Reminder text

From MTG Salvation Wiki

Reminder text is parenthesized text printed in italics that follows a keyword or some other ability that might be confusing to players. Reminder text summarizes the basic function of keywords or provides other information on how the rules affect the ability it follows.

While it is intended to illustrate the rules to players, reminder text has no real effect on gameplay, and though it may illustrate the general meaning of a keyword's function, it is often not completely accurate, sacrificing technical accuracy for ease of understanding.

Most keywords printed on cards in a Core Set are followed by reminder text. In 10th Edition, foil cards don't have reminder text, and may feature flavor text instead.