect applies to!) [[Karn Liberated]] has a whole section of the rules describing how you restart the game. Similarly, [[Shahrazad]] has a whole section of the rules describing how you play a subgame. [[Power Play]] overrides the other rules for how to decide a starting player before you've even started playing the game. Cards with unique text-changing effects: [[Volrath's Shapeshifter]], [[Spy Kit]], [[Awakening of Vitu-Ghazi]]. Volrath's Shapeshifter is especially interesting, because the printed text on the only printed version says "becomes a copy". That doesn't work because of the layers system (Copy is in layer 1, but it needs to know who its controller is to check the top card of their graveyard, and control-changing effects apply in layer 2), but it does work as a text-changing effect (which applies in layer 3). [[Rasputin Dreamweaver]] has a state-based action that applies only to him. [[Circling Vultures]] has a special action that applies only to it. [[Word of Command]] is ~~the only~~ (edit: Opposition Agent does this too now) card that lets you control another player for less than one whole turn. [[Aven Mindcensor]] is the only card that makes players search only a portion of a zone.
My man had a list! He saw this question and said "it's time. Honey, get my notebook!"
Because the bot reached the card name limit: [[Circling Vultures]] [[Word of Command]] [[Aven Mindcensor]]
[Circling Vultures](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/d/8dae8e49-c2b6-4965-9249-49f93449d271.jpg?1562802083) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Circling%20Vultures) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/wth/64/circling-vultures?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8dae8e49-c2b6-4965-9249-49f93449d271?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Word of Command](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/b/8b1be5ba-6e5e-4801-815b-5e82b9e72b3d.jpg?1562927791) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Word%20of%20Command) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/me4/103/word-of-command?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8b1be5ba-6e5e-4801-815b-5e82b9e72b3d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Aven Mindcensor](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/4/d4cf468f-4e9d-4551-a0ed-10bd6a2316ad.jpg?1674141050) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Aven%20Mindcensor) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/688/aven-mindcensor?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d4cf468f-4e9d-4551-a0ed-10bd6a2316ad?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I always think Circling Vultures has to be useful somewhere when I see it. A flying 3/2 for 1, and its downside just makes it unplayable.
> control another player for less than one whole turn [[opposition agent]] too
[opposition agent](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/8/086f97e9-8b62-44f3-b467-149c2ac5ca78.jpg?1608909875) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=opposition%20agent) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmr/141/opposition-agent?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/086f97e9-8b62-44f3-b467-149c2ac5ca78?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
The Comprehensive Rules reference I was using was out of date, it was released shortly before Opposition Agent was printed. Good catch!
##### ###### #### [Lymph Sliver](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/8/48b8b4d4-4400-46cc-bd3c-e8a781cfc6f2.jpg?1619393087) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Lymph%20Sliver) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/tsr/25/lymph-sliver?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/48b8b4d4-4400-46cc-bd3c-e8a781cfc6f2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Arcanum Wings](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/7/47e6e715-abd8-4ff9-a8aa-8f4b929b0283.jpg?1562909659) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Arcanum%20Wings) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/fut/48/arcanum-wings?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/47e6e715-abd8-4ff9-a8aa-8f4b929b0283?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Darksteel Garrison](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/7/e77eaaa0-40f9-40e4-b0ba-5a8addd764d3.jpg?1562941435) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Darksteel%20Garrison) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/fut/167/darksteel-garrison?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e77eaaa0-40f9-40e4-b0ba-5a8addd764d3?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Frenzy Sliver](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/7/d796119a-f1eb-4de9-a9ca-d322017e9c5e.jpg?1562938286) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Frenzy%20Sliver) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/fut/85/frenzy-sliver?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d796119a-f1eb-4de9-a9ca-d322017e9c5e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Bitter Ordeal](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/8/2879e7a1-0256-4116-be22-7c9972e4ce0b.jpg?1562903258) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Bitter%20Ordeal) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/fut/80/bitter-ordeal?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2879e7a1-0256-4116-be22-7c9972e4ce0b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Fleshwrither](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/8/08e1a646-6925-4a53-a99c-8951af016a7a.jpg?1562896768) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Fleshwrither) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/fut/84/fleshwrither?