Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules

by Mark L. Gottlieb

  502.51b Cards that are in the removed-from-the-game zone as the result of a haunt ability “haunt” the creature targeted by that ability. The phrase “creature it haunts” refers to the object targeted by the haunt ability, regardless of whether or not that object is still a creature.

  502.51c Triggered abilities of cards with haunt that refer to the haunted creature can trigger in the removed-from-the-game zone.

  502.52. Replicate

  502.52a Replicate is a keyword that represents two abilities. The first is a static ability that functions while the spell is on the stack. The second is a triggered ability that functions while the spell is on the stack. “Replicate [cost]” means “As an additional cost to play this spell, you may pay [cost] any number of times” and “When you play 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 number of the copies.” Paying a spell’s replicate cost follows the rules for paying additional costs in rules 409.1b and 409.1f-h.

  502.52b If a spell has multiple instances of replicate, each is paid separately and triggers based on the payments made for it, not any other instance of replicate.

  502.53. Forecast

  502.53a A forecast ability is a special kind of activated ability that can be played only from a player’s hand. It’s written “Forecast – [Activated ability].”

  502.53b A forecast ability may be played 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 his or her hand as the ability is played. That player plays with that card revealed in his or her hand until the upkeep step ends or until it leaves the player’s hand, whichever comes first.

  502.54. Graft

  502.54a Graft represents both a static ability and a triggered ability. “Graft N” means “This permanent comes into play with N +1/+1 counters on it” and “Whenever another creature comes into play, you may move a +1/+1 counter from this permanent onto that creature.”

  502.54b If a creature has multiple instances of graft, each one works separately.

  502.55. Recover

  502.55a Recover is 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 play, you may pay [cost]. If you do, return this card from your graveyard to your hand. Otherwise, remove this card from the game.”

  502.56. Ripple

  502.56a Ripple is a triggered ability that functions only while the card with ripple is on the stack. “Ripple N” means “When you play 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 play any of those cards with the same name as this spell without paying their mana costs, then put all revealed cards not played this way on the bottom of your library in any order.”

  502.56b If a spell has multiple instances of ripple, each triggers separately.

  502.57. Flash

  502.57a Flash is a static ability that functions in any zone from which you could play the card it’s on. “Flash” means “You may play this card any time you could play an instant.”

  502.57b Multiple instances of flash on the same object are redundant.

  502.58. Split Second

  502.58a Split second is 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 play other spells or abilities that aren’t mana abilities.”

  502.58b Multiple instances of split second on the same spell are redundant.

  502.59. Suspend

  502.59a Suspend is 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 removed-from-the-game zone. “Suspend N-[cost]” means “If you could play this card from your hand, you may pay [cost] and remove it from the game 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 removed from the game, play it without paying its mana cost if able. If you can’t, it remains removed from the game. If you play a creature spell this way, it gains haste until you lose control of the spell or the permanent it becomes.”

  502.59b A card is “suspended” if it’s in the removed-from-the-game zone, has suspend, and has a time counter on it.

  502.59c Playing a spell as an effect of its suspend ability follows the rules for paying alternative costs in rules 409.1b and 409.1f-h.

  503. Copying Objects

  503.1. Some objects create or become a “copy” of a spell, permanent, or card. (Certain older cards were printed with the phrase “search for a copy.” This section doesn’t cover those cards, which have received new text in the Oracle card reference.)

  503.2. When copying an object, the copy acquires the copiable values of the original object’s characteristics (name, mana cost, color, type, supertype, subtype, expansion symbol, rules text, power, and toughness) and, for an object on the stack, choices made when playing it (mode, targets, the value of X, whether a kicker cost was paid, how it will affect multiple targets, and so on). The “copiable values” are the values that are printed on the object, as modified by other copy effects, “comes into play as” abilities, and abilities that caused the object to be face down. Other effects (including type-changing and text-changing effects), status, and counters are not copied.

  Example: Chimeric Staff is an artifact that reads “{X}: Chimeric Staff becomes an X/X artifact creature until end of turn.” Clone is a creature that reads, “As Clone comes into play, you may choose a creature in play. If you do, Clone comes into play as a copy of that creature.” After a Staff has become a 5/5 artifact creature, a Clone comes into play as a copy of it. The Clone is an artifact, not a 5/5 artifact creature. (The copy has the Staff’s ability, however, and will become a creature if that ability is activated.)

  Example: Clone comes into play as a copy of a face-down Grinning Demon (a creature with morph {2}{B}{B}). The Clone is a colorless 2/2 creature with no name, no types, no abilities, and no mana cost. It will still be face up. Its controller can’t pay {2}{B}{B} to turn it face up.

  503.3. The copy’s copiable values become the copied information, as modified by the copy’s status. Objects that copy the object will use the new copiable values.

