a mythic card from Scars of Mirrodin has an ability that prevents your life total from changing. This ability prevents its controller from spending life as well. Because of this, you cannot spend life to play cards with Phyrexian mana in their mana cost via their alternate costs.
Category: Static Abilities
Lifelink is not cumulative.
When initially introduced Lifelink was a triggered ability. If a permanent had multiple instances of lifelink, then each of these separate abilities would trigger independently ultimately causing the controller of of these abilities to gain more life than the damage dealt. However when the Magic 2010 base set was released how Lifelink works was changed. […]
A difference between Shroud and Protection.
Protection from a quality actually has four different effects. One of which deals with auras, which used to be called local enchantments. Permanents with protection from ‘X’ cannot have auras with with quality of ‘X’ attached to them. For example, a cannot be enchanted by a . Another aspect of Protection is that permanents with […]
Artifact is a type, not a creature type
‘Artifact’ is a type, not a subtype. When an effect has you choose a subtype, like a creature subtype, you cannot choose artifact. This also applies to effects that depend on or apply to specific creature subtypes. Years ago, it was more common for an artifact creature to exist without a creature type. However that […]
How Deathtouch works.
Deathtouch is a static ability that changes the end result when a source with Deathtouch deals damage to a creature. When an object (which is usually a creature) with Deathtouch deals damage to a creature, that creature receiving the damage is destroyed when state-based actions are applied. A single point of damage from a source […]
Ethersworn Canonist can prevent spells from being cast via alternate methods
‘s ability prevents players from playing more than one non-artifact spell per turn. This limitation applies to playing spells via alternate means; such as Cascade or Hideaway. Even the triggered ability of can be interfered with by the Canonist’s ability. With Ethersworn Canonist and Knowledge Pool in play, if a player casts a non-artifact spell […]
Elvish Archdruid’s +1/+1 ability doesn’t affect itself.
‘s static ability that gives Elves +1/+1 does not affect the Elvish Archdruid itself. This is because the ability specifically states that ‘other Elf creatures get +1/+1.’ However, when an object refers to itself by name it means that object only, unless specified. This means that with two Elvish Archdruids in play, each will give […]
What ‘Everything’ in ‘Protection from Everything’ means.
The protection ability is often explained by using the acronym DEBT, which stands for Damage, Enchanting / Equipping, Blocking and Targeting. Protection from : D- Damage from sources of that quality is prevented. E- Enchantments / Equipment of that quality can not enchant / equip the protected permanent. B- The creature with protection can not […]
How Evoke works.
Evoke is a keyword ability that appeared on creature cards in Lorwyn and Morningtide. The keyword ability actually represents two abilities; a static one and a triggered ability. The static ability is what allows you to play the creature via its alternate Evoke cost. This cost can be paid anytime you could play the card […]