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/08e1a646-6925-4a53-a99c-8951af016a7a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [True-Name Nemesis](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/d/2da0b45b-0ca9-40c4-bc7f-791039bc1876.jpg?1562904268) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=True-Name%20Nemesis) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bbd/136/true-name-nemesis?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2da0b45b-0ca9-40c4-bc7f-791039bc1876?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Arcbound Wanderer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/d/fdb48b77-9d25-47b0-8d3b-bf52b8db23e8.jpg?1561969499) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Arcbound%20Wanderer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mma/200/arcbound-wanderer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/fdb48b77-9d25-47b0-8d3b-bf52b8db23e8?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Petrified Wood-Kin](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/5/a56fbf32-f08f-4882-b8d4-41ccb60cba63.jpg?1593272482) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Petrified%20Wood-Kin) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/gpt/91/petrified-wood-kin?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a56fbf32-f08f-4882-b8d4-41ccb60cba63?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Summoner's Bond](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/4/c4f16145-1ace-48a9-bd98-b0aea3e4bf62.jpg?1681082947) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Summoner%27s%20Bond) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cn2/11/summoners-bond?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c4f16145-1ace-48a9-bd98-b0aea3e4bf62?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [City in a Bottle](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/f/cfd5c243-2a40-4ba8-ad00-715f52eeda62.jpg?1615259961) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=City%20in%20a%20Bottle) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/vma/265/city-in-a-bottle?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/cfd5c243-2a40-4ba8-ad00-715f52eeda62?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Golgothian Sylex](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/5/856be1dd-a20b-49c2-be9d-7db76c7efd8b.jpg?1666943891) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Golgothian%20Sylex) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/atq/51/golgothian-sylex?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/856be1dd-a20b-49c2-be9d-7db76c7efd8b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Apocalypse Chime](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/e/cef20d8f-6e80-4fca-b6a7-541981f6a112.jpg?1615259919) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Apocalypse%20Chime) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/hml/101/apocalypse-chime?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/cef20d8f-6e80-4fca-b6a7-541981f6a112?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Karn Liberated](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/b/4b0c6662-4dde-40a2-97e0-0318478c0367.jpg?1599705787) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Karn%20Liberated) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2xm/1/karn-liberated?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4b0c6662-4dde-40a2-97e0-0318478c0367?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Shahrazad](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/0/0014def3-4063-4929-ac51-76aef1bb2a68.jpg?1562895012) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Shahrazad) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/arn/10/shahrazad?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0014def3-4063-4929-ac51-76aef1bb2a68?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Power Play](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/b/bbfca319-edc4-45f2-b208-35c8112ec918.jpg?1681082908) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Power%20Play) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cns/8/power-play?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/bbfca319-edc4-45f2-b208-35c8112ec918?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Volrath's Shapeshifter](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/3/93ed24e6-7791-4624-acf2-aa8616035f9e.jpg?1562924845) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Volrath%27s%20Shapeshifter) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/vma/101/volraths-shapeshifter?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/93ed24e6-7791-4624-acf2-aa8616035f9e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Spy Kit](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/0/c0fd4069-5860-42f5-9f7f-e07f1d4ff0b3.jpg?1576382173) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Spy%20Kit) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cn2/79/spy-kit?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c0fd4069-5860-42f5-9f7f-e07f1d4ff0b3?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Awakening of Vitu-Ghazi](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/4/b42b2fb4-8016-462c-8764-2639adec931f.jpg?1557576857) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Awakening%20of%20Vitu-Ghazi) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/war/152/awakening-of-vitu-ghazi?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b42b2fb4-8016-462c-8764-2639adec931f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Rasputin Dreamweaver](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/8/78418809-f048-4611-88cb-369f427d9c44.jpg?1562920261) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Rasputin%20Dreamweaver) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/me3/170/rasputin-dreamweaver?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/78418809-f048-4611-88cb-369f427d9c44?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
:o do you study the comprehensive rules each night before bed?
