Comprehensive Rules

The full Magic: The Gathering rules, made to actually use: search by rule number or by words, every cross-reference is a link, and keywords show their glossary definition on hover. Press / to search from anywhere.

Effective August 7, 2026. Source: Wizards of the Coast Comprehensive Rules.

Glossary · 739 termsKeyword index · 260

1Game Concepts

100General101The Magic Golden Rules102Players103Starting the Game104Ending the Game105Colors106Mana107Numbers and Symbols108Cards109Objects110Permanents111Tokens112Spells113Abilities114Emblems115Targets116Special Actions117Timing and Priority118Costs119Life120Damage121Drawing a Card122Counters123Stickers

2Parts of a Card

200General201Name202Mana Cost and Color203Illustration204Color Indicator205Type Line206Expansion Symbol207Text Box208Power/Toughness209Loyalty210Defense211Hand Modifier212Life Modifier213Information Below the Text Box

3Card Types

300General301Artifacts302Creatures303Enchantments304Instants305Lands306Planeswalkers307Sorceries308Kindreds309Dungeons310Battles311Planes312Phenomena313Vanguards314Schemes315Conspiracies

4Zones

400General401Library402Hand403Battlefield404Graveyard405Stack406Exile407Ante408Command

5Turn Structure

500General501Beginning Phase502Untap Step503Upkeep Step504Draw Step505Main Phase506Combat Phase507Beginning of Combat Step508Declare Attackers Step509Declare Blockers Step510Combat Damage Step511End of Combat Step512Ending Phase513End Step514Cleanup Step

6Spells, Abilities, and Effects

600General601Casting Spells602Activating Activated Abilities603Handling Triggered Abilities604Handling Static Abilities605Mana Abilities606Loyalty Abilities607Linked Abilities608Resolving Spells and Abilities609Effects610One-Shot Effects611Continuous Effects612Text-Changing Effects613Interaction of Continuous Effects614Replacement Effects615Prevention Effects616Interaction of Replacement and/or Prevention Effects

7Additional Rules

700General701Keyword Actions702Keyword Abilities703Turn-Based Actions704State-Based Actions705Flipping a Coin706Rolling a Die707Copying Objects708Face-Down Spells and Permanents709Split Cards710Flip Cards711Leveler Cards712Double-Faced Cards713Substitute Cards714Saga Cards715Adventurer Cards716Class Cards717Attraction Cards718Prototype Cards719Case Cards720Omen Cards721Station Cards722Preparation Cards723Controlling Another Player724Ending Turns and Phases725The Monarch726The Initiative727Restarting the Game728Rad Counters729Subgames730Merging with Permanents731Day and Night732Taking Shortcuts733Handling Illegal Actions

8Multiplayer Rules

800General801Limited Range of Influence Option802Attack Multiple Players Option803Attack Left and Attack Right Options804Deploy Creatures Option805Shared Team Turns Option806Free-for-All Variant807Grand Melee Variant808Team vs. Team Variant809Emperor Variant810Two-Headed Giant Variant811Alternating Teams Variant

9Casual Variants

900General901Planechase902Vanguard903Commander904Archenemy905Conspiracy Draft