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

Summary

1. Keyword actions --- updated by Francesco, Thomas, Koen V
2. Keyword abilities --- updated by Bimmerbot, Rabbitball, Giovanni, Nicola

Keywords

Most actions described in a card's rules text use the standard English definitions of the verbs within, but some specialized verbs are used whose meanings may not be clear. These "keywords" are game terms; sometimes reminder text summarizes their meanings. [CR 701.1]

Example. Celestial Purge has the ability to put in the Exile zone a red or black permanent. Such action is expressed by the Exile keyword.

Celestial Purge

Most abilities describe exactly what they do in the card's rules text. Some, though, are very common or would require too much space to define on the card. In these cases, the object lists only the name of the ability as a "keyword"; sometimes reminder text summarizes the game rule. [CR 702.1]

Example. Baneslayer Angel is a powerful card with several abilities. All of them are written with keywords, otherwise the card text would contain too much text to be read. It would look like: Baneslayer Angel can't be blocked except by creatures with flying and/or reach. Baneslayer Angel assigns combat damage in the first combat damage step. Damage dealt by Baneslayer Angel causes you to gain that much life. Baneslayer Angel cannot be targeted by Demons spells, cannot be enchanted by Demons Auras or equipped by Demons Equipments, prevent all damage dealt to Baneslayer Angel from Demons sources and can't be blocked by Demons creatures. Baneslayer Angel cannot be targeted by Dragons spells, cannot be enchanted by Dragons Auras or equipped by Dragons Equipments, prevent all damage dealt to Baneslayer Angel from Dragons sources and can't be blocked by Dragons creatures.

Baneslayer Angel