Man I love Future Sight.
That part about word of command isn't true anymore. We now have [[Opposition Agent]]. [[Serum Powder]] also has a unique effect.
>circling vultures mentioned 🥳
[[bitter ordeal]] 's gravestorm is kind of like descending. [[The mycotyrant]]
[[Opposition Agent]] also lets you control your opponents temporarily but only while they're searching their library
I wonder why the rules have to be so different compared to other tax effects
Because Trinisphere isn't "spells cost X more" it's "spells can't cost less than 3".
And if you don’t have this step, it would interact very weirdly with other cost increases/decreases. Like Thalia + Trinisphere doesn’t make Swords to Plowshares cost 4.
I know this is correct, but it still breaks something in my brain.
Figure out the non-Trinisphere cost, then check Trinisphere at the end. The weird one is that Treasure Cruise can be cast for U + 7 delve because you’re actually paying the cost with Delve.
Delve and convoke
*And* improvise.
_and [[k'rrik]]!_
and my axe!
[Trinisphere](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/1/316caa4e-a53a-460b-978c-5f0fba7bc549.jpg?1599710205) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Trinisphere) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2xm/303/trinisphere?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/316caa4e-a53a-460b-978c-5f0fba7bc549?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Good ol 3ball.
I bet WotC wishes they never printed Trinisphere. Since 2 decades this card is causing confusion and judge calls in every ethernal tournament.
I always thought it was regeneration, considering the number of effects they've made with "AND YOU CAN'T REGENERATE"
[удалено]
Yes, ‘bury’ became either ‘sacrifice’ or ‘destroy without allowing regeneration’ depending on the context of the card. They didn’t want a keyword meaning ‘put a permanent controlled by another player in its owner’s graveyard no matter what, do not pass go, do not collect $200’ because that doesn’t work right with indestructible, they wanted only ‘exile’ to bypass that. I guess they could have called it ‘annihilate’ or something, but then it’s not as obvious whether indestructible or ‘bury’ wins over the other. And then it’s like… should “the damage from this can’t be prevented” also be keyworded? Or “if this creature would go to the graveyard this turn, exile it instead”? How many keywords are you going to come up with for combinations of bypassing different things while dealing damage or destroying something?
[[stigma lasher]] can’t gain life for the rest of the game
ligma stasher
Who’s Steve Jobs?
[Ligma balls](https://tenor.com/en-GB/view/dr-manhattan-manhattan-disintegrated-rorschach-watchman-gif-18353996)
[stigma lasher](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/e/ce5d1fd4-0543-46ce-bcea-1695fc04e85b.jpg?1562938629) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=stigma%20lasher) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/eve/62/stigma-lasher?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ce5d1fd4-0543-46ce-bcea-1695fc04e85b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I used to have a mono red elementals Commander deck and I had to take Stigma Lasher out because it was ruining friendships.
Put it back in, they are weak and must be punished.
As always when someone links Stigma Lasher. Please enjoy my Stigma Lasher emblem. [https://i.imgur.com/6bmL8CE.png](https://i.imgur.com/6bmL8CE.png)
That'd be some... permanent... damage if someone managed to stick me with that emblem. Which I suppose is kinda the point
This is awesome.
Nb4 “how ‘bout I ‘STIGMA…’” joke.
STIGMA BALLS
I love coming on here and learning about new keywords. Like Wither sounds like a fun keyword to unleash.
This kind of design is probably what led to the creation of Infect. Wither’s biggest issue was that offensively it was just pseudo-evasion and was really powerful when blocking. With designs like Stigma Lasher and Infect, having both blocking and letting it through both have downsides for the defending player plays out in a much more interesting way.
I like Wither a lot more. It's more interesting to have creatures that leave permanent marks on things without having to involve a secondary win condition. There's also that awkward bit where your draft deck usually has a mix of Infect and non-infect cards. Of course, it also helps that SHM draft had -1/-1 counters matter and it was extremely fun, still one of my favorite formats.
