(Originally published on 2026-05-28; last reviewed on 2026-05-28; last updated on 2026-05-28)
Sometime after the Secrets of Strixhaven update (between the 21st of April and the 20th of May), Wizards of the Coast (WotC) made an unscheduled update to Gatherer. This update includes functional and nonfunctional changes, some of which are potential previews for an upcoming rules change and an upcoming mechanic.
Shout-out to WotC for giving me a second preview after the one for the vivid mechanic back in November/December. You’re the best!
Disclaimer: I have no special insight into the inner workings of WotC’s rules team, so any observations are based solely on the published updates and my own knowledge of and experience with Magic’s rules system. While I strive for completeness and correctness, I may have missed some changes; in particular, my process for archiving and comparing Gatherer revisions is still a work in progress. (Then again, WotC often omit minor changes in their own bulletins, so it’s par for the course.)
Functional changes to Oracle text
Revelation required
Some cards allow a player to reveal the top card of their library (often after looking at that card), and if the player does so, an effect is generated based on the revealed card’s qualities. A handful of cards use a related wording that does not require the player to actually reveal the top card of their library to get the effect: these cards generate their effects based purely on the top card’s qualities, whether or not that card gets revealed.
The May 2026 update replaces the wording of three of those cards with the standard wording. Now, a player must reveal the top card in order to get the related effect.
A simple search for cards whose text includes the phrase “may reveal” and a later “if” shows that (at least) one card, Swindler’s Scheme, remains unchanged. If a lesser company were involved, I would just assume that the person(s) responsible were not competent enough or lacked the attention span to assess the 90 or so cards returned by that search, and that they overlooked Swindler’s Scheme. This is not the case here though, since WotC produce the world’s premier trading card game and the amount of work they invest into each release is practically unparalleled.
As such, leaving Swindler’s Scheme unchanged must have been a deliberate decision. Maybe WotC prefer the play pattern of Swindler’s Scheme blindly countering spells, without either player knowing the top card’s identity; this could even be a hint that WotC plan to introduce Alchemy cards and mechanics to tabletop Magic.
Or maybe WotC want to support public health: it is known that analyzing large numbers of cards—like the aforementioned 90—is mentally and physically taxing, even for professionally trained experts, and WotC as a company care deeply about the health of their employees and their customers. Leaving Swindler’s Scheme unchanged sends a strong message to not overexert oneself in pursuit of minor goals like intuitive card functionality; better to stick to manageable numbers—say 15 to 20 cards—than risk severe health issues. (If you, dear reader, have recently looked at more than 20 cards in one session, please see your doctor.)
This update applies to: The Maelstrom, Elven Farsight, and Doors of Durin.
Old ability text (example):
When you planeswalk to The Maelstrom and at the beginning of your upkeep, you may reveal the top card of your library. If it’s a permanent card, you may put it onto the battlefield. If you revealed a card but didn’t put it onto the battlefield, put it on the bottom of your library.
New ability text (example):
When you planeswalk to The Maelstrom and at the beginning of your upkeep, you may reveal the top card of your library. If a permanent card is revealed this way, you may put it onto the battlefield. If you revealed a card but didn’t put it onto the battlefield, put it on the bottom of your library.
Adventure names restored
The Magic: The Gathering | Marvel’s Spider-Man update changed the alternative names of four adventurer cards released in Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY and Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY Commander. In each case, the first word of the two-word Adventure name was replaced with the second word.
The May 2026 update reverts that change and restores the printed names.
This update applies to: Lindblum, Industrial Regency, Midgar, City of Mako, Zanarkand, Ancient Metropolis, and Hildibrand Manderville.
Old Oracle text (example):
Lindblum, Industrial Regency
Land – Town
This land enters tapped.
{T}: Add {R}.
//ADV//
Siege Siege
{2}{R}
Instant – Adventure
Create a 0/1 black Wizard creature token with “Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this token deals 1 damage to each opponent.”
New Oracle text (example):
Lindblum, Industrial Regency
Land – Town
This land enters tapped.
{T}: Add {R}.
