Abilities

Overview

This page describes abilities of cards. Abilities can influence creature combat, the gem board, cards in hand, or other aspects of the game.

Abilities fall into one of three categories:

• Icon abilities - Abilities denoted by an icon on a card
• Keyword abilities - Abilities denoted by a keyword on a card, which is typically capitalised, bolded, and underlined in the card's text
• General abilities and effects - General terms used in card descriptions which may or may not be capitalised, and which have a well-defined effect

Many abilities are explained interactively in-game in tutorial battles. A table showing which abilities are taught in which tutorial battles can be found at Training_(Story).

Icon Abilities

Combat abilities

These abilities affect how attacking and blocking creatures interact in combat. See Combat Basics for more information about creature combat.

Ability	Icon	Expansions	Description
Berserker		all	Attacks the first enemy creature, instead of the enemy Planeswalker.
Deathtouch		all	Whenever this creature deals combat damage to another creature, the other creature is Destroyed.
Defender		all	Blocks your opponent's creatures' attacks, becoming their attack target in place of your Planeswalker. Your first creature with Defender  or Reach  is the creature which tries to block first.
Double Strike		all	Deals First Strike  damage AND regular damage afterwards.
First Strike		all	First Strike  damage is dealt damage before regular damage. The enemy only retaliates if it survives the First Strike .
Flying		all	Can be blocked by creatures with Defender  or Vigilance  only if they also have Flying . (Can be blocked by creatures with Reach .)
Menace		all	This creature is Unblockable  unless two or more creatures your opponent controls could block it.
Reach		all	Blocks your opponent's creatures, becoming their attack target in place of your Planeswalker, including creatures with Flying . Your first creature with Defender  or Reach  is the creature which tries to block first.
Trample		all	Any damage in excess of a blocking creature's toughness is dealt to the Planeswalker instead of the blocking creature.
Unblockable		all	Cannot be blocked.
Vigilance		all	Blocks your opponent's creatures, if able, becoming their attack target instead of your Planeswalker, if you control no creatures with Defender  or Reach .

Other icon abilities

Ability	Icon	Expansions	Description
Adventure			Adventure  cards are a special type of Split Card s with a Spell side and a Creature side. If you cast the Spell side, the Creature side returns to your hand.
Awaken			An Awaken  ability triggers if a secondary mana cost is paid in addition to the card's main cost. (Auto-casts if the Awaken  cost is fully paid.)
Buried			A card with Buried can be cast from the graveyard for its Buried cost. When you cast a card with Buried from the graveyard, that card will then Escape . Cards with Buried gain 3 mana when a Graveyard gem is matched (and as of 4.0, all Jump-Start cards also have the Buried evergreen).
Convoke			Costs one less mana for each creature and reinforcement you control, up to the number in the Convoke  symbol.
Cycling			When you Cycle a card, draw a card. Cycling  triggers when you Exile a card with Cycling  from your hand, if you can pay at least the specified amount of mana from your cards in hand (including this one).
Devoid			Gains mana from Void Gem matches. Void Gems are created by cards with Ingest.
Flash			Before an opponent's creature attacks, if this card is Disabled, you may cast it for its normal mana cost. (Can also be cast during your turn, like normal.)
Haste		all	Attacks the turn it enters play.
Hexproof		all	Cannot be targeted by enemy spells and abilities. (Effects which don't require a target to be selected still affect creatures with Hexproof .)
Jump-start			Can be cast (and then Exiled) from your graveyard. The first Jump-start  card in your graveyard gains the mana charged in any card which you Exile from your hand. (Can also be cast from your hand, like normal.)
Legendary		all	This is a Legendary  card. Some effects only work on Legendary  cards.
Lifelink		all	Your Planeswalker gains life equal to the combat damage dealt by this creature.
Meld			When this creature and another specified creature are both in play on your side, they Meld  to form a single Melded  creature.
Melded			This creature is a combination of a specific pair of creatures with Meld . Playing either of those two creatures reinforces this creature.
Mentor			Whenever this creature attacks, your other creatures with power lower than this creature's get a +1/+1 buff.
Protection from Black			Gains Hexproof  while the opponent controls a black creature. Damage received from black sources is reduced by half, rounded up.
Protection from Blue			Gains Hexproof  while the opponent controls a blue creature. Damage received from blue sources is reduced by half, rounded up.
Protection from Colorless			Gains Hexproof  while the opponent controls a colorless creature. Damage received from colorless sources is reduced by half, rounded up.
Protection from Green			Gains Hexproof  while the opponent controls a green creature. Damage received from green sources is reduced by half, rounded up.
Protection from Red			Gains Hexproof  while the opponent controls a red creature. Damage received from red sources is reduced by half, rounded up.
Protection from White			Gains Hexproof  while the opponent controls a white creature. Damage received from white sources is reduced by half, rounded up.
Prevent Damage		all	Damage effects applied to this creature or Planeswalker, including combat damage, are reduced to zero. (Other effects, including Destroy, are not prevented.)
Riot			When this creature enters play, choose one: It gets a +1/+1 buff, or it gains Haste .
Split Card			You can select which side of this card you want to play. Tap the flip symbol on the card to change its side. Mana gained charges both sides, up to a maximum of the cost of the currently selected side.
Stored Mana			This card stores extra mana up to a maximum of the number in the Stored Mana  icon, and triggers additional effects when cast. (Auto-casts if the Stored Mana is full.) A Stored Mana card can't have its mana drained or raised.
Token		all	This is a Token  creature or support. If it would enter a graveyard, hand, library, or the Exile zone, it's removed from the game instead.
Transform			When the specified conditions are met, this card becomes Transformed , flipping to its other side.
Transformed			Shown on the flipped side of a card with Transform .
Vanguard			A Vanguard  is a special support card representing a Planeswalker. Vanguards have activated abilities which increase or decrease the shield amount to perform an effect, and can be used once per turn per Vanguard. Vanguards are considered Legendary , and are also only affected by effects which specifically name Vanguards as targets.