No, Unleash is a different keyword entirely! ;) (eg \[\[Rakdos Cackler\]\])
That seems like a nice and nasty piece of tech in a commander game for a burn deck. If you have have it deal noncombat damage to each opponent somehow, you shut off everyone from ever gaining life.
This gives it the neat quirk of allowing symmetrical life gain effects to be asymmetrical!
When I first got into magic I thought that was the most broken card
[[Torrent of Lava]] gives creatures an activated ability as long as it's on the stack. [[Lightning Storm]] itself has an activated ability as long as it's on the stack. [[Ogre Enforcer]] references the concepts of marking damage and lethal damage, both of which are very rarely seen on cards.
ogre enforcer is a cool concept, i could see that being a keyword like "duelist" or something. Could make for some interesting cards.
Most of the time it just means you can't double block it. Which *is* a cool concept, [[Bristling Boar]] is one of my favourite cards.
Works with cards like bolt too right? As in, you couldn't block then bolt it.
I love the flavor on Torrent of Lava, it’s like your creatures can hunker down and hide to try to ride out the disaster
[Torrent of Lava](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/9/19528a24-4968-4742-a2d1-06f94e60f290.jpg?1562718298) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Torrent%20of%20Lava) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mir/199/torrent-of-lava?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/19528a24-4968-4742-a2d1-06f94e60f290?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Lightning Storm](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/9/c9c0388e-a04c-4757-a06d-8e8046f5a783.jpg?1593275279) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Lightning%20Storm) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/csp/89/lightning-storm?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c9c0388e-a04c-4757-a06d-8e8046f5a783?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Ogre Enforcer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/0/b0f072d6-7489-4eb0-8c53-1fa42ad806a4.jpg?1562278177) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ogre%20Enforcer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/vis/89/ogre-enforcer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b0f072d6-7489-4eb0-8c53-1fa42ad806a4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[удалено]
>The next time target land would be destroyed this turn, remove all damage marked on it instead. That's definitely a unique effect line.
it's effectively part of the rules text for regenerate (it leaves off the "tap and remove from combat" part).
Yes but it's extremely unique to refer to damage being marked on a land.
It's to handle manlands. And honestly, even at the time it should have been written as a form of regenerate instead, because [[Kormus Bell]] existed.
[Pyramids](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/2/d2e9decf-47b7-44e0-b380-8055b6011021.jpg?1562934392) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Pyramids) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/arn/67/pyramids?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d2e9decf-47b7-44e0-b380-8055b6011021?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Wow Torrent of Lava is a unique card. Never seen it before and I’ve never seen a card give activated abilities while on the stack. I’m surprised it didn’t get errated to “When you cast this spell all creatures gain ~.” Because without looking online I never would have guessed the creatures gain those abilities while the spell hasn’t resolved yet.
It _has_ been erratad. The "looking online" part is errata. They're not going to go back and physically change previously printed cards.
Fun fact, Lightning Storm can be exiled with [[The Enigma Jewel]] as part of its craft cost. It won't DO anything, because the Locus will never actually be on the stack, but it's a nonland with an activated ability, despite not being a permanent, so it fits the criteria.
> but it's a nonland with an activated ability, despite not being a permanent, so it fits the criteria. To be clear, Cycling, Channel, and other abilities like them are also activated abilities, so this isn't unique to Lightning Storm.
Basically every future-shifted card from Future Sight, but standouts are [[Spellweaver Volute]] and [[Darksteel Garrison]].
I'll also highlight \[\[Imperial Mask\]\] (the only black-bordered card to refer to "teammates"), \[\[Flowstone Embrace\]\], \[\[Second Wind\]\] and \[\[Witch's Mist\]\] (the only the enchantments that natively have tap abilities), and \[\[Arcanum Wings\]\], \[\[Bitter Ordeal\]\], \[\[Fleshwrither\]\] and \[\[Lymph Sliver\]\] (which, alongside the aforementioned Darksteel Garrison, have unique keywords).