//ADV//
Mage Siege
{2}{R}
Instant – Adventure
Create a 0/1 black Wizard creature token with “Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this token deals 1 damage to each opponent.”
Thran Turbine
If an effect produces mana and places a restriction on it that prevents the mana from being spent on a specific use case, the template “This mana can’t be spent to [do something]” is used. The sole exception was Thran Turbine, which used the sentence “You can’t spend this mana to cast spells.”
The May 2026 update changes Thran Turbine’s rules text to the standard wording. This is a functional change, since Thran Turbine’s previous text prevented only the ability’s controller from spending the mana to cast spells; the standard wording applies to all players, whether or not they originally produced the mana.
Old rules text:
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may add {C}{C}. You can’t spend this mana to cast spells.
New rules text:
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may add {C}{C}. This mana can’t be spent to cast spells.
Rohirrim Chargers
The Edge of Eternities update changed the text of four cards by removing a paragraph of rules text and replacing it with an identically worded paragraph of flavor text. Essentially, each of those cards lost an ability.
The May 2026 update reverts that change for one of those cards, Rohirrim Chargers, and restores its prior rules text and its prior lack of flavor text. The other three cards remain unchanged.
This update does not apply to: Mirrorshell Crab, Case of the Filched Falcon, and Kheru Goldkeeper.
Old rules text:
You may exert this creature as it attacks. (It won’t untap during your next untap step.)
New rules text:
You may exert this creature as it attacks. (It won’t untap during your next untap step.)
Whenever you exert a creature, reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal an Equipment card. Put that card onto the battlefield attached to that creature, then put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
Nonfunctional changes to Oracle text
Reach reordered
The May 2026 update changes the rules text of several dozen cards by moving the reach keyword to the front of keyword lists. In such lists, reach appears first, second only to defender. Notably, reach appears before first strike, hexproof, menace, trample, and vigilance. Cards that already listed reach first remain unchanged.
The following cards see reach move to the front of a list of keyword abilities: Chancellor of the Tangle, Sentinel Spider, Ruric Thar, the Unbowed, Bassara Tower Archer, Bitterbow Sharpshooters, Ramunap Hydra, Zacama, Primal Calamity, Thantis, the Warweaver, Vivien, Champion of the Wilds, Elder Gargaroth, Colfenor, the Last Yew, Drider, Lolth, Spider Queen, Catti-brie of Mithral Hall, Halana and Alena, Partners, Weathered Sentinels, Wilson, Refined Grizzly, Hierophant Bio-Titan, Titania, Gaea Incarnate, Resistance Skywarden, Vorinclex, Legolas’s Quick Reflexes, Curious Altisaur, Izoni, Center of the Web, Harold and Bob, First Numens, Rumbleweed, Lion Umbra, Frilled Sparkshooter, Galewind Moose, Lumra, Bellow of the Woods, Finneas, Ace Archer, Short Bow, The Odd Acorn Gang, Rendmaw, Creaking Nest, Sire of Seven Deaths, Hazard of the Dunes, Thundering Broodwagon, Dragon Sniper, Ragnarok, Divine Deliverance, Balthier and Fran, Iron Giant, Rig for War, Amazing Spider-Man, Surris, Silk-Tech Vanguard, The Lion-Turtle, Pummeler for Hire, Rancorous Archaic, Magmablood Archaic, Wildgrowth Archaic, and Old-Growth Educator.
Old rules text (example):
Vigilance, reach
New rules text (example):
Reach, vigilance
The following cards see reach move to the front of a list of keyword counters: Flycatcher Giraffid, Vivien, Monsters’ Advocate, Invoke the Ancients, and Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer.
Old rules text (example):
This creature enters with your choice of a vigilance counter or a reach counter on it.
New rules text (example):
This creature enters with your choice of a reach counter or a vigilance counter on it.
The following cards see a keyword ability preceding reach move to a separate paragraph: Longbow Archer, Ancient Spider, and Tel-Jilad Archers.
Old rules text (example):
First strike; reach (This creature can block creatures with flying.)
New rules text (example):
Reach (This creature can block creatures with flying.)
First strike
Use “as long as” as long as possible
The May 2026 update replaces an “if” in the rules text of two cards with “as long as,” which is the default wording for such effects.
