(Originally published on 2025-09-05; last reviewed on 2025-09-05; last updated on 2025-09-05)

With each new set release, Wizards of the Coast (WotC) update the Comprehensive Rules (CR) and the Oracle text of any number of cards. These updates include support for new mechanics, error fixes, and improvements to the wording of rules and cards. In the past, WotC regularly published update bulletins which summarized and explained these changes. They stopped this practice in the fall of 2023, and update bulletins now release only sporadically.

Edge of Eternities got one of these rare releases, which gives me an opportunity to compare my own thoughts and ideas with WotC’s stance. The bulk of this article will be CR changes and Oracle changes as usual, and near the end, I will look at the official update bulletin and see how I did.

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.¹

• Comprehensive Rules changes
• Oracle changes
• Gatherer ruling changes (nonfunctional)
• A look at the official update bulletin
• Conclusion

Comprehensive Rules changes

For this section, I recommend having a CR diff open in another window, such as the one found on Academy Ruins.

Rules support for cards with station

The Edge of Eternities release introduces the station keyword ability and cards with a specific layout called station cards.

The station ability’s definition is pretty much self-explanatory. The rules entry for station is 702.184.

One subrule states that static abilities may modify how a station ability determines the number of charge counters to be placed on the permanent. It uses the rarely seen word “result” instead of the more common “effect,” and while the rule’s example makes it clear that it intends to cover Tapestry Warden, the actual wording leaves much to be desired.

Tapestry Warden uses the concept of a creature “stationing a permanent,” and usually, such terms are explicitly covered by subrules (see the various terms around warp in the next section). In this case, the subrule just makes vague references to abilities somehow modifying the station ability. Without a definition of what it actually means for a creature to “station a permanent,” the actual effect of Tapestry Warden’s ability remains unclear.

The closest equivalents are the keyword abilities crew and saddle, which define what it means for a creature to “crew” or “saddle” a permanent. Going by those definitions, a creature would station a permanent when it’s tapped to activate the station ability, and the effect of Tapestry Warden’s ability should lock in at that moment that the creature’s toughness will be used during the station ability’s eventual resolution. The rulings published for Tapestry Warden suggest WotC have another intention in mind, but rulings are not rules, so the unclearness remains.

The other rule added for station cards is a new top-level rule numbered 721; subsequent rules have been renumbered accordingly.

Station cards are printed with a striated text box; each striation may contain a station symbol, and if it does, it may also contain a power/toughness box.

If a striation does not have a station symbol, any text in that striation is treated normally. If a striation has a station symbol, that whole striation effectively represents one ability.

The station symbol represents a static ability which modifies the permanent’s characteristics as long as the permanent has at least the specified number of charge counters on it. Any text in the same striation as the station symbol is part of that static ability, and any power/toughness box in that striation is also part of that static ability’s text.

Minor things that caught my eye: rule 721.1 allows for a station card to have multiple power/toughness boxes, although no such card has been printed yet and it’s not clear how such a card would function; on the other hand, that rule restricts the number of station symbols to exactly one or two, although a card with more symbols is much easier to imagine and would work in the existing rules; and it makes the station ability optional, although every station card printed so far has one and rule 721.4 implies that a station ability is part of every station card. Lastly, rule 721.2 even allows for multiple power/toughness boxes within the same striation.

Rules support for warp

The Edge of Eternities release introduces the warp keyword ability.

Warp works similarly to the keyword abilities dash and blitz, except there’s only two abilities, not three. One ability allows the spell’s controller to pay the warp cost rather than the mana cost, and the second ability creates a delayed triggered ability as the spell resolves. The delayed triggered ability then exiles the permanent and allows its owner to cast the card from exile in later turns.

The rules entry for warp is 702.185.

One subrule covers the term “warped card in exile,” seen on the card Close Encounter; as one might expect, it means a card in the exile zone that was put there by the delayed triggered ability.

Another subrule covers the term “warped spell,” seen on cards with void abilities; as one might expect, it means a spell cast for a warp cost. Unfortunately, this subrule only covers effects referring to warped spells; out of the fourteen void abilities, nine refer to warped spells in an intervening “if” clause, which is not part of the abilities’ effects, but their trigger conditions. As such, the meaning of “warped spells” in the text of those abilities is totally unknown.

Finally, WotC did not add a subrule (or addition to an existing rule) that covers Tannuk, Steadfast Second. Usually, if it is possible for a card to have multiple instances of a keyword ability that cares whether its keyword cost was paid, WotC add a subrule clarifying that each instance of the ability looks only at its own cost, and not at the costs of other instances.

Then again, with Tannuk’s current wording, this can never actually happen. Warp abilities function while the object is on the stack, but the effect of Tannuk’s ability only grants warp to cards in its controller’s hand, so the granted warp abilities cannot be used in practice. This would be most elegantly solved with an erratum so that the effect of Tannuk’s ability applies to artifact spells and red creature spells instead.

The second issue with Tannuk is that the effect of Tannuk’s ability only applies while Tannuk remains on the battlefield; as soon as Tannuk leaves the battlefield, any spells currently on the stack lose the granted warp ability. When any such spell resolves, no delayed triggered ability will be created, even if the warp cost has been paid.

The lack of a rules update was to be expected though, as WotC have not made rules changes in the past whenever such a card was released.² By my count, Tannuk is the sixth card currently exhibiting this behavior, so it stands to reason that this is the intended behavior.³

Rules support for Lander tokens

The Edge of Eternities release introduces the Lander predefined token.

The rules entry for the characteristics of the Lander token is 111.10u.

Cards allowed as commanders (functional)

With the Edge of Eternities update, WotC increased the set of cards which may be used as commanders. Now, legendary Spacecraft cards with a power/toughness box, as well as legendary Vehicle cards, may be designated as commanders.

The updated rules are 903.3 for Commander and 903.12c for Brawl.

Fix for harmonize (functional)

The original definition for harmonize stated that all three abilities represented by this keyword function on the stack. This represented a problem when trying to cast a card from a graveyard using its harmonize ability, since none of the abilities worked in the graveyard.

With the Edge of Eternities update, WotC changed the definition in rule 702.180a so that the first ability functions while the card is in the graveyard. The task of changing the first ability’s text to say “this card” rather than “this spell” was left for a future update.

611.2e (functional)

Some cards put a nontoken permanent onto the battlefield and create an effect modifying that permanent’s characteristics. This rule covers the timing of those effects: depending on the specific wording of the effect, it’s created simultaneously with the permanent entering, or it’s created after the permanent is put onto the battlefield. As is often the case with rules that rely on very specific wordings, rule 611.2e did not cover all existing wordings. With the Edge of Eternities update, which features one such wording on Xu-Ifit, Osteoharmonist, WotC expanded the list of effects covered by this rule.