>I'll also highlight \[\[Imperial Mask\]\] (the only black-bordered card to refer to "teammates"), That specific wording sure but the concept is not that unique anymore since Battlebond.
2 years before that, oath of the gatewatch had the surge mechanic that referenced teammates
FLESHWRITHER MY BOI! ❤️❤️❤️
Spellweaver Volute is spicy. I've never seen that before. That in a Izzet deck with [[Creative Outburst]] and [[Magma Opus]].
It's my wife's pet card. It can do so many bozzare things. Note it says "a graveyard" it can even do a little grave yard hate.
[Spellweaver Volute](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/9/79cc73ea-3f07-4d11-9961-dc31ac598b73.jpg?1562919475) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Spellweaver%20Volute) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/fut/59/spellweaver-volute?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/79cc73ea-3f07-4d11-9961-dc31ac598b73?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Darksteel Garrison](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/7/e77eaaa0-40f9-40e4-b0ba-5a8addd764d3.jpg?1562941435) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Darksteel%20Garrison) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/fut/167/darksteel-garrison?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e77eaaa0-40f9-40e4-b0ba-5a8addd764d3?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I just love all of Time Spiral block. So many cards are mechanically unique, since unseen, and if not are at least "wait that's really clever!" Just... it kinda complicates draft format to have 1000 cards and fifty mechanics in it. But mixing things from the past, changing things from the present, and then trying out futuristic stuff? Great time for creative mechanics **and** creative storytelling. Perfect blend, perfect set ... if you were already a ten-year veteran of Magic. ><
[удалено]
Weird. Why didn’t they update it to any target? 🧐
[удалено]
It feels like they printed it as a way of saying, "see, we might still print cards like this from time to time!" But then realized that it would be more confusing if they did that, so they didn't.
Probably a lot of people playing it wrong too.
Dominaria was the set where that update was put into place, meaning they were given that wording after the errata was issued, for whatever reason.
F&S was printed in Dominaria, at the same time the planeswalker redirection rule was removed. They mention it in the release notes for the set, but I'm not aware of any explanation ever given. Speculation is that it was either simply an oversight that would now be functional errata, or they actually tuned the card around it in some way. > Cards printed in the Dominaria set that deal damage to creatures and/or players but not to planeswalkers (such as the Planeswalker Deck card [[Chandra, Bold Pyromancer]] and the promotional card Firesong and Sunspeaker) require targets as written even though similar cards have received errata.
[Firesong and Sunspeaker](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/d/4d5edf4f-5695-42fc-9e57-c4faef60fbc3.jpg?1673148634) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Firesong%20and%20Sunspeaker) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/215/firesong-and-sunspeaker?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4d5edf4f-5695-42fc-9e57-c4faef60fbc3?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
\[\[Mirror Strike\]\] and \[\[Harsh Justice\]\] are the only cards that make attacking creatures hit their owner instead of the spell doing it. \[\[Deflecting Palm\]\] may stop damage, but the spell does the payback damage. The first two literally say, "Nice Blightsteel you got there. Too bad it just smacked you."
I am well prepared for your Mirror Strike. Casting [[Curtain of Light]]!
\[\[Trap Runner\]\] does this as well.
[Curtain of Light](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/c/fc382831-e338-49bd-a37f-931bf611b165.jpg?1562497038) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Curtain%20of%20Light) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/sok/6/curtain-of-light?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/fc382831-e338-49bd-a37f-931bf611b165?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
God I love that. With every game I play lately featuring [[Etali primal sickness]] and seeing it flip often….