Keyword Abilities

Ability	Expansions	Description
Activate	all	The specified number of normal Gems become Activated Gems associated with this card. When you match one of your Activated Gems, its associated ability is triggered. If your opponent Destroys one of your Activated Gems which is caused by an ongoing effect, a new Gem becomes Activated on your turn after next.
Adamant		When you cast a card, its Adamant effect triggers if you matched gems of the specified color during your turn.
Adapt		When this creature enters play or is reinforced, Adapt  Gems will be created such that the number of Adapt  Gems associated with this creature is equal to the number beside its Adapt  keyword. When you match this creature's Adapt  gem, it is buffed for +1/+1 and its Adapt  ability, if any, is triggered. If the opponent Destroys your Adapt  gem, a new Adapt  gem is created.
Addendum		When you cast a card with Addendum, its Addendum effect triggers if the card had full mana at the start of your turn.
Afflict		When a creature with Afflict  is blocked, your opponent additionally takes damage equal to this creature's Power.
Afterlife		Whenever a creature with Afterlife dies or loses a reinforcement, create the specified number of Orzhov Spirits (1/1 flying Token  creature).
Aftermath		When in the graveyard, Activate for the number beside the Aftermath keyword on the back of the card. Matching one or more Activated Gems of your Aftermath card triggers the effect on the back of the card, and then Exiles the card.
Amass		Create the specified number of Zombie Army tokens [1/1, with "At 0+ reinforcements, gain +1/+1; at 8+ reinforcements, gain Afflict ; and at 12+ reinforcements, gain +2/+2"].
Anticipation		An Anticipation ability triggers whenever you cast a card (see Flash ) during your opponent's turn.
Can't Attack	all	A creature with Can't Attack can't attack.
City's Blessing		Some abilities become more powerful if you have the City's Blessing. You gain the City's Blessing for the rest of the game when you play a card with Ascend if the sum of your creatures, supports, and reinforcements is greater than or equal to 10.
Constellation		This ability triggers whenever you cast an Aura spell or whenever an Enchantment enters the battlefield under your control.
Converge		Cards with Converge  have an effect which scales for each different mana color used to pay for the card.
Crew		Each card in your hand with Crew gains its specified amount of mana whenever a non-Token  creature enters play on your side.
Cycle		A card with Cycling  may be Cycled in order to draw a card. Cycling  triggers when you Exile this card from your hand, if you can pay at least the specified amount of mana from your hand's cards (including this one). Mana is paid for Cycling  starting from the top card in your hand.
Delirium		An associated effect is triggered if there are 5 or less Gems on the board of the specified color, or the card's color if unspecified.
Destroy	all	Destroying a card moves it to the graveyard. Cards are most often Destroyed from play, but may be Destroyed from other zones like your hand or library. Destroying a Token  removes it from the game. Destroying a gem means to remove the gem from the board by a gem match, or by a card's effect.
Devotion		Your Devotion to a color is the number of times you've cast mono-colored, non-copy cards of that color during a fight.
Disable	all	Creatures in play which an effect Disables cannot attack or block, and stop all of their Abilities from working. A second meaning is to Disable cards in your hand, to prevent them from auto-casting when they're full of mana.
Discard	all	Discarding moves one or more cards from the target player's hand into their graveyard. Unless otherwise specified, cards are Discarded starting from the bottom of their hand.
Embalm		When in the graveyard, Activate for the number beside the Embalm keyword. Matching one or more Activated Gems of your Embalm creature Exiles the creature, and brings a Zombie Token  copy of the creature into play (minus the Embalm ability).
Emerge		When a creature you control is Destroyed, your cards with Emerge gain the specified amount of mana.
Enchanted		An Enchanted card gains extra abilities in addition to its original ones.
Energize		The specified number of normal gems become Energized Gems. Matching Energized gems can trigger Overload effects.
Enrage		Whenever a creature with Enrage receives damage, it triggers a specified effect.
Escape		While a card with Buried  is in your graveyard, if it has full Mana and you have 3 or more other cards in your graveyard, Exile 3 other cards from your graveyard and cast this card.
Eternalize		When in the graveyard, Activate for the number beside the Eternalize keyword. Matching one or more Activated Gems of your Eternalize creature Exiles the creature, and brings a 4/4 Zombie Token  copy of the creature into play (minus the Eternalize ability).
Exert		A normal gem becomes an Activated Gem with a timer equal to the number beside the Exert keyword. The timer counts down by 1 at the start of your turn. If you match the Gem or the timer reaches zero, the associated effect is triggered, and a new Gem becomes Activated at the start of your next turn.
Exile	all	Exiling a card moves it to the Exiled zone. Cards cannot usually be accessed after being Exiled. Exiled cards are not considered Destroyed and do not go to the graveyard. Exiling a Token  removes it from the game.
Explore		Convert gems equal to twice the number beside the Explore keyword to the colors of the creature targeted by your Explore effect. If a match doesn't happen, also buff the creature's power and toughness by the number beside the Explore keyword.