This update applies to: Palladia-Mors, the Ruiner and Karakyk Guardian.
Old ability text (example):
Palladia-Mors has hexproof if it hasn’t dealt damage yet.
New ability text (example):
Palladia-Mors has hexproof as long as it hasn’t dealt damage yet.
Elvish Spirit Guide
The Aetherdrift update changed the self-reference in Elvish Spirit Guide‘s rules text. The new self-reference did not match the guidelines released with Magic: The Gathering Foundations though.
The May 2026 update replaces that self-reference with one that matches the guidelines. Other provisional features from the Aetherdrift update and from subsequent updates remain unchanged.
Old rules text:
Exile this creature from your hand: Add {G}.
New rules text:
Exile this card from your hand: Add {G}.
Motivated Pony
The May 2026 update restores a “the battlefield” to the text of Motivated Pony’s triggered ability. The text now matches the standard template for cases where the text only checks whether a permanent entered the battlefield, without affecting that permanent in any way.
Old ability text:
Whenever this creature attacks, attacking creatures get +1/+1 until end of turn. If a Food entered under your control this turn, untap those creatures and they get an additional +2/+2 until end of turn.
New ability text:
Whenever this creature attacks, attacking creatures get +1/+1 until end of turn. If a Food entered the battlefield under your control this turn, untap those creatures and they get an additional +2/+2 until end of turn.
Read this reminder only as an instant
The May 2026 update adds reminder text to four cards with a mana-producing ability that is not a mana ability. The reminder text states that those abilities may be activated only as an instant.
Six other cards with similar abilities remain unchanged.
This update applies to: Deathrite Shaman, Priest of Forgotten Gods, Radiant Lotus, and The Warring Triad.
This update does not apply to: Soulbright Flamekin, Mad Science Fair Project, Jetfire, Ingenious Scientist, Bigger on the Inside, Red Death, Shipwrecker, and Soulbright Seeker.
Old ability text (example):
{T}: Exile target land card from a graveyard. Add one mana of any color.
New ability text (example):
{T}: Exile target land card from a graveyard. Add one mana of any color. (Activate only as an instant.)
Park Heights Maverick
The May 2026 update removes a “the” from Park Heights Maverick’s reminder text. The reminder text now matches the standard “the most life or tied for most life” wording.
Old text:
Dethrone (Whenever this creature attacks the player with the most life or tied for the most life, put a +1/+1 counter on it.)
New text:
Dethrone (Whenever this creature attacks the player with the most life or tied for most life, put a +1/+1 counter on it.)
Guardian of the Forgotten
The May 2026 update replaces an erroneous “the top card of your library” in Guardian of the Forgotten’s reminder text with “it.”
Old text:
Whenever a modified creature you control dies, manifest the top card of your library. (Equipment, Auras you control, and counters are modifications. To manifest a card, put the top card of your library onto the battlefield face down as a 2/2 creature. Turn it face up any time for its mana cost if it’s a creature card.)
New text:
Whenever a modified creature you control dies, manifest the top card of your library. (Equipment, Auras you control, and counters are modifications. To manifest a card, put it onto the battlefield face down as a 2/2 creature. Turn it face up any time for its mana cost if it’s a creature card.)
Previews (nonfunctional)
Draw this card only as an instant
The May 2026 update adds reminder text to the seven cards with a mana ability whose effect includes drawing cards. The reminder text claims that those abilities may be activated only as an instant.
This claim does not match the Comprehensive Rules’ current rules on mana abilities. As such, this reminder text may indicate an upcoming rules change intended to rein in mana abilities with exotic effects.
(“Reminder text” may be the wrong term here, since reminder text is text that reminds the reader about a rule they already know. In this case, there is no rule to remind the reader of, so “gaslighting text” may be more appropriate.)
Notably, the rulings on the cards’ Gatherer pages are left unchanged and correctly state that the mana abilities may be activated while casting a spell or activating another ability. The new reminder text contradicts those rulings.
If a lesser company were involved, I would just assume that the person(s) responsible were not competent enough or lacked the attention span to update both the reminder text and the rulings, along with the actual rules. This is not the case here though, since WotC produce the world’s premier trading card game and the amount of work they invest into each release is practically unparalleled.