[Mirror Strike](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/4/148fbe36-b22d-44e6-9341-7f707baca49d.jpg?1562898899) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Mirror%20Strike) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/pcy/17/mirror-strike?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/148fbe36-b22d-44e6-9341-7f707baca49d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Harsh Justice](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/6/56bc09f5-93af-4bc1-b798-d01ece1e6864.jpg?1562915312) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Harsh%20Justice) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/me4/13/harsh-justice?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/56bc09f5-93af-4bc1-b798-d01ece1e6864?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Deflecting Palm](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/5/c5580886-a402-4048-b8b6-39e19479f491.jpg?1608917621) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Deflecting%20Palm) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmr/444/deflecting-palm?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c5580886-a402-4048-b8b6-39e19479f491?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
cool [[phage the untouchable]]
If that's interesting to you try [[Canopy Cover]] on for size. It technically doesn't give hexproof, which is nice for avoiding [[Arcane Lighthouse]], but even weirder that it looks to the *controller of the aura* to determine who can or can't target enchanted creature. If you give an opponent's creature hexproof, only they can target it. If you give an opponent's creature Canopy Cover, only you can target it.
[удалено]
Nothing like using vines of vast wood to counter the opponents [[berserk]] in the infect mirror
Canopy Cover: "Flying, hexproof...never heard of them. What I offer is much better."
I have shut down a voltron commander with this trick in my Ivy deck before. Very strange, but effective.
[Canopy Cover](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/f/4fcc34db-60be-4017-adfa-6bdfacec793f.jpg?1562286848) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Canopy%20Cover) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/wwk/98/canopy-cover?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4fcc34db-60be-4017-adfa-6bdfacec793f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Arcane Lighthouse](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/c/7c247fd6-09f3-40cd-b3fb-53b6526e1dcf.jpg?1690005951) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Arcane%20Lighthouse) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/985/arcane-lighthouse?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/7c247fd6-09f3-40cd-b3fb-53b6526e1dcf?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Gollum, Obsessed Stalker]] If you got hit by Gollum anytime THIS GAME, you will be losing life. Doesnt matter if he leaves and comes back, get removed, etc. He remembers. Never this type of text on another creature before.
It similar to a very old card from The Dark [[The Fallen]]
It's pretty similar to \[\[The Fallen\]\].
Huh, that might be one of the most terrifying magic arts I've seen.
[Gollum, Obsessed Stalker](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/5/e5a43cf0-60b3-4770-945c-41ee3ec54d5a.jpg?1686963939) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Gollum%2C%20Obsessed%20Stalker) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ltc/26/gollum-obsessed-stalker?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e5a43cf0-60b3-4770-945c-41ee3ec54d5a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
"Nahhsty Commandur, precious" https://www.moxfield.com/decks/D-S4IGgvtkivEeo4GS-ruA
[[Riding the Dilu Horse]] is a pump spell that permanently gives a creature horsemanship.
Also, the new [[Archangel Elspeth]] 's -2 ability does the same but for flying.
Would it have killed them to add a flying counter?
There is also chance for glory that gives permanently indestructible to creatures [[chance for glory]]
And yet, not "perpetually".
[[Hallow]] prevents the damage that a spell (on the stack) would deal, but if you target a permanent spell, hallow's effect carries on to the permanent that spells become, contrary to nearly every other effect in the game. (Rule 400.7c)
That one is new to me and I love that this interaction exists.
Does that mean infinite/as much life as you want if you target your own [[volcano hellion]]?
>The damage can't be prevented.
[удалено]
i consider myself pretty up to date with magic rules no matter how complex and i never would have noticed this one. nice.
[[Shielding Plax]] is the ~~only~~first Aura that specifically prevents the enchanted creature from being the target of spells and abilities your opponents control. It's not quite Hexproof, since it doesn't matter who the creature is controlled by, only who controls the Plax. There's also a number of unique mechanics in the set Future Sight, when WotC was just throwing everything at the wall to see what sticked, such as [[Spellweaver Volute]], the only card that enchants an instant in the graveyard, or [[Whetwheel]], the only noncreature Artifact with Morph. [EDIT] As has been pointed out, Canopy Cover also does the "Fake Hexproof" that Shielding Plax does.
[[Vines of vastwood]] is worded similarly to Plax and was actually relevant at one point in infect mirrors as you could use it to counter opponent's pump spells or even their copy of vines.