Fabricate		Bring the specified number of Supporting Servo support Tokens  into play. Each of your Supporting Servo Tokens  gives the first creature you control +1/+1.
Ferocious		A Ferocious ability is active as long as you control a creature with base power 5 or greater.
Fight		When two creature Fight, each creature deals damage equal to its power to the other creature.
Food		Your effects which create Food bring 1/1 token  supports with 1 shield into play on your side. When one of your Food Tokens is destroyed by anyone, you gain 3 life. Other creatures or supports in play other than Food Tokens may also have the Food sub-type.
Graveyard		When you match a Graveyard Gem, the last card in your graveyard with Buried  that can gain Mana, gains 3 mana. Cards with Buried  can create 1 or more Graveyard Gems when they enter the Graveyard from anywhere.
Heroic		A Heroic ability triggers whenever you cast a spell that targets this creature.
Historic		Your cards with the Historic ability have their associated effect triggered by any Legendary  card, Artifact, or Saga being played on your side, or being in play on your side.
Ingest		The specified number of normal Gems of your opponent's color become Void Gems. Void Gems may be consumed by a Process ability, or matched on the board. Matching Void Gems only gives mana to cards with Devoid .
Investigate		A normal gem becomes an Activated Gem with a two-turn timer. The timer counts down by 1 at the start of your turn. If any player matches your Investigate Gem or its timer reaches zero, you draw a card.
Landfall		Your cards with Landfall have their associated effects triggered whenever you match 4 or more gems of the specified color, or any color if no color is specified.
Leader		Your Leader  creature Exiles your Token  creatures of the specified subtype and converts each one into a reinforcement of itself. This effect occurs both as the Leader  enters play, and as you play any Token  creatures of the specified subtype.
Madness		All of your cards with Madness gain their specified amount of mana whenever a card is Discarded (not Exiled) from your hand. A card with Madness is immune to being Discarded itself.
Mill		Mill effects on your cards are active while the opponent's graveyard contains at least the specified number of cards.
Overflow		When you draw a card with Overflow, if you then have 5 or more cards, you may exile that card to trigger the associated effect.
Overload		Each of your Overload abilities of a specified number is triggered any time you Destroy that many or more Energized Gems in a single match.
Partner		An associated effect is triggered if you control a Vanguard  support.
Process		Process only works if the specified number of Void Gems are present. If so, then that many Void Gems become gems of your opponent's color, and the associated effect is triggered. Void Gems are created by cards with Ingest.
Proliferate		Gain 1 loyalty, give your buffed creatures +1/+1, and give your Vanguard  supports +1 shield (as of 4.0, read the next chapter of each of your Sagas).
Raided		If one of your creatures attacked on your last turn, a Raided effect on one of your cards triggers this turn. Only the first Raided effect on a turn triggers; any further Raided effects do nothing.
Rally		Your creatures with Rally have their associated effects triggered whenever you bring a creature with the Ally subtype into play.
Regenerate	all	At the start of your turn, your creatures with Regenerate regain the specified amount of toughness which had previously been lost by taking damage.
Renown		The first time a creature with Renown  deals Combat damage to an opponent, increase that creature's power and toughness by the number beside the Renown  keyword.
Resourceful		The associated effects of your cards in play with Resourceful are triggered whenever you draw a card beyond the first in a turn, up to a maximum number of times per turn equal to the number beside the Resourceful keyword.
Saga		When you play a Saga, the first chapter's effects are triggered. At the start of each of your turns, the next chapter's effects are triggered. A Saga is Destroyed at the end of a turn in which its final chapter was triggered. Reinforcing a Saga triggers the current chapter but does not advance to the next chapter.
Spectacle		At the end of any turn, if your opponent lost life during that turn, each card in your hand with Spectacle gains its specified amount of mana.
Surveil		Look at the top four cards of your library, and choose any number up to the number beside the Surveil keyword. Those cards are discarded, and the rest return to your library.
Threshold	special	If you have the specified number of copies of this card in your graveyard, the associated ability is triggered.
Trap	all	The specified number of normal Gems become Trap Gems associated with this card. When your opponent destroys one of your Trap Gems, its associated ability is triggered. If you match one of your Trap Gems which is caused by an ongoing effect, a new Gem becomes Trapped on your next turn.
Treasure		Your effects which find Treasures bring the specified number of Treasure Tokens  into play on your side. Once you have four Treasure tokens, one of your existing Treasure Tokens  is reinforced rather than a new one being created. Matching your Treasure Token  adds 3 mana to a random card in your hand. Matching your opponent's Treasure Token  adds 2 mana to a random card in your hand, and 2 mana to a random card in your opponent's hand.
Undergrowth		An Undergrowth effect on a card occurs when a card with Undergrowth is played. Undergrowth effects are described in terms of a number, X, which is the number of creatures in your graveyard, up to a maximum of the number beside the Undergrowth keyword.