613.7n (functional)

The order in which continuous effects are applied partially depends on the timestamps of those effects. As a consequence, two effects should never have the same timestamp, as this would make their order ambiguous, and the subrules of rule 613.7 describe various procedures for establishing a relative order among timestamps.⁴

Over the years, several gaps in those subrules have accumulated. The effects described in the previous segment were one of these gaps: the permanent enters the battlefield at the same time that the effect is created, and since there was no rule that covered this case, the timestamp order of the permanent and the effect was unclear.

With the Edge of Eternities update, which features one such card in the form of Xu-Ifit, Osteoharmonist, WotC partially closed this gap with the new subrule 613.7n, which states that the effect receives a later relative timestamp. The subrule covers only the relative order of that specific permanent and that specific effect though; the relative order between the effect and other permanents (and maybe even other effects) is still unclear.

While the new subrule brings its own gaps, the underlying principle strikes me as the intuitive solution: the effect modifying the permanent’s characteristics feels “added on,” compared to the permanent’s “inherent” characteristic values, so it should apply after the effects of the permanent’s own abilities.

WotC did not address other gaps with this update.

614.13b (functional)

This rule deals with enter-the-battlefield replacement effects that cause another object to change zones. It was created to handle situations where multiple replacement effects might attempt to move the same object.

The canonical example, as seen in the CR, is a creature with two devour abilities entering the battlefield: without a specific rule to the contrary, a creature already on the battlefield could be chosen twice, once for the first devour effect, and once for the second. After applying the two effects, the chosen creature would be sacrificed only once (as it can’t be sacrificed twice), but the creature with devour would still enter with counters from both devour abilities.

Rule 614.13b prevents this scenario by stating that an object can be chosen only once for a zone change. The original wording was overly specific though, and only applied to replacement effects dealing with a single permanent entering the battlefield. The much more common scenario, where two creatures with devour enter at the same time, was not covered by this wording.

With the Edge of Eternities update, WotC generalized the wording to cover replacement effects dealing with one or more creatures entering the battlefield. My best guess is that this was prompted by devour’s cameo appearance in Edge of Eternities.

Bringing cards from outside the game into a Commander game (functional)

With the Edge of Eternities update, WotC changed the rules for bringing cards from outside the game into a Commander game. The new rules mostly match those found at MTGCommander.net.

A new rule 903.11 states that traditional cards cannot be brought into a Commander game, except by “rules, special actions, and effects that specifically bring cards into Commander games.” The previous rule with that number, which puts additional restrictions on cards being brought into Commander games, is now subrule 903.11a.

I am not entirely sure how to parse that sentence—does “that specifically bring cards into Commander games” apply only to effects, or also to rules and special actions? Applying it to just effects would resemble the rules on MTGCommander.net the most, but on its own, applying the phrase to all three items seems more natural.

There are currently no rules that bring traditional cards into a game, and only one special action, so there is not much to compare in terms of practical consequences. Furthermore, the special action—bringing a companion into the game—got its own subrule 702.139d whose wording does not fit well with the other rule.

Also, what does “specifically bring cards into Commander games” mean? If I cast Living Wish during a Commander game and I choose a creature card from outside the game, do I “specifically bring that card into a Commander game”? The game is a Commander game, and I specifically bring the card into that game. But that would make the phrase pointless, so this interpretation cannot be correct.

Maybe it means that the special action or effect has to specifically say that it brings a card into a Commander game. That doesn’t mesh with the new subrule for companion though, because the subrule just states that it can bring cards into a Commander game; the special action doesn’t apply exclusively to Commander games, nor even to Commander games in specific.

Given the most likely intention behind the rule—the only traditional cards that can be brought into a Commander game are companions—I would prefer the wording used for abilities working in special zones and for objects changing zones: one sentence which simply states that traditional cards cannot be brought into a Commander game, followed by a sentence declaring that there are a number of exceptions, followed by a list of subrules detailing each exception. This approach would fit the current wording of rule 702.139d, and it would require the same amount of maintenance, as each new exception needs its own rule someplace or another. Hopefully, the official update bulletin will shed some light on the rule’s intended meaning.

903.5e (functional)

This new rule states that Commander games do not use sideboards.

702.174a (technical functional)

The gift keyword ability represents two abilities. The first is always a static ability, while the second ability’s category depends on the card’s type.

For instant and sorcery cards, gift’s original definition stated that the second ability was a static ability, but it reads and behaves like a spell ability; rule 702.174j also implies a spell ability, since it talks about “other spell abilities.”

With the Edge of Eternities update, WotC changed the definition of gift. Now, the text does not outright state what category the ability belongs to. This makes the definition part of a rather exclusive group, as keyword ability definitions almost always state the category of each ability.

Going by the general definitions of rule 113.3a, the second ability is now fittingly classified as a spell ability. In practice, the exact category does not matter, as the CR don’t differentiate between static abilities and spell abilities while resolving a spell.

100.4 (nonfunctional)

This rule establishes the concept of a sideboard.

WotC added a reference and a web link to the Magic: The Gathering Tournament Rules (MTR).

100.6, 113.6n, 206.4, 407.1, 731.1c, and 800.3 (nonfunctional)

WotC updated the web link to the MTR. For the last two rules, they opted to make “Wizards” lowercase instead of keeping the uppercase spelling used throughout the rest of the CR.

100.6b (nonfunctional)

WotC updated the web link to the Magic Store & Event Locator.

111.10 (nonfunctional)

This rule and its subrules contain the definitions of the various predefined tokens, such as Clue or Treasure tokens.

WotC applied the templating guidelines for self-references in rules text to those definitions, effectively replacing “this [type or subtype]” with “this token.”

The mention of Incubator tokens in rule 701.53b was not changed.

702.172b (nonfunctional)

In the Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY update, WotC added a mention of the upcoming cullet point to this rule, as well as a duplicate period.

With the Edge of Eternities update, WotC replaced “cullet point” with the traditional “bullet point” and reversed the duplicate period.

Changes to card types, supertypes, and/or subtypes

New artifact types: Lander and Spacecraft. A planar type named “Spacecraft” already exists, but this does not cause any issues at the moment, as plane cards are restricted to the command zone and there is no card or rule that cares about this specific planar type. Since neither is likely to change, any appearance of the word “Spacecraft” can be classified based on the context.

New land type: Planet.

New creature types: Drix, Echidna, Hedgehog, and Lobster.

Changes to ability words

New ability word: Void.

Changes to glossary entries

New glossary entries: Lander token, station, station cards, and warp.

Changed glossary entries: Blood token, clue token, commander, food token, gold token, junk token, incubator token, map, shard token, and treasure token.

Oracle changes

Note: Most of the time, I will list only the changed parts of a card’s Oracle text, rather than the complete text of the card.