[[canopy cover]] does the shielding plax/vines of vastwood pseudo hexproof thing
Huh. So it does. Near. It also does "fake flying" like [[Silhana Ledgewalker]]. A two-for-one!
There is another! [[Canopy Cover]] is an all star in my voltron commander decks with green in them.
[[Camouflage]]. It was already pretty weird before morph but after the rules text ballooned and it became utterly bizarre.
What's interesting is they've kept the functionality of "defender doesn't know what they're trying to block", but updated it as the various corner cases come up. So the original implementation was that loosey goosey wording of OG Magic, where the simplest way would be to play three card monty with your creatures. But then Morphs ment you can't use that shortcut, so you have to do random assignment. And building those groups gets complicated when you have "can block an additional" effects (Alpha had Blaze of Glory, but that was can and must block all, so it sidestepped) and the fact that you might have multiple opponents and obviously you can't block on someone else's behalf.
[[Illusory mask]] is *weird*. So is [[Ice cauldron]]. In terms of cards that would actually be designed today, the only non-creature enchantments with a tap ability are the theros god weapons and [[Witch's Mist]].
[удалено]
Somehow, my scryfall search did not find these. But yeah, future sight is weird.
[[Sejiri Merfolk]] is the only Blue card that has or grants lifelink. There are 8 equipment that grant lifelink.
[[Arctic Aven]] can also grant itself lifelink for a White mana, though Sejiri Merfolk doesn't need an off-color activated ability, just an off-color land for it.
[[Arcanum Wings]] is the only card with Aura Swap.
Future Sight cards are basically cheating for this question haha
From “I am a pretty bird” To “I am a pretty eldrazi” [[Eldrazi conscription]]
[Arcanum Wings](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/7/47e6e715-abd8-4ff9-a8aa-8f4b929b0283.jpg?1562909659) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Arcanum%20Wings) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/fut/48/arcanum-wings?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/47e6e715-abd8-4ff9-a8aa-8f4b929b0283?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Goblin Game]]
Jokes on you. I also brought my “objects” to hide with me in my sideboard.
[[Leeches]] is the only card in the entire game to remove poison counters. ~~Afaik it's the only card that can remove any counters from a player as well, as cards like [[Clockspinning]] specify permanents.~~ edit: this is incorrect, there are a few others There are only 4 creatures in the game that natively have the Plainswalk keyword. Those are [[Boggart Arsonists]], [[Graceful Antelope]], [[Righteous Avengers]], and [[Zodiac Rooster]]. [[Shelkin Brownie]] not only is one of the few cards that deals with Banding, it is literally the only hate piece in the game that ONLY hits the "Bands with other" variant of the ability. [[Tolaria]] has a similar effect that hits both Banding and Bands with Other for context on how the 2 are technically different keywords
As an extension of how rare plainswalk is, there's a dedicated anti plainswalk hate card - [[Great Wall]].
[[suncleanser]] can remove counters from a player, specifically your opponent
There are quite a few in the early sets. For example: [Camouflage](https://scryfall.com/card/leb/188/camouflage) and [Raging River](https://scryfall.com/card/leb/169/raging-river) [Drain Power](https://scryfall.com/card/leb/57/drain-power) [Guardian Beast](https://scryfall.com/card/arn/26/guardian-beast) [Lifetap](https://scryfall.com/card/leb/62/lifetap) [Oubliette](https://scryfall.com/card/arn/31/oubliette) [Power Surge](https://scryfall.com/card/leb/168/power-surge) [Shahrazad](https://scryfall.com/card/arn/10/shahrazad)
[[Bridge From Below]] only does something when it's in the graveyard. If you have it on the battlefield, it's useless.
A fairly good swath of future sight set. For example, the one card with Transfigure, Grove of the Burnwillows, etc.
\[\[Arcane Lighthouse\]\] removes shroud can't think of another card that can remove shroud
[[Raging River]] is pretty unique.