As such, introducing the unsupported and contradictory reminder text must have been a deliberate decision. At a guess, WotC want to remind the public that neither reminder text nor WotC-issued rulings are relevant to Magic’s rules system or to official tournaments: the Comprehensive Rules dictate how cards function, outweighed only by a head judge’s interpretation thereof.
This update applies to: Chromatic Sphere, Darkwater Egg, Mossfire Egg, Shadowblood Egg, Skycloud Egg, Sungrass Egg, and Selvala, Explorer Returned.
Old rules text (example):
{1}, {T}, Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color. Draw a card.
New rules text (example):
{1}, {T}, Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color. Draw a card. (Activate only as an instant.)
Mill this card only as an instant
The May 2026 update adds reminder text to two cards with a mana ability whose activation cost includes milling cards. The reminder text claims that those abilities may be activated only as an instant.
This claim does not match the Comprehensive Rules’ current rules on mana abilities. As such, this reminder text may indicate an upcoming rules change intended to rein in mana abilities with exotic activation costs.
(“Reminder text” may be the wrong term here, since reminder text is text that reminds the reader about a rule they already know. In this case, there is no rule to remind the reader of, so “gaslighting text” may be more appropriate.)
Notably, the rulings on both cards’ Gatherer pages remain unchanged and correctly state that the mana abilities may be activated while casting a spell or activating another ability. The new reminder text contradicts those rulings.
Finally, there is one other card with a mana ability whose activation cost includes milling cards: Charmed Pendant. Its mana ability already has an activation instruction to activate it only as an instant. That instruction remains unchanged despite being redundant under the potential rules change.
If a lesser company were involved, I would just assume that the person(s) responsible were not competent enough or lacked the attention span to update both the reminder text and the rulings, along with the actual rules. This is not the case here though, since WotC produce the world’s premier trading card game and the amount of work they invest into each release is practically unparalleled.
As such, introducing the unsupported and contradictory reminder text must have been a deliberate decision. At a guess, WotC want to remind the public that neither reminder text nor WotC-issued rulings are relevant to Magic’s rules system or to official tournaments: the Comprehensive Rules dictate how cards function, outweighed only by a head judge’s interpretation thereof.
This update applies to: Millikin and Deranged Assistant.
Old rules text:
{T}, Mill a card: Add {C}. (To mill a card, put the top card of your library into your graveyard.)
New rules text:
{T}, Mill a card: Add {C}. (Activate only as an instant. To mill a card, put the top card of your library into your graveyard.)
Uvilda, Dean of Perfection
The May 2026 update replaces hone counters in Uvilda, Dean of Perfection’s rules text with refine counters. This is not a functional change, since no other card refers to either kind of counter.
Similar updates were made to Palliation Accord and its use of shield counters with the Streets of New Capenna update, and to Energy Vortex and its use of energy counters with the Kaladesh update. In both cases, the associated card set used the respective kind of counter as a new mechanic, so a similar thing may happen with hone counters. (What hone counters will be used for is anybody’s guess.)
Notably, the ruling on Uvilda’s Gatherer page remains unchanged and still refers to hone counters. If a lesser company were involved, I would just assume that the person(s) responsible were not competent enough or lacked the attention span to update the ruling along with the rules text. This is not the case here though, since WotC produce the world’s premier trading card game and the amount of work they invest into each release is practically unparalleled. As such, the decision to leave the ruling’s text unchanged must have been deliberate.
Old rules text:
{T}: You may exile an instant or sorcery card from your hand and put three hone counters on it. It gains “At the beginning of your upkeep, if this card is exiled, remove a hone counter from it” and “When the last hone counter is removed from this card, if it’s exiled, you may cast it. It costs {4} less to cast this way.”
New rules text:
{T}: You may exile an instant or sorcery card from your hand and put three refine counters on it. It gains “At the beginning of your upkeep, if this card is exiled, remove a refine counter from it” and “When the last refine counter is removed from this card, if it’s exiled, you may cast it. It costs {4} less to cast this way.”