This page is current as of Comprehensive Rules September 2011. Please direct your feedback to: The Staff

Summary

1. Name --- Updated by Kalle
2. Mana cost and Color --- Updated by Kalle
3. Illustration --- Updated by Kalle
4. Color Indicator --- Updated by Francesco
5. Type line --- Updated by Kalle
6. Expansion symbol --- Updated by Kalle
7. Text box --- Updated by Kalle
8. Power/Tougheness --- Updated by Kalle
9. Loyalty --- Updated by Kalle
10. Other text --- Updated by Kalle

Basic Definitions

"Card" has a very different meaning from "Spell" and from "Permanent". If on a card you find the word "Spell" you have to know exactly the meaning. Many rulings are based on these small differences.

When a rule or text on a card refers to a "Card," it means a Traditional Magic card, a card that measures approximately 2.5 inches (6.3 centimeters) by 3.5 inches (8.8 centimeters). Tokens aren't considered cards - even a card that represents a token isn't considered a card for rules purposes. [CR 108.2]

Example. Split cards like Fire // Ice are cards with a single Magic card back but two Magic card fronts. When Fire // Ice is in any zone but the stack, it possesses the characteristics of both "halves". When it is on the stack it possesses the characteristics of the chosen "half".

Fire // Ice

The parts of a card are:

• name
• mana cost
• illustration (no game meaning)
• Color Indicator
• type line
• expansion symbol
• text box
• power and toughness
• loyalty
• hand modifier (only on Vanguard cards)
• life modifier (only on Vanguard cards)
• illustration credit (no game meaning)
• legal text (no game meaning)
• collector number (no game meaning)

Some cards may have more than one of any or all of these parts. [CR 200.1]

Example. Flip cards like Erayo, Soratami Ascendant // Erayo's Essence are cards with multiple parts: they have two names, two type lines, two text boxes and up to two power and toughness. Only one of the two parts has value in the game according to the "flipped/unflipped" status of the card.

Erayo, Soratami Ascendant

Example. In a special variant of the game, you may play with Vanguard cards like Serra. Each player starts with one Vanguard card in his command zone and its abilities change the normal rules of the game. Usually they change the number of cards you may have in your hand (hand modifier) and your total starting life points (life modifier).

Serra

Some objects that aren’t cards (tokens, copies of cards, and copies of spells) have some of the parts of a card, but only the ones that are also characteristics. [CR 200.3]

Example. There are many cards, like Siege-Gang Commander, which have abilities that create tokens. Usually tokens have a lower amount of parts than regular cards and they are set by the effect that creates them, nothing else is defined. Name and creature type usually are identical, they have power and toughness, color and a few abilities in their text box. Tokens are not "Cards".

Siege-Gang Commander