Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules

502.37a Sunburst is a static ability that functions as an object is coming into play from the stack. “Sunburst” means “If this object is coming into play from the stack as a creature, it comes into play with a +1/+1 counter on it for each color of mana used to pay its cost. If this object is coming into play from the stack and isn’t coming into play as a creature, it comes into play with a charge counter on it for each color of mana used to pay its cost.”

502.37b Sunburst applies only as the spell is resolving and only if one or more colored mana was paid for its costs. Mana paid for additional or alternative costs applies.

502.37c Sunburst can also be used to set a variable number for another ability. If the keyword is used in this way, it doesn’t matter whether the ability is on a creature spell or on a noncreature spell.

Example: The ability “Modular-Sunburst” means “This permanent comes into play with a +1/+1 counter on it for each color of mana used to pay its cost” and “When this permanent is put into a graveyard from play, you may put a +1/+1 counter on target artifact creature for each +1/+1 counter on this permanent.”

502.37d If an object has multiple instances of sunburst, each one works separately.

502.38. Bushido

502.38a Bushido is a triggered ability. “Bushido N” means “Whenever this creature blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +N/+N until end of turn.” (See rule 309, “Declare Blockers Step.”)

502.38b If a creature has multiple instances of bushido, each triggers separately.

502.39. Soulshift

502.39a Soulshift is a triggered ability. “Soulshift N” means “When this permanent is put into a graveyard from play, you may return target Spirit card with converted mana cost N or less from your graveyard to your hand.”

502.39b If a permanent has multiple instances of soulshift, each triggers separately.

502.40. Splice

502.40a Splice is a static ability that functions while a card is in your hand. “Splice onto [type or subtype] [cost]” means “You may reveal this card from your hand as you play a [type or subtype] spell. If you do, copy this card’s text box onto that spell and pay [cost] as an additional cost to play that spell.” Paying a card’s splice cost follows the rules for paying additional costs in rules 409.1b and 409.1f-h.

Example: Since the card with splice remains in the player’s hand, it can later be played normally or spliced onto another spell. It can even be discarded to pay a “discard a card” cost of the spell it’s spliced onto.

502.40b You can’t choose to use a splice ability if you can’t make the required choices (targets, etc.) for that card’s instructions. You can’t splice any one card onto the same spell more than once. If you’re splicing more than one card onto a spell, reveal them all at once and choose the order in which their instructions will be followed. The instructions on the main spell have to be followed first.

502.40c The spell has the characteristics of the main spell, plus the text boxes of each of the spliced cards. The spell doesn’t gain any other characteristics (name, mana cost, color, supertypes, types, subtypes, etc.) of the spliced cards. Text copied onto the spell that refers to a card by name refers to the spell on the stack, not the card from which the text was copied.

Example: Glacial Ray is a red card with splice onto Arcane that reads, “Glacial Ray deals 2 damage to target creature or player.” Suppose Glacial Ray is spliced onto Reach Through Mists, a blue spell. The spell is still blue, and Reach Through Mists deals the damage. This means that the ability can target a creature with protection from red and deal 2 damage to that creature.

502.40d Choose targets for the added text normally (see rule 409.1c). Note that a spell with one or more targets will be countered if all of its targets are illegal on resolution.

502.40e The spell loses any splice changes once it leaves the stack (for example, when it’s countered, it’s removed from the game, or it resