Devoid – MTG Mechanics Explained

Card KingdomStrategy

Devoid is a characteristic defining ability that can appear on any card type, and simply makes the card colorless regardless of its mana cost. And that’s entirely it. There’s a couple of notes, but they’re pretty quick; And that’s it. Devoid was not terribly popular, as it seemed like an odd choice to devote a full set mechanic slot to. …

Awaken – MTG Mechanics Explained

Card KingdomStrategy

Awaken is an ability that appears on Instants and Sorceries, and gives an alternative casting cost for the spell. Whichever cost you pay, you get the normal effect of the spell. If you pay the Awaken cost, you then put a number of +1/+1 counters equal to the awaken number of that spell onto a land you control, and that …

Renown – MTG Mechanics Explained

Card KingdomStrategy

Renown is a creature keyword that triggers when a creature with it deals combat damage to a player. When it does, if it isn’t already renowned, it gets a +1/+1 counter and becomes renowned. As renown only triggers if the creature isn’t renowned already, this is a one-time thing. That’s it for the mechanic specifically, but some creatures with renown …

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Dash – MTG Mechanics Explained

Card KingdomStrategy

Dash is actually three different abilities all in one keyword. First, it’s an alternative casting cost. Then, if that cost was paid, the permanent with it has haste. Lastly, if that cost was paid instead of its normal casting cost, return it to its owners hand at the beginning of the next end step. So to boil it down, Dash …

Outlast – MTG Keywords Explained

Card KingdomStrategy

Outlast is an activated ability that appears on creatures, and simply states that if you pay the cost (which always involves tapping the creature), you put a +1/+1 counter on that creature. However, you can only do this at sorcery speed, during one of your main phases with nothing else on the stack. There’s almost nothing else to this. Since …

Bestow – MTG Keywords Explained

Chris CornejoStrategy

Bestow is an alternate casting cost that appears on Enchantment Creatures, so we’re getting pretty specific already as those are somewhat uncommon to begin with. If you cast the Bestow creature for its normal mana cost, it enters the battlefield and behaves like any other creature spell. If you choose to cast it for its Bestow cost, it instead enters …

Prototype – MTG Keywords Explained

Card KingdomStrategy

Prototype is mechanic from The Brothers’ War that appears on artifact creatures. Cards with Protoype have a special Prototype section of their text box, which, if you’re casting the card normally, can be cheerfully ignored. However, you can also choose to cast the card for its Prototype cost. If you do, you pay the cost listed in the special box, …

Meld – MTG Keywords Explained

Card KingdomStrategy

Meld is a Keyword Action (a little different than what we normally cover here) that can appear on any permanent type. It could theoretically appear on an Instant or Sorcery, but we have yet to see that occur and how specifically that would work. Anyway! Meld appears in the ability text of one card that will specifically name another card …

Fuse – MTG Mechanics Explained

Card KingdomStrategy

Fuse is a static ability you can find on some split cards – modal cards that essentially act like two cards in one. Normally, these cards only allow you to cast one side or the other, but not both. Fuse lets you do exactly that. When you cast a Fuse card from your hand you may pay the costs of …

Extort – MTG Keywords Explained

Card KingdomStrategy

Extort is a triggered ability that appears on permanents. Whenever you cast a spell (any spell), you may pay a single white or black mana. If you do, each opponent loses one life and you gain a life equal to the total life lost this way. And…yeah. That’s it. A few small notes: You can only pay for the draining …