Reducing card name usage in rules text, part IV (nonfunctional)

As far as self-references in rules text are concerned, the Edge of Eternities update provides two new noncreature subtypes, pre-release errata for two guideline-violating wordings, and “feature reductions” for two existing cards.

Spacecraft

Spacecraft cards consistently use “this Spacecraft,” which fits with other artifact types like Equipment and Vehicle.

Planets

The five Planet cards printed in Edge of Eternities refer to themselves only in their reminder text, where they use “this Planet.” This is inconsistent with other land cards, which always use “this land,” even if they have one or more land types; nor do the templating guidelines make exceptions for reminder text.

Station (Tap another creature you control: Put charge counters equal to its power on this Planet. Station only as a sorcery.)

Harmonious Grovestrider

The printed text of Harmonious Grovestrider does not follow the templating guidelines. An ability that works in all game zones, such as a characteristic-defining ability, should use the card name.

WotC issued a pre-release erratum for Harmonious Grovestrider; its Oracle text uses the card name.

Printed ability text:

This creature’s power and toughness are each equal to the number of lands you control.

---

Oracle ability text:

Harmonious Grovestrider’s power and toughness are each equal to the number of lands you control.

Cosmogoyf

The printed text of Cosmogoyf does not follow the templating guidelines. An ability that works in all game zones, such as a characteristic-defining ability, should use the card name.

WotC issued a pre-release erratum for Cosmogoyf; its Oracle text uses the card name.

Printed ability text:

This creature’s power is equal to the number of cards you own in exile and its toughness is equal to that number plus 1.

---

Oracle ability text:

Cosmogoyf’s power is equal to the number of cards you own in exile and its toughness is equal to that number plus 1.

Verix Bladewing

In the Aetherdrift update, Verix Bladewing’s self-reference was shortened to just its given name, which does not match guidelines. Verix Bladewing was reprinted in Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander with a guideline-compliant wording. However, that wording only appeared on the printed card; the Oracle text was not updated at that time.

With the Edge of Eternities update, the self-reference in the Oracle text was updated to use the full name, matching the physical reprint and the guidelines.

Old ability text:

When Verix enters, if it was kicked, create Karox Bladewing, a legendary 4/4 red Dragon creature token with flying.

---

New ability text:

When Verix Bladewing enters, if it was kicked, create Karox Bladewing, a legendary 4/4 red Dragon creature token with flying.

Lethal Scheme

In the Aetherdrift update, Lethal Scheme was not updated to use the guideline-compliant “this spell,” instead keeping its card name as a self-reference. Lethal Scheme was reprinted in Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander with “this spell,” which appeared on both the printed card and in the Oracle text. With the Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY update, Lethal Scheme got another reprint, which changed both the printed and the Oracle wording back to the card name.

With the Edge of Eternities update, the Oracle text is once again changed to the guideline-compliant “this spell.”

Old ability text:

Destroy target creature or planeswalker. Each creature that convoked Lethal Scheme connives. (Draw a card, then discard a card. If you discarded a nonland card, put a +1/+1 counter on that creature.)

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New ability text:

Destroy target creature or planeswalker. Each creature that convoked this spell connives. (Draw a card, then discard a card. If you discarded a nonland card, put a +1/+1 counter on that creature.)

Edge of Eternities additional printed errors and issued errata

Diplomatic Relations (functional)

WotC issued a pre-release erratum for Diplomatic Relations; the erratum adds “you control” to the description of the first target.

Printed rules text:

Target creature gets +1/+0 and gains vigilance until end of turn. It deals damage equal to its power to target creature an opponent controls.

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Oracle rules text:

Target creature you control gets +1/+0 and gains vigilance until end of turn. It deals damage equal to its power to target creature an opponent controls.

Susurian Dirgecraft (nonfunctional)

Susurian Dirgecraft was printed without the now customary “of their choice” for forced sacrifice effects. WotC issued a pre-release erratum to add that phrase to the Oracle text.

Printed ability text:

When this Spacecraft enters, each opponent sacrifices a nontoken creature.

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Oracle ability text:

When this Spacecraft enters, each opponent sacrifices a nontoken creature of their choice.

Resourceful Defense and Nesting Grounds (nonfunctional)

Resourceful Defense and Nesting Grounds were both reprinted as part of the Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY release and received an update to their rules text as part of that reprint. The reprints in the Edge of Eternities release feature the pre-Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY wording on the physical cards; the Oracle rules text was not reverted.

Station cards (functional)

WotC issued two sets of pre-release errata for station cards.

The first set affects all station cards that were printed with a power/toughness box. The errata remove those power and toughness values from the corresponding station symbols and make them the cards’ regular power and toughness values.

In practice, these errata mean that Spacecraft do not become creatures upon reaching the highest station symbol. On the plus side, if an effect makes a Spacecraft a creature without setting its power and toughness (e.g. a crew ability granted to the Spacecraft), the Spacecraft will have the power and toughness printed in its power/toughness box.

Printed text (example):

Oracle text (example):

The second set of errata affects ten Spacecraft. Each erratum removes the bottom-most ability associated with the bottom-most station symbol and makes that ability a normal ability of the Spacecraft.

In practice, these errata mean that those Spacecraft always have one of the abilities printed beside the highest-numbered station symbol, regardless of the number of charge counters on them.

The affected cards are: Debris Field Crusher, Entropic Battlecruiser, Exploration Broodship, Hearthhull, the Worldseed, Infinite Guideline Station, Inspirit, Flagship Vessel, The Seriema, Sledge-Class Seedship, Specimen Freighter, and Uthros Research Craft.

Printed text (example):

Oracle text (example):

Survey Mechan and The Dominion Bracelet (functional)

WotC issued pre-release errata for Survey Mechan and The Dominion Bracelet; the errata lower the activation costs by effectively {9} each.

Printed ability text (example):

Equipped creature gets +1/+1 and has “{15}, Exile The Dominion Bracelet: You control target opponent during their next turn. This ability costs {X} less to activate, where X is this creature’s power. Activate only as a sorcery.” (You see all cards that player could see and make all decisions for them.)

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Oracle ability text (example):

Equipped creature gets +1/+1 and has “{1}{5}, Exile The Dominion Bracelet: You control target opponent during their next turn. This ability costs {X} less to activate, where X is this creature’s power. Activate only as a sorcery.” (You see all cards that player could see and make all decisions for them.)

Kav Landseeker (functional)

WotC issued a pre-release erratum which adds additional instructions to the triggered ability. The controller is instructed to sacrifice Kav Landseeker, search their library for a basic land card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, and then shuffle.

Printed ability text:

When this creature enters, create a Lander token. At the beginning of the end step on your next turn, sacrifice that token. (It’s an artifact with “{2}, {T}, Sacrifice this token: Search your library for a basic land card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle.”)

