Chandra's 0 ability doesn't say "without paying its mana cost," so you still have to pay for it... but you have to do it this turn or it just stays exiled.
Category: Abilities
Fiendslayer Paladin vs. Boros Reckoner (the Paladin isn’t safe)
A reddit user posted a question about Fiendslayer vs. Reckoner, believing that the Reckoner could indeed target the Paladin with its triggered ability, while the opponent disagreed. Who was right? Well, let’s look at the Paladin’s ability: “Fiendslayer Paladin can’t be the target of black or red spells your opponents control.” That seems simple enough. […]
Burning Earth only triggers if the land is tapped for mana, not for any other abilities.
An explanation of how Burning Earth works (or really doesn't) when a nonbasic land is tapped for a non-mana ability.
Academy Raider – You have to discard first if you want to draw.
This is the latest red card to include the ability sometimes referred to as “reverse looting,” “red looting,” or “rummaging.” While blue cards frequently have “Draw a card, then discard a card” abilities, red doesn’t get that same luxury and flexibility. Instead, red gets “Discard a card, then draw a card.” So be careful when […]
Two Syphon Slivers are the same as one.
There are some keyword abilities that are useful in multiples. Generally speaking, it’s the triggered abilities (like Exalted or Flanking) that make sense to have more than one. Static abilities that modify power/toughness (like or ) also make cumulative sense. However, there are also many abilities that are useless when duplicated. Things like Trample, First […]
Dark Prophecy and Planar Cleansing – You’ll draw for the dying creatures.
A common question players have is about when lots of creatures die at once, and one of them has a trigger that cares about creatures dying. Does it see them dying at the same time? Yes. If dies with 3 other creatures to Supreme Verdict, for example, the Artist will trigger for all the creatures […]
Windreader Sphinx Triggers
“All right, I’ll swing 2 in the air with this guy, and 3 with this one.” “Okay, I’ll draw 2 cards from my Sphinx.” Does that sound right? Well, it should! doesn’t much care where the winged swings are coming from, or where they’re aimed. The ability on the Sphinx is “Whenever a creature with […]
Elite Arcanist and X Spell
You know what sounds fun? Getting rid of the 2 mana restriction on , and making it a creature. In Magic 2014, they did that, and gave us . Unlike his Scepter predecessor, Arcanist has no limit on the mana cost of the Instant he flings about willy-nilly, so you can happily put expensive and […]
M14 Rules Changes! Making “indestructible” an ability
In the post-Magic 2014 world, “indestructible” is now a keyworded ability! Instead of cards having the wording “Darksteel Ingot is indestructible”, the Ingot now simply has the ability “indestructible.” The indestructible ability does the exact same thing that “this permanent is indestructible” used to: a permanent with indestructible can’t be destroyed by lethal damage or […]