Changes: Ability word

Revision as of 07:50, 4 December 2016

An ability word is a word that thematically groups cards with a common functionality, but has no special meaning in the Comprehensive Rules.

Description

Because they indicate flavor rather than rules text, ability words are printed in italics and are separated from their corresponding rules text by an em-dash. Ability words are used to label mechanics that cannot be keyworded.^[1]

Ability words were introduced with Unhinged's Gotcha, and were first printed on tournament-legal cards in Saviors of Kamigawa with channel and sweep. Some earlier unnamed mechanics, such as Invasion block's domain, have retroactively received ability words. Odyssey block's threshold was errataed during rules changes in Time Spiral block to be an ability word, rather than a keyword, as was Mirrodin block's imprint with the release of Scars of Mirrodin.

Ability words are distinct from keyword actions and keyword abilities.

Differences between keyword actions, keyword abilities, and ability words

Ability words have no rules meaning, but exist to name and flavorfully link otherwise unnamed mechanics. Like flavor text, ability words are italicized. Because they are have no rules meaning, and are not listed in the Comprehensive Rules, ability words are never referenced on other cards.

Keyword actions and keyword abilities are closely related. Both represent a longer segment of rules text and may allow variable costs and effects. Because they have a specific rules meaning and are listed in the Comprehensive Rules, keywords of either type can be referenced from other cards. They differ in that keyword abilities are either characteristics of objects or are objects themselves, whereas keyword actions describe game-related actions.

For example, the keyword ability enchant, as in Enchant creature, states a restriction on the valid targets for an aura. The related keyword action attach describes the process of physically putting such an aura onto its target.

Rules

From the Comprehensive Rules (April 12, 2024—Outlaws of Thunder Junction)

207.2c An ability word appears in italics at the beginning of some abilities. Ability words are similar to keywords in that they tie together cards that have similar functionality, but they have no special rules meaning and no individual entries in the Comprehensive Rules. The ability words are adamant, addendum, alliance, battalion, bloodrush, celebration, channel, chroma, cohort, constellation, converge, council’s dilemma, coven, delirium, descend 4, descend 8, domain, eminence, enrage, fateful hour, fathomless descent, ferocious, formidable, grandeur, hellbent, heroic, imprint, inspired, join forces, kinship, landfall, lieutenant, magecraft, metalcraft, morbid, pack tactics, paradox, parley, radiance, raid, rally, revolt, secret council, spell mastery, strive, sweep, tempting offer, threshold, undergrowth, and will of the council.

Examples

Examples of ability words are:

Metalcraft — {Additional or alternate effect} if you control three or more artifacts.
Sweep — Return any number of {basic land types} you control to their owner's hand. {An effect based on the number of lands returned.}

List of ability words

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References

↑ Template:NewRef

Template:Keywords and abilities

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[1]

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 *[[Constellation]]
 *[[Converge]]
+*[[Council's dilemma]]
 *[[Delirium]]
 *[[Domain]]