Mana

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Mana is the primary resource for playing spells. Mana is typically drawn from lands, but it can also be generated by non-land permanents and other spells.

Contents 1 In-world meaning 2 Colors of mana 2.1 Hybrid mana 2.2 Converted mana cost 3 Mana abilities 4 Mana burn 5 Comprehensive rules 6 Rulings 7 References

[edit] In-world meaning

Mana is the magical energy fueling spells of spellcasters. It is also deeply interconnected with life-force in every plane in Dominia, and it can take that role by itself as well^[1]. When there is no mana in an area, everything dies, and where mana's density is very low, lifeforms become emaciated and weak. ^[2]

[edit] Colors of mana

See also: Numbers and symbols.

Mana is primarily divided into five colors, but can also be colorless and have other qualities such as being "snow." Mana symbols are represented as images on cards and by letters in some print sources:

• or W = White
• or U = Blue
• or B = Black
• or R = Red
• or G = Green

• or S = Snow
• = colorless ("X" is a natural number. Example: is 1 colorless mana, is 2 colorless mana and so on.)

[edit] Hybrid mana

Main article: Hybrid mana

Hybrid mana (also known as half-half mana) is a type of mana first introduced in Ravnica: City of Guilds and featured throughout the Ravnica, Shadowmoor block and Alara Reborn. Each hybrid mana symbol represents a cost which can be paid with one of two colors. The hybrid mana symbol can be of any combination of two colors, or any color of mana and two generic mana.

[edit] Converted mana cost

The converted mana cost (commonly abbreviated CMC or CC) of an object is an integer equal to or greater than zero. It is determined by converting each colored mana symbol in the spell's cost to 1, then adding the results to the colorless mana cost of the spell. (For example, spells with mana costs of and both have a converted mana cost of 3.)

The only case in which a spell's converted mana cost can ever vary is for spells with in the mana cost. When an object with X in the mana cost is on the stack, X equals whatever value was chosen for it when it was put on the stack. In any other location, X equals 0.

See also: X.

[edit] Mana abilities

A mana ability is either:

1. an activated ability that could put mana into a player's mana pool when it resolves.
2. a triggered ability that triggers from a mana ability and could produce additional mana.

A mana ability does not use the stack, and as such it cannot be countered or responded to, by either player.

Examples of activated mana abilities Llanowar Elves has the ability: ": Add to your mana pool.". Swamp has the ability: ": Add to your mana pool.". Examples of triggered mana abilities Wild Growth has the ability: "Whenever enchanted land is tapped for mana, its controller adds to his or her mana pool." Overgrowth has the ability: "Whenever enchanted land is tapped for mana, its controller adds to his or her mana pool."

Spells that put mana into a player's mana pool, such as Dark Ritual or Seething Song, are not mana abilities, and use the stack as all other spells.

[edit] Mana burn

See also: Mana burn.

When a phase ends, any unused mana left in a player's mana pool is lost. That player loses 1 life for each mana lost this way. This is called mana burn, and because it is loss of life, not damage, it can't be prevented or altered by effects that affect damage.

Mana Burn has been removed from the rules since Magic 2010.

[edit] Comprehensive rules

From the Comprehensive Rules (July 1, 2009) 202. Mana Cost and Color 202.1. A card’s mana cost is indicated by mana symbols near the top of the card. (See rule 107.4.) On most cards, these symbols are printed in the upper right corner. Some cards from the Future Sight set have alternate frames in which the mana symbols appear to the left of the art. 202.1a The mana cost of an object represents what a player must spend from his or her mana pool to cast that card. Paying an object’s mana cost requires matching the color of any colored mana symbols as well as paying the generic mana indicated in the cost. 202.1b Some objects have no mana cost. This normally includes all land cards, any other cards that have no mana symbols where their mana cost would appear, and tokens (unless the effect that creates them specifies otherwise). Having no mana cost represents an unpayable cost (see rule 116.6). Note that lands are played without paying any costs (see rule 305, “Lands”). 202.2. An object is the color or colors of the mana symbols in its mana cost, regardless of the color of its frame. 202.2a The five colors are white, blue, black, red, and green. The white mana symbol is represented by , blue by , black by , red by , and green by . Example: An object with a mana cost of is white, an object with a mana cost of is colorless, and one with a mana cost of is both white and black. 202.2b Objects with no colored mana symbols in their mana costs are colorless. 202.2c An object with two or more different colored mana symbols in its mana cost is each of the colors of those mana symbols. Most multicolored cards are printed with a gold frame, but this is not a requirement for a card to be multicolored. 202.2d An object with one or more hybrid mana symbols in its mana cost is all of the colors of those mana symbols, in addition to any other colors the object might be. Most cards with hybrid mana symbols in their mana costs are printed in a two-tone frame. See rule 107.4e. 202.2e Effects may change an object’s color or give a color to a colorless object; see rule 105.3. 202.3. The converted mana cost of an object is a number equal to the total amount of mana in its mana cost, regardless of color. Example: A mana cost of translates to a converted mana cost of 5. 202.3a The converted mana cost of an object with no mana cost is 0. 202.3b When calculating the converted mana cost of an object with an in its mana cost, X is treated as 0 while the object is not on the stack, and X is treated as the number chosen for it while the object is on the stack. 202.3c. When calculating the converted mana cost of an object with a hybrid mana symbol in its mana cost, use the largest component of each hybrid symbol. Example: The converted mana cost of a card with mana cost is 3. Example: The converted mana cost of a card with mana cost is 6. 202.4. Any additional cost listed in an object’s rules text or imposed by an effect isn’t part of the mana cost. (See rule 601, “Casting Spells.”) Such costs are paid at the same time as the spell’s other costs.

[edit] Rulings

• If a cost has an "X" in it, the mana cost equals the amount announced as part of playing the spell or ability while it is on the stack, but if the card in any other zone, X is treated as zero.
• An in a cost is similar to the symbol , but the mana must come from a snow permanent. It can't be paid with mana produced by nonsnow permanents.
• Whey paying for , it matters only if the permanents that produced the mana had supertype snow at the time the mana was produced. Changes before or after that time do not matter.
• is not a color, you can't add to your mana pool, and "snow mana" is not a type of mana.
• Colorless is not a color. See Rule 203.2c.
• The mana cost of a spell on the stack is the mana cost printed on the spell or ability being played. Only the choice value of X affects the mana cost. Other cost modifiers do not alter the mana cost.

[edit] References