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Oracle ability text:

When this creature enters, create a Lander token. At the beginning of the end step on your next turn, sacrifice that token. (It’s an artifact with “{2}, {T}, Sacrifice this token: Search your library for a basic land card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle.”)

Cards which lose their subtypes (functional)

WotC issued a large number of pre-release errata which change subtypes to (as yet undefined) card types. These errata affect all cards newly printed in the Edge of Eternities release, as well as all reprint versions that are part of the release.

The errata replace the em dash on the type line with a hyphen-minus. Since the CR define subtypes as appearing after a long dash [CR 205.3b], removing the em dash automatically moves the former subtypes into the card-type part of the type line.

As a result, each card printed with the artifact card type and the Spacecraft subtype now has the artifact card type, an undefined card type named “spacecraft,” and no subtypes. Other cards and reprint versions are affected accordingly.

Reverted: Reminder text is now rules text (functional)

With the Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY update, WotC removed all reminder text from all Oracle entries and replaced it with identically worded rules text.

With the Edge of Eternities update, WotC have reversed that change and replaced the new rules text with identically worded reminder text. The sole exception is Hedron Crab, which continues to effectively mill six cards per instance of the ability.

Extra text: Sacrifice [this object] and draw a card (functional)

WotC added additional text to the abilities of a few cards. The text instructs the controller to sacrifice the object and to draw a card.

This update applies to: Survive the Night, Bearer of Overwhelming Truths, Tireless Tracker, Funnel-Web Recluse, Briarbridge Tracker, Martha Jones, Thijarian Witness, Rory Williams, Osgood, Operation Double, Case of the Pilfered Proof, Evidence Examiner, and Follow the Bodies.

Old ability text (example):

Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, investigate. (Create a Clue token. It’s an artifact with “{2}, Sacrifice this token: Draw a card.”)

---

New ability text (example):

Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, investigate. (Create a Clue token. It’s an artifact with “{2}, Sacrifice this token: Draw a card.”)

Extra text: Sacrifice [this object] and add one mana of any color (functional)

WotC added additional text to the abilities of a few cards. The text instructs the controller to sacrifice the object and to add one mana of any color.

This update applies to: Heartless Pillage, Shiny Impetus, Plundering Barbarian, Prizefight, You’ve Been Caught Stealing, Korvold and the Noble Thief, Diamond Pick-Axe, Meticulous Artisan, and Undercity Dire Rat.

Old ability text (example):

Whenever enchanted creature attacks, you create a Treasure token. (It’s an artifact with “{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.”)

---

New ability text (example):

Whenever enchanted creature attacks, you create a Treasure token. (It’s an artifact with “{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.”)

Extra text: Sacrifice [this object] and gain 3 life (functional)

WotC added additional text to the abilities of a few cards. The text instructs the controller to sacrifice the object and to gain 3 life.

This update applies to: Turn into a Pumpkin, Foreboding Fruit, Fierce Witchstalker, Sam, Loyal Attendant, The Witch’s Vanity, Graham O’Brien, Vault 101: Birthday Party, Survivor’s Med Kit, Midnight Snack, and Eager Trufflesnout.

Old ability text (example):

When this creature enters, create a Food token. (It’s an artifact with “{2}, {T}, Sacrifice this token: You gain 3 life.”)

---

New ability text (example):

When this creature enters, create a Food token. (It’s an artifact with “{2}, {T}, Sacrifice this token: You gain 3 life.”)

Extra text: Discard a card, sacrifice [this object], and draw a card (functional)

WotC added additional text to the abilities of a few cards. The text instructs the controller to discard a card, to sacrifice the object and to draw a card.

This update applies to: Belligerent Guest, Falkenrath Celebrants, and Kamber, the Plunderer.

Old ability text (example):

Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, create a Blood token. (It’s an artifact with “{1}, {T}, Discard a card, Sacrifice this token: Draw a card.”)

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New ability text (example):

Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, create a Blood token. (It’s an artifact with “{1}, {T}, Discard a card, Sacrifice this token: Draw a card.”)

Extra text: Sacrifice [this object] and exile the top card of your library. You may play that card this turn. (functional)

WotC added additional text to the abilities of a few cards. The text instructs the controller to sacrifice the object and to exile the top card of their library; they may play that card this turn.

This update applies to: Commander Sofia Daguerre and Rose, Cutthroat Raider.

Old ability text (example):

Raid — At end of combat on your turn, if you attacked this turn, create a Junk token for each opponent you attacked. (It’s an artifact with “{T}, Sacrifice this token: Exile the top card of your library. You may play that card this turn. Activate only as a sorcery.”)

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New ability text (example):

Raid – At end of combat on your turn, if you attacked this turn, create a Junk token for each opponent you attacked. (It’s an artifact with “{T}, Sacrifice this token: Exile the top card of your library. You may play that card this turn. Activate only as a sorcery.”)

Extra text: Nonsense (nonfunctional)

WotC added additional text to the abilities of a few cards. The text… doesn’t really make sense.

This update applies to: Ball Lightning, Benalish Lancer, Kangee, Aerie Keeper, Akroan Crusader, Surrak, the Hunt Caller, Fallaji Wayfarer, Ood Sphere, Ral and the Implicit Maze.

Old ability text (example):

Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets this creature, create a 1/1 red Soldier creature token with haste. (It can attack and as soon as it comes under your control.)

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New ability text (example):

Heroic – Whenever you cast a spell that targets this creature, create a 1/1 red Soldier creature token with haste. (It can attack and {T} as soon as it comes under your control.)

Less rules text (functional)

WotC removed an ability from a few cards. To compensate, they added identically worded flavor text.

This update applies to: Mirrorshell Crab, Rohirrim Chargers, Case of the Filched Falcon, and Kheru Goldkeeper.

Old rules text (example):

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.

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New rules text (example):

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.

Charmed Pendant (functional)

WotC added an additional instruction to Charmed Pendant‘s mana ability. The instruction adds {U}{U}{B}.

Old ability text:

{T}, Mill a card: For each colored mana symbol in the milled card’s mana cost, add one mana of that color. Activate only as an instant. (For example, if the card’s mana cost is {3}{U}{U}{B}, you add {U}{U}{B}.)

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New ability text:

{T}, Mill a card: For each colored mana symbol in the milled card’s mana cost, add one mana of that color. Activate only as an instant. (For example, if the card’s mana cost is {3}{U}{U}{B}, you add {U}{U}{B}.)

Gathan Raiders (functional)

WotC added text to Gathan Raiders’s morph ability. The added text allows the permanent to be turned face up at any time.

Old ability text:

Morph—Discard a card. (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for {3}. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)

---

New ability text:

Morph-Discard a card. (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for {3}. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)

Tithe Drinker (functional)

WotC added additional instructions to Tithe Drinker‘s extort ability. The instructions are for all opponents to lose life and for the controller to gain life.