General abilities and effects

Ability	Description
buff	Increase a creature's Power and/or Toughness by a specified amount. Does not count as reinforcing.
cast	Pay a card's cost and bring it into play directly from your hand, as opposed to an effect which creates a Token , or fetches a card from your library or graveyard into play.
combat damage	damage dealt by a creature by its normal attack, equal to its Power.
copy	Copying a card in any zone creates a copy of the card in your hand. In a previous release of the game, copies cannot be cast on the same turn they are copied.
damage	Damage to a Planeswalker causes life loss equal to the amount of damage. Damage to a Creature causes its health to be reduced by the amount of damage.
draw	Move the top card of your library to your hand. Cards in which may have effects which trigger when cards are drawn. A card can only be drawn if the hand contains less than 5 cards.
fetch	Move a card from one specified zone (such as your library) to another (such as your hand). A fetch effect does not count as drawing a card, and does not trigger draw effects.
life loss	Reduce a Planeswalker's health by the amount of life lost. life loss may be caused by damage, or it may be caused directly. Direct life loss does not count as damage.
reinforce	For a Creature, increase a creature's Power and Toughness by the Power and Toughness of its base card, and increase the creature's reinforcement count by 1. For a Support, increase the Support's Shield count by the Shield count of its base card. When you play a Creature or Support which is already in play on your side, you reinforce that card in play. reinforcement can also be triggered by the effects of other cards. reinforcement does not count as buffing.
summon	Bring a creature into play by any means. This includes casting, creating a Token , or fetching a creature into play from your library or graveyard.
trigger	Some abilities have a condition which must be met for the ability to work. When an ability's condition is met, the ability is triggered, and its effect occurs.