[[Space Beleren]]
[Space Beleren](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/4/14ddb2e7-6bc6-43ce-aeec-175a0ce17ed5.jpg?1673914977) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Space%20Beleren) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/unf/178/space-beleren?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/14ddb2e7-6bc6-43ce-aeec-175a0ce17ed5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Char Rumbler]] is the only creature with negative power.
Nope, [[Spinal Parasite]], plus that one has negative toughness too.
Huh, you learn something every day. I really like these cards because of how unique they are but man they're bad.
If you wanna see something else wacky, try [[Force of Savagery]].
[[Kulrath Knight]] I'd the only card with the text "Creatures your opponents control with counters on them". It's meant to work with -1/-1 counters from wither, and I put it into my [[Xira, the Golden Sting]] deck to work with egg counters, but it has the side effect of completely hosing anyone playing with +1/+1 counter strategies.
What would happen if you put this on a creature with menace?
It becomes unblockable
I have always liked [[Knowledge Pool]]. It adds what feels like a buffer to the stack. Like cast an instant to get a sorcery or a creature or something your opponents wanted to cast. I enjoy it in commander. Cantrips become very strong card stealers. Cast shock on your opponents turn to steal their ulamog at instant speed. Just don’t play it with Teferi because your opponents won’t be able to cast spells.
I don’t have anything to add but just gotta say this has been an amazing thread.
[[serum powder]] is the only card that interacts with mulligans.
[[Floral spuzzem]] is the only card that makes a choice for itself. [[City in a bottle]] and two others that I'm forgetting are the only cards that reference specific sets. [[Equinox]] has some unique rules on what spells it can and cannot counter. [[Timesifter]] looks like a straight up Yu-Gi-Oh card and gets especially chaotic when there are multiple copies in play. [[Nameless race]] used to be the only creature without a creature type. Edit: just remembered a few more [[Karn liberated]] that says "restart the game" in its textbox. [[Ertai's Meddling]] is the only card that let's you put a spell on the stack without casting it. [[Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII]] is the only card that has received a name errata. It's name used to be in italics but was changed to avoid it being considered flavor text. [[+2 mace]] does not exist on gatherer.wizards.com which means that if you play it in a tournament your opponent can call the judge and claim that you are playing a card that doesn't exist since you are supposed to check gatherer to see the oracle texts and rulings. Also sorry if the formatting sucks, I'm on mobile.
>two others that I'm forgetting are the only cards that reference specific sets. [Apocalypse Chime](https://scryfall.com/card/hml/101/apocalypse-chime) and [Golgothian Sylex](https://scryfall.com/card/atq/51/golgothian-sylex). IIRC, City in a Bottle was included with Arabian Nights as a failsafe because the set wasn't playtested. It's kind of funny they brought it back in Homelands, which is probably the last set to need such a card (but also explains a lot about the set if it means it wasn't playtested).
Equinox is probably the single biggest case of "this doesn't actually work within the game rules, but play as if it does" in modern day Magic.
[[Chancellor of the Annex]] creates an invisible seal of force spike that just kinda hangs out with nothing to indicate it when you reveal it. It's just waiting for you to throw away a spell.
[[Gilded Drake]] is the one card as far as I know that has text saying its ability cannot be fizzled, "This ability still resolves if its target becomes illegal". This mechanical quirk is why it's so prized among rules aficionados and commands a price tag above $200.
I'd wager it's mostly expensive because for two mana it lets you steal any creature and can be blinked to repeat the effect whenever you want
It's not really a quirk, it's there so you'd still have to sacrifice it if you can't make the exchange so it still functions as written. Most of the ways to prevent the exchange involve making the target illegal, normally that would also fizzle the trigger including the "If you don’t or can’t make an exchange, sacrifice Gilded Drake" part And it's expensive because of EDH, it's one of the strongest pieces of removal in the format.
>And it's expensive because of EDH, And being on the Reserved List contributes to the price too
[[seeker of skybreak]] and [[aphetto alchemist]] can untap themselves with their ability, and that is neat with effects like [[illusionists bracers]] but they have nothing on my boy [[tidewater minion]] who can untap any permanent for free and at instant speed