Old ability text:

Extort (Whenever you cast a spell, you may pay {W/B}. If you do, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain that much life.)

---

New ability text:

Extort (Whenever you cast a spell, you may pay {W/B}. If you do, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain that much life.)

Tireless Provisioner (functional)

WotC added text to the triggered ability. The text instructs the controller to sacrifice Tireless Provisioner, among other things.

Old ability text:

Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, create a Food token or a Treasure token. (Food is an artifact with “{2}, {T}, Sacrifice this token: You gain 3 life.” Treasure is an artifact with “{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.”)

---

New ability text:

Landfall – Whenever a land you control enters, create a Food token or a Treasure token. (Food is an artifact with “{2}, {T}, Sacrifice this token: You gain 3 life.” Treasure is an artifact with “{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.”)

Storm Fleet Negotiator (functional)

WotC added text to the triggered ability. The new text instructs the ability’s controller to sacrifice Storm Fleet Negotiator and to have a target creature explore.

Old ability text:

Parley — Whenever this creature attacks, each player reveals the top card of their library. For each nonland card revealed this way, you create a Map token. Then each player draws a card. (A Map token is an artifact with “{1}, {T}, Sacrifice this token: Target creature you control explores. Activate only as a sorcery.”)

---

New ability text:

Parley – Whenever this creature attacks, each player reveals the top card of their library. For each nonland card revealed this way, you create a Map token. Then each player draws a card. (A Map token is an artifact with “{1}, {T}, Sacrifice this token: Target creature you control explores. Activate only as a sorcery.”)

More cards which have been removed entirely (functional)

As part of the Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY update, WotC removed the complete Oracle text of two cards from Gatherer.

With the Edge of Eternities update, WotC removed the Oracle text of seventy-six more cards.

This update applies to: Dandân, El-Hajjâj, Junún Efreet, Juzám Djinn, Khabál Ghoul, Ghazbán Ogre, Ifh-Bíff Efreet, Ring of Ma’rûf, Legions of Lim-Dûl, Lim-Dûl’s Cohort, Lim-Dûl’s Hex, Oath of Lim-Dûl, Márton Stromgald, Lim-Dûl’s High Guard, Lim-Dûl’s Paladin, Lim-Dûl’s Vault, Déjà Vu, Bösium Strip, Ghazbán Ogress, Chicken à la King, Sauté, Jötun Grunt, Jötun Owl Keeper, Lim-Dûl the Necromancer, Séance, Tura Kennerüd, Skyknight, Robo-Piñata, Khârn the Betrayer, Dúnedain Blade, Éowyn, Lady of Rohan, Tale of Tinúviel, Lórien Revealed, Soothing of Sméagol, Gríma Wormtongue, Nazgûl, Troll of Khazad-dûm, Éomer, Marshal of Rohan, Éomer of the Riddermark, Glóin, Dwarf Emissary, Grishnákh, Brash Instigator, Dúnedain Rangers, Lothlórien Lookout, Arwen Undómiel, Éowyn, Fearless Knight, Galadriel of Lothlórien, Mauhúr, Uruk-hai Captain, Sméagol, Helpful Guide, Théoden, King of Rohan, Uglúk of the White Hand, Andúril, Flame of the West, Palantír of Orthanc, Barad-dûr, The Balrog, Flame of Udûn, Éowyn, Shieldmaiden, Gilraen, Dúnedain Protector, Haldir, Lórien Lieutenant, Círdan the Shipwright, Éomer, King of Rohan, Gríma, Saruman’s Footman, Lord of the Nazgûl, Lothlórien Blade, Song of Eärendil, Andúril, Narsil Reforged, Mists of Lórien, Olórin’s Searing Light, Nazgûl Battle-Mace, Bartolomé del Presidio, Clavileño, First of the Blessed, Arna Kennerüd, Skycaptain, Mjölnir, Storm Hammer, Aveline de Grandpré, Adéwalé, Breaker of Chains, Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad, Ratonhnhaké:ton, Surtr, Fiery Jötun, and Séance Board.

More cards which lose their rules text (functional)

As part of the Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY update, WotC removed most of the Oracle text of Room cards and a handful of other cards.

With the Edge of Eternities update, WotC continued on this path of vanilla-fication and removed the rules text of all split cards, as well as twenty-nine other cards.

This update applies to: Clergy en-Vec, Oracle en-Vec, Ranger en-Vec, Commander Greven il-Vec, Vhati il-Dal, Lancers en-Kor, Nomads en-Kor, Shaman en-Kor, Spirit en-Kor, Warrior en-Kor, Paladin en-Vec, Zealots en-Dal, Mage il-Vec, Avenger en-Dal, Chieftain en-Dal, Defender en-Vec, Netter en-Dal, Outrider en-Kor, Zealot il-Vec, Drifter il-Dal, Looter il-Kor, Trespasser il-Vec, Augur il-Vec, Spirit en-Dal, Infiltrator il-Kor, Cutthroat il-Dal, Sanctifier en-Vec, Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim, Erase (Not the Urza’s Legacy One), and all split cards.

Old Oracle text (example):

New Oracle text (example):

More cards which lose their subtypes (functional)

With the Edge of Eternities update, WotC replaced all dashes in rules text with hyphen-minuses.

Most dashes have no relevancy for gameplay. One exception is where the rules text of a card contains the definition of an alternative type line, as seen on flip cards, adventurer cards, and omen cards. The CR define subtypes as the words appearing after a long dash [CR 205.3b], so removing the em dash automatically moves the former subtypes into the card-type part of the alternative type line.

Effectively, the alternative sets of characteristics have no subtypes anymore. Flipped creatures have no creature types anymore, and Adventure and Omen spells aren’t Adventures or Omens anymore, which means that they are not exiled or shuffled after resolution.

This update applies to: Bushi Tenderfoot, Kitsune Mystic, Jushi Apprentice, Student of Elements, Nezumi Graverobber, Nezumi Shortfang, Akki Lavarunner, Initiate of Blood, Budoka Gardener, Orochi Eggwatcher, Faithful Squire, Callow Jushi, Hired Muscle, Cunning Bandit, Budoka Pupil, all adventurer cards, and all omen cards.

Changed activation costs (functional)

With the Edge of Eternities update, WotC have replaced several activation costs (or parts thereof) with as yet undefined symbols.

This update applies to: Adarkar Windform, Frost Raptor, Rimefeather Owl, Ohran Yeti, Rimescale Dragon, Stalking Yeti, Rimehorn Aurochs, Diamond Faerie, Phyrexian Ironfoot, Phyrexian Snowcrusher, Mouth of Ronom, Scrying Sheets, Chillerpillar, Frostwalk Bastion, Ascendant Spirit, Frostpeak Yeti, Grim Draugr, Hailstorm Valkyrie, Icehide Troll, Narfi, Betrayer King, and Faceless Haven.

Old ability text (example):

{S}{S}{S}: If this creature is a Warrior, put a flying counter on it and it becomes a Spirit Warrior Angel with base power and toughness 4/4.

---

New ability text (example):

{SiSiSi}: If this creature is a Warrior, put a flying counter on it and it becomes a Spirit Warrior Angel with base power and toughness 4/4.

Rampaging Baloths (functional)

WotC removed “you may” from Rampaging Baloths‘s landfall ability. I assume that this was done to improve digital gameplay, since the two Commander decks were also released on MTG Arena.⁵

Old ability text:

Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, you may create a 4/4 green Beast creature token.

---

New ability text:

Landfall – Whenever a land you control enters, create a 4/4 green Beast creature token.

Gleemax and Who // What // When // Where // Why (functional)

As part of the Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY update, WotC had removed the rules text and the card types of dozens of cards.

With the Edge of Eternities update, WotC restored the rules text, but not the card type, of two cards.

This update applies to: Gleemax and Who // What // When // Where // Why.

Old rules text (example):

—

---

New rules text (example):

You choose all targets for all spells and abilities.

No more bullet points (nonfunctional)

As part of the Edge of Eternities update, WotC replaced the bullet points used for the modes of modal spells and abilities. They did not use the sustainable cullet points though, instead opting for asterisks.

Old rules text (example):

Choose one or more —

• Destroy target artifact.
• Destroy target creature.
• Destroy target enchantment.
• Destroy target land.
• Destroy target planeswalker.

---

New rules text (example):

Choose one or more –

* Destroy target artifact.

* Destroy target creature.

* Destroy target enchantment.

* Destroy target land.

* Destroy target planeswalker.

Threshold (nonfunctional)

Threshold abilities of cards printed before Magic: The Gathering Foundations got updated to use the same wording as the ones printed in Magic: The Gathering Foundations.

The new wording also matches the vast majority of other cards that care about the number of cards in a graveyard. Standalone cards which use the old threshold wording, including recent cards like Scouring Swarm and Sidequest: Card Collection, were not changed.

This update applies to: all cards with threshold abilities originally printed in Odyssey, Torment, Judgment, Modern Horizons, Modern Horizons 2, and Bloomburrow.

Old ability text (example):

Threshold — As long as seven or more cards are in your graveyard, this creature has “When this creature enters, nonblack creatures get -2/-2 until end of turn.”

---

New ability text (example):

Threshold – As long as there are seven or more cards in your graveyard, this creature has “When this creature enters, nonblack creatures get -2/-2 until end of turn.”

Two-colored animating lands (nonfunctional)

Of the ten animating lands from Worldwake, Battle for Zendikar, and Oath of the Gatewatch, five had “until end of turn” at the start of the ability’s text, and five had it at the end of the text. The latter five got updated to also start with “until end of turn.”

This update applies to: Creeping Tar Pit, Lumbering Falls, Shambling Vent, Hissing Quagmire, and Needle Spires.

Old ability text (example):

{2}{G}{U}: This land becomes a 3/3 green and blue Elemental creature with hexproof until end of turn. It’s still a land.

---

New ability text (example):

{2}{G}{U}: Until end of turn, this land becomes a 3/3 green and blue Elemental creature with hexproof. It’s still a land.

It can’t be blocked this turn (nonfunctional)

Two cards reprinted as part of the Edge of Eternities release have an ability with two effects, the second of which makes the permanent unblockable until end of turn. The “can’t be blocked” effect was moved to a separate sentence at the end of the ability.

This update applies to: Creeping Tar Pit and Kappa Cannoneer.

Old ability text (example):

Whenever this creature or another artifact you control enters, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature and it can’t be blocked this turn.

---

New ability text (example):

Whenever this creature or another artifact you control enters, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. It can’t be blocked this turn.

Caged Sun (nonfunctional)

Caged Sun‘s triggered mana ability was slightly rewritten to match the standard wording for such abilities.

Old ability text:

Whenever a land’s ability causes you to add one or more mana of the chosen color, add one additional mana of that color.

---

New ability text:

Whenever a land’s ability causes you to add one or more mana of the chosen color, add an additional one mana of that color.

Gyome, Master Chef (nonfunctional)

The phrase “the battlefield” was restored to Gyome, Master Chef‘s triggered ability to match the standard wording for such abilities.

Old ability text:

At the beginning of your end step, create a number of Food tokens equal to the number of nontoken creatures you had enter under your control this turn.

---

New ability text:

At the beginning of your end step, create a number of Food tokens equal to the number of nontoken creatures you had enter the battlefield under your control this turn.

Cyberdrive Awakener (nonfunctional)

Cyberdrive Awakener‘s triggered ability was rewritten to match the standard wording for effects that animate noncreature artifacts.

Old ability text:

When this creature enters, until end of turn, each noncreature artifact you control becomes an artifact creature with base power and toughness 4/4.

---

New ability text:

When this creature enters, each noncreature artifact you control becomes a 4/4 artifact creature until end of turn.

Aftermath Analyst (nonfunctional)

As part of its reprint in Edge of Eternities Commander, Aftermath Analyst got reminder text for the mill keyword action.

Old ability text:

When this creature enters, mill three cards.

---

New ability text:

When this creature enters, mill three cards. (Put the top three cards of your library into your graveyard.)

Trance Kuja, Fate Defied (nonfunctional)

The flavor word for Trance Kuja, Fate Defied‘s ability got changed to “flare star.”

Old ability text:

Flame Star — If a Wizard you control would deal damage to a permanent or player, it deals double that damage instead.

---

New ability text:

Flare Star – If a Wizard you control would deal damage to a permanent or player, it deals double that damage instead.

Re-italicization (nonfunctional)

Ability words, flavor words, card sets, and individual phrases such as “Magic,” “DCI ruling,” and “Magic: The Gathering” were italicized.

Equipment reminder text (nonfunctional)

Some Equipment cards from Mirrodin and Darksteel still had the original Equipment reminder text. That text was shortened to the current form. Darksteel Garrison, which has the same sentence in its reminder text, was not changed.

This update applies to: Banshee’s Blade, Dead-Iron Sledge, Golem-Skin Gauntlets, Neurok Hoversail, Nightmare Lash, Slagwurm Armor, Sword of Kaldra, Viridian Longbow, Vorrac Battlehorns, Vulshok Gauntlets, Heartseeker, Leonin Bola, Nemesis Mask, Specter’s Shroud, and Surestrike Trident.

Old ability text (example):

Equip {3} ({3}: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery. This card enters unattached and stays on the battlefield if the creature leaves.)