  Example: Vesuvan Doppelganger reads, “As Vesuvan Doppelganger comes into play, you may choose a creature in play. If you do, Vesuvan Doppelganger comes into play as a copy of that creature except for its color and gains ‘At the beginning of your upkeep, you may have this creature become a copy of target creature except for its color. If you do, this creature gains this ability.’” A Vesuvan Doppelganger comes into play as a copy of Grizzly Bears (a 2/2 green creature with no abilities). Then a Clone comes into play as a copy of the Doppelganger. The Clone is a 2/2 blue Bear named Grizzly Bears that has the Doppelganger’s upkeep-triggered ability.

  Example: Tomoya the Revealer (a flipped flip card) becomes a copy of Nezumi Shortfang (an unflipped flip card). Tomoya’s characteristics become the characteristics of Stabwhisker the Odious, which is the flipped version of Nezumi Shortfang.

  Example: A face-down Grinning Demon (a creature with morph) becomes a copy of a face-up Branchsnap Lorian (a 4/1 green creature with trample and morph {G}). The Demon’s characteristics become the characteristics of Branchsnap Lorian. However, since the creature is face down, it remains a 2/2 colorless creature with no name, types, or abilities, and no mana cost. It can be turned face up for {G}. If it’s turned face up, it will have the characteristics of Branchsnap Lorian.

  Example: A fa
ce-down Grinning Demon (a creature with morph) becomes a copy of Wandering Ones (a 1/1 blue Spirit creature that doesn’t have morph). It will be a face-down Wandering Ones. It remains a 2/2 colorless creature with no name, types, or abilities, and no mana cost. Its controller can’t turn it face up as a special action. If an effect turns it face up, it will have the characteristics of Wandering Ones.

  503.4. Some effects cause a permanent that’s copying a permanent to copy a different permanent while remaining in play. The change doesn’t trigger comes-into-play or leaves-play abilities. This also doesn’t change any noncopy effects presently affecting the permanent.

  Example: Unstable Shapeshifter reads, “Whenever a creature comes into play, Unstable Shapeshifter becomes a copy of that creature and gains this ability.” A Shapeshifter is affected by Giant Growth, which reads “Target creature gets +3/+3 until end of turn.” If a creature comes into play later this turn, the Shapeshifter will become a copy of that creature, but it will still get +3/+3 from the Giant Growth.

  503.5. An object that comes into play “as a copy” of another permanent becomes a copy as it comes into play. It doesn’t come into play, and then become a copy of that permanent. If the text that’s being copied includes any abilities that replace the comes-into-play event (such as “comes into play with” or “as [this] comes into play” abilities), those abilities will take effect. Also, any comes-into-play triggered abilities of the copy will have a chance to trigger.

  Example: Skyshroud Behemoth reads, “Fading 2 (This creature comes into play with two fade counters on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a fade counter from it. If you can’t, sacrifice it.) / Skyshroud Behemoth comes into play tapped.” A Clone that comes into play as a copy of a Skyshroud Behemoth will also come into play tapped with two fade counters on it.

  Example: Striped Bears reads, “When Striped Bears comes into play, draw a card.” A Clone comes into play as a copy of Striped Bears. The Clone has the Bears’ comes-into-play triggered ability, so the Clone’s controller draws a card.

  503.6. When copying a permanent, any choices that have been made for that permanent aren’t copied. Instead, if an object comes into play as a copy of another permanent, the object’s controller will get to make any “as comes into play” choices for it.

  Example: A Clone comes into play as a copy of Chameleon Spirit. Chameleon Spirit reads, in part, “As Chameleon Spirit comes into play, choose a color.” The Clone won’t copy the color choice of the Spirit; rather, the controller of the Clone will get to make a new choice.

  503.7. Because any choices that have been made for a permanent aren’t copied, sometimes a copy card will gain an ability that refers to a choice that was never made. In that case, the choice is considered to be “zero” or “undefined.”

  Example: Voice of All comes into play and Unstable Shapeshifter copies it. Voice of All reads, in part, “As Voice of All comes into play, choose a color. / Voice of All has protection from the chosen color.” Unstable Shapeshifter never got a chance to choose a color, because it didn’t come into play as a Voice of All card, so the Shapeshifter’s protection ability doesn’t protect it from anything at all.

  503.8. If an ability causes a player to make a choice as a copy comes into play, the copy will “remember” that choice and continue to use it for its abilities if appropriate. If the choice is not appropriate, it is considered to be “zero” or “undefined.”

  Example: A Vesuvan Doppelganger comes into play as a copy of Chameleon Spirit, and the Doppelganger’s controller chooses blue. Later, the Doppelganger copies Quirion Elves. The Elves has the ability, “{T}: Add one mana of the chosen color to your mana pool.” If the mana ability of the Doppelganger is played, it will produce blue mana.

  Example: A Vesuvan Doppelganger comes into play as a copy of Caller of the Hunt. Caller of the Hunt reads, in part, “As Caller of the Hunt comes into play, choose a creature type.” The Doppelganger’s controller chooses Goblin. Later, the Doppelganger copies Quirion Elves. If the mana ability of the Doppelganger is played, it will fail to produce any mana. It won’t produce Goblin mana.

  503.9. Some copy effects give an ability to the copy as part of the copying process. This ability becomes part of the copiable values for the copy, along with any other abilities that were copied. Also, some copy effects specifically state that they don’t copy certain characteristics; they retain their original values instead.

  Example: Quirion Elves comes into play and an Unstable Shapeshifter copies it. The copiable values of the Shapeshifter now match those of the Elves, except that the Shapeshifter also has the ability “Whenever a creature comes into play, Unstable Shapeshifter becomes a copy of that creature and gains this ability.” Then a Clone comes into play as a copy of the Unstable Shapeshifter. The Clone copies the new copiable values of the Shapeshifter, including the ability that the Shapeshifter gave itself when it copied the Elves.

  503.10. To copy a spell means to put a copy of the spell onto the stack; a copy of a spell isn’t “played.” In addition to copying the characteristics of the spell, all decisions made when the spell was played are copied. These include mode, targets, the value of X, and optional additional costs such as buyback. (See rule 409, “Playing Spells and Activated Abilities.”) Choices that are normally made on resolution are not copied. If an effect of the copy refers to objects used to pay its costs, it uses the objects used to pay the costs of the original spell. A copy of a spell is controlled by the player who put it on the stack. A copy of a spell is itself a spell, but it has no spell card associated with it. It works just like a normal spell: it can be countered or it can resolve, and it uses the same timing rules as normal spells.

  Example: A player plays Fork, targeting an Emerald Charm. Fork reads, “Put a copy of target instant or sorcery spell onto the stack, except that it copies Fork’s color and you may choose new targets for the copy.” Emerald Charm reads, “Choose one – Untap target permanent; or destroy target non-Aura enchantment; or target creature loses flying until end of turn.” When the Fork resolves, it puts a copy of the Emerald Charm on the stack. The copy has the same mode that was chosen for the original Emerald Charm. It does not necessarily have the same target, but only because Fork allows choosing of new targets.

  Example: Fling is an instant that reads, “As an additional cost to play Fling, sacrifice a creature. / Fling deals damage equal to the sacrificed creature’s power to target creature or player.” When determining how much damage a copy of Fling deals, it checks the power of the creature sacrificed to pay for the original Fling.

  503.10a A copy of a spell in a zone other than the stack ceases to exist. A copy of a card in any zone other than the stack or the in-play zone ceases to exist. This is a state-based effect. See rule 420.

  503.11. If an effect refers to a permanent by name, the effect still tracks that permanent even if it changes names or becomes a copy of something else.

  Example: An Unstable Shapeshifter copies a Crazed Armodon. Crazed Armodon reads, “{G}: Crazed Armodon gets +3/+0 and gains trample until end of turn. Destroy Crazed Armodon at end of turn. Play this ability only once each turn.” If this activated ability of the Shapeshifter is played, the Shapeshifter will be destroyed at end of turn, even if it’s no longer a copy of Crazed Armodon at that time.

  503.12. An effect that instructs a player to “play a copy” of an object follows the rules for playing spells and abilities, except that the copy is played while another spell or ability is resolving. Playing a copy of a nonland object follows steps 409.1a-409.1h of rule 409, “Playing Spells and Activated Abilities," then the copy becomes played. The played copy is a spell on the stack, and just like any other spell it can resolve or be countered.

  504. Face-Down Spells and Permanents

  504.1. Two cards (Illusionary Mask and Ixidron) and the morph ability (see rule 502.26) allow spells and permanents to be face down.

  504.2. Face-down spells on the stack, face-down permanents in play, an
d face-down cards in the phased-out zone have no characteristics other than those listed by the ability or rules that allowed the card, spell, or permanent to be turned face down. Any listed characteristics are the copiable values of that object’s characteristics. (See rule 418.5, “Interaction of Continuous Effects,” and rule 503, “Copying Objects.”) Objects that are put into play face down are turned face down before they come into play, so the permanent’s comes-into-play abilities won’t trigger (if triggered) or have any effect (if static). Objects that are played face down are turned face down before they are put onto the stack, so effects that care about the characteristics of a spell will see only the face-down spell’s characteristics.

  504.3. At any time, you may look at a face-down spell you control on the stack, a face-down permanent you control, or a face-down card in the phased-out zone you controlled when it phased out. You can’t look at face-down cards in any other zone, face-down spells or permanents controlled by another player, or face-down cards in the phased-out zone last controlled by another player. The ability or rules that allow a permanent to be face down may also allow the permanent’s controller to turn it face up. Spells normally can’t be turned face up.