---

New ability text (example):

Equip {3} ({3}: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)

Sunburst reminder text (nonfunctional)

“Artifact” or “creature” was added to the reminder text, as appropriate.

This update applies to: Baton of Courage, Clearwater Goblet, Engineered Explosives, Etched Oracle, Heliophial, Infused Arrows, Lunar Avenger, Opaline Bracers, Pentad Prism, Sawtooth Thresher, Skyreach Manta, Solarion, Spinal Parasite, Suncrusher, and Suntouched Myr.

Old ability text (example):

Sunburst (This enters with a +1/+1 counter on it for each color of mana spent to cast it.)

---

New ability text (example):

Sunburst (This creature enters with a +1/+1 counter on it for each color of mana spent to cast it.)

Gatherer ruling changes (nonfunctional)

Removal of identical rulings

WotC removed rulings from ca. 7600 cards.

The vast majority are standardized rulings for keywords, ability words, and other mechanics, although more specialized rulings are also affected if they appear across multiple cards. The general idea seems to be that each ruling (i.e. each combination of a date and a text) appears only once across all cards on Gatherer. For example, the following ruling is one of six standardized rulings for convoke:

You can tap any untapped creature you control to convoke a spell, even one you haven’t controlled continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn.

Before this update, that ruling appeared on the page of every convoke-related card. Now, the ruling appears only three times on Gatherer: once dated January 12^th 2024, once dated April 12^th 2024, and once dated July 26^th 2024.

Reverted: Version-specific rulings

With the Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY update, WotC introduced rulings that only appeared for one specific version of a given card; other versions of that card listed different rulings.

With the Edge of Eternities update, WotC applied the version-specific rulings to all versions of those cards, making them once again have a universal list of rulings.

This update applies to: Carpet of Flowers, Rhystic Study, Lightning Greaves, Azusa, Lost but Seeking, Dark Confidant, Primeval Titan, Chandra’s Ignition, Mizzix’s Mastery, Armory Automaton, Conqueror’s Flail, Sram, Senior Edificer, Danitha Capashen, Paragon, Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow, Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy, Winota, Joiner of Forces, Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor, and Atraxa, Grand Unifier.

Other reverted updates of the Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY update

Some cards had their rulings reordered as part of the Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY update. A few of these reorderings got reverted with the Edge of Eternities update.

This update applies to: Copy Artifact, Lich, Clockwork Avian, Zur’s Weirding, Defiant Falcon, and Gaea’s Balance.

Updated “move” to “attach”

The rulings of some cards talk about “moving” Auras or Equipment onto a permanent. Some of those cards had their rulings rewritten to say “attach” instead; the majority of cards remains unchanged though.

This update applies to: Venarian Gold, Dance of the Dead, Aura Graft, Steam Vines, Vulshok Battlemaster, Scythe of the Wretched, Leonin Shikari, Carry Away, Goblin Brawler, Magnetic Theft, Azorius First-Wing, Simic Guildmage, Enslave, Veteran’s Armaments, Sigil of Distinction, Brass Squire, Sai of the Shinobi, Ajani’s Chosen, Daring Thief, Armory of Iroas, Shifting Loyalties, Stormrider Rig, Shrewd Negotiation, Lay Claim, Kefnet’s Last Word, In Bolas’s Clutches, Heavenly Blademaster, Bloodthirsty Blade, Enthralling Hold, Ardenn, Intrepid Archaeologist, and Immovable Rod.

Added rulings from Release Notes

A few cards had rulings in recent Release Notes, but those rulings were not included in the corresponding Gatherer updates. Those cards now have rulings matching their most recent Release Notes appearance.

This update applies to: Geistcatcher’s Rig, Cathars’ Crusade, Angel’s Tomb, Conjurer’s Closet, Valor’s Flagship, Narset’s Rebuke, Dragonbroods’ Relic, Nature’s Rhythm, Rakshasa’s Bargain, Zurgo, Thunder’s Decree, Betor, Ancestor’s Voice, Teval’s Judgment, and Aerith, Last Ancient.

Updated rulings for reprints

A few cards reprinted in Edge of Eternities Bonus Sheet and Special Guests received updated rulings as part of that reprint.

This update applies to: Reflecting Pool, Burgeoning, Meteor Crater, Blinkmoth Nexus, Magus of the Moon, Mutavault, Celestial Colonnade, Creeping Tar Pit, Lavaclaw Reaches, Raging Ravine, Stirring Wildwood, Inkmoth Nexus, Lumbering Falls, Shambling Vent, Hissing Quagmire, Mirrorpool, Needle Spires, Wandering Fumarole, Endless Sands, Blast Zone, Robe of Stars, and Echoing Deeps.

Heartlash Cinder

A typo in one of Heartlash Cinder‘s rulings was fixed.

Old text:

The effect counts the mana symbols in this cards mana cost as well.

---

New text:

The effect counts the mana symbols in this card’s mana cost as well.

All Is Dust

A typo in one of All Is Dust‘s rulings was fixed.

Old text:

This cards was originally printed with the “tribal” card type. That card type has been replaced with “kindred”. This change does not affect the gameplay function of this card.

---

New text:

This card was originally printed with the “tribal” card type. That card type has been replaced with “kindred”. This change does not affect the gameplay function of this card.

Banishing Light

Banishing Light received a duplicate set of rulings (except for an updated example that replaces shroud with hexproof).

Boulder Salvo

One of Boulder Salvo‘s surge rulings got a more generalized wording to also cover copies of permanent spells. (All other cards with surge had their rulings removed.)

Old text:

If an instant or sorcery spell cast for its surge cost is copied, the copy is also considered to have had its surge cost paid.

---

New text:

If a spell cast for its surge cost is copied, the copy is also considered to have had its surge cost paid.

Backdraft Hellkite

The first two of Backdraft Hellkite‘s rulings were moved to the back of the list.

Bloodthirsty Blade

The update which replaced “move” with “attach” also introduced an error by referencing an equip ability Bloodthirsty Blade does not have.

Old text:

You still control Bloodthirsty Blade while it’s equipped to an opponent’s creature. You can move it any time you could cast a sorcery; the equipped creature’s controller can’t.

---

New text:

You still control Bloodthirsty Blade while it’s equipped to an opponent’s creature. You can still activate its equip ability any time you could cast a sorcery; the equipped creature’s controller can’t.

Robe of Stars

A typo in one of Robe of Stars‘s rulings was fixed. Other cards with the same typo were not changed.

Old text:

Phased out permanents are treated as though they don’t exist. They can’t be the target of spells or abilities, their static abilities have no effect on the game, their triggered abilities can’t trigger, they can’t attack or block, and so on.

---

New text:

Phased-out permanents are treated as though they don’t exist. They can’t be the targets of spells or abilities, their static abilities have no effect on the game, their triggered abilities can’t trigger, they can’t attack or block, and so on.

Saheeli, Radiant Creator

Saheeli got a new ruling.

If you target an Aura with Saheeli, Radiant Creator’s ability, no tokens will be created.

Ultima

Ultima‘s rulings got updated to clarify which triggered abilities actually get to resolve when ending the turn.

Old text:

Ending the turn this way means the following things happen in order: (1) All spells and abilities on the stack are exiled. This includes Ultima, though it will continue to resolve. It also includes spells and abilities that can’t be countered. (2) All attacking and blocking creatures are removed from combat. (3) State-based actions are checked. No player gets priority, and no triggered abilities are put onto the stack. (4) The current phase and/or step ends. The game skips straight to the cleanup step. The cleanup step happens in its entirety.

If any triggered abilities do trigger during this process, they’re put onto the stack during the cleanup step. If this happens, players will have a chance to cast spells and activate abilities, then there will be another cleanup step before the turn finally ends.

---

New text:

Ending the turn this way means the following things happen in order: (1) All spells and abilities on the stack are exiled. This includes any abilities that triggered as a result of destroying all artifacts and creatures as well as Ultima, though it will continue to resolve. It also includes spells and abilities that can’t be countered. (2) All attacking and blocking creatures are removed from combat. (3) State-based actions are checked. No player gets priority, and no triggered abilities are put onto the stack. (4) The current phase and/or step ends. The game skips straight to the cleanup step. The cleanup step happens in its entirety.

If any triggered abilities do trigger during the process of ending the turn, they’re put onto the stack during the cleanup step. If this happens, players will have a chance to cast spells and activate abilities, then there will be another cleanup step before the turn finally ends.

Triple Triad

The reference to paying all costs got removed from Triple Triad‘s rulings.

Old text:

You pay all costs and follow all timing rules for cards played this way. For example, if the exiled card is a land card, you may play it only during your main phase while the stack is empty and only if you have an available land play remaining.

---

New text:

You follow all timing rules for cards played this way. For example, if the exiled card is a land card, you may play it only during your main phase while the stack is empty and only if you have an available land play remaining.

A look at the official update bulletin

I did not read WotC’s official bulletin beforehand to avoid getting influenced. With my own analysis of the update complete, I will now have a look, and list whatever catches my eye.

We also made some non-functional changes to the Oracle text of a few cards.

Apparently, removing the Oracle text or rules text of dozens of cards, or removing “you may” from an ability’s text is just a “non-functional” change these days.

This is a summary of the rule changes planned to come to Magic with the release of Edge of Eternities.

Nowadays, the official update bulletins come out after the new CR have already been published. Wouldn’t it be time to rewrite that sentence?

We can assure you that Treasure tokens are still just as shiny and Food tokens are still just as tasty with the updated text!

An excellent point. Tokens aren’t cards, even if they are represented by a token helper card from a Magic booster, so we should be allowed to eat the delicious tokens, right?

This rule clarifies that the same object can’t be chosen to change zones more than once when applying replacement effects that modify how one or more permanents enter the battlefield. For example, if you have two creatures with devour enter at the same time, you cannot sacrifice the same creature to both instances of devour.

Does this paragraph say what actually changed about this rule? I don’t think so. Using the word “clarify” for a functional change continues to be an interesting choice.

This rule has been updated to clarify that except via rules, special actions, and effects that specifically bring cards from outside the game into Commander games (such as the companion ability and rules), traditional cards from outside the game cannot be brought into Commander games.

“Clarify” again for a functional change. At least the update bulletin makes it clear that the companion special ability is supposed to work under the new rule.

This is not a functional change, and cards that bring nontraditional objects into the game like Dungeons or tokens still work as usual.

Calling this a nonfunctional change is clearly at odds with the previous CR version. Fortunately, if there is “a discrepancy between this summary and the official rules, the official rules take precedence,” so this mistake won’t cause confusion.

Next, “Dungeon” is a card type and thus should be lowercase. The CR use the word “nontraditional” only for cards; I wonder what a traditional object looks like?

In addition to the following rules text updates, we also had a few changes to reminder text as well as some minor non-functional templating adjustments that aren’t interesting enough to mention here.

Thank you for deciding what is and isn’t interesting, and for giving interested people like me a purpose.

The Ultimate Nightmare of Wizards of the Coast® Customer Service lists the fairly ancient customer service phone number in its flavor text. Living up to its name, this flavor text needs to be updated periodically to match the current Wizards of the Coast support contact information, and we’ve done that again with this update.

Why didn’t I catch this update? Oh, that’s why:

The flavor text has not actually been updated and still shows a dead link (no idea about the Twitter account). Providing accurate contact information seems not so important after all. Also, WotC’s customer support makes it clear that they do not provide support for rules-related questions, which makes me question the whole decision to keep updating the contact information.

Threshold — Add {oBoBoBoBoB} instead if there are seven or more cards in your graveyard.

More of those strange symbols… It’s probably nothing.

Ten out of ten players agree, more Beasts are better than fewer Beasts, especially when they are cute little Beast tokens made by Rampaging Baloths! To ensure the maximum amount of Beast friends, Rampaging Baloths has been updated to remove the “you may” from its ability. We know you want more Beast tokens!

So, since these are all “non-functional changes,” does this mean that all other instances of “you may” can also be removed from rules text without changing any functionality? How exciting.

Diplomatic Relations has received an update to its official rules text. The phrase “you control” was inadvertently omitted from the first target.

So, since these are all “non-functional changes,” does this mean that adding “you control” to other rules text does not change that text’s functionality either? How exciting.

Conclusion

This time around, I did not miss any changes listed in the official bulletin,⁶ which is an improvement over Tarkir: Dragonstorm. I find WotC’s usage and apparent understanding of the terms “clarify” and “non-functional” baffling though; maybe an introductory definition of those terms would be in order.

The next set, Magic: The Gathering | Marvel’s Spider-Man, already looms on the horizon, so let’s look forward to the merely cosmetic changes that update will bring.

1. Then again, WotC often omit minor changes in their own bulletins, so it’s par for the course. ↩︎
2. With a brief exception for Henzie “Toolbox” Torre and Serra Paragon. ↩︎
3. I leave it to the reader to decide whether being able to cast a single artifact or red creature card for {2}{R} justifies the setup of getting Tannuk onto the battlefield, protecting him until the spell is cast, and being able to remove him between the casting and the resolution of that spell. ↩︎
4. Acceptable exceptions include cards like Ashenmoor Liege, where the order of the two effects does not matter. ↩︎
5. Rampaging Baloths was also reprinted in Magic: The Gathering Foundations, but WotC might have simply missed it at that time, and this was the next opportunity to change the rules text. ↩︎
6. At least none that were actually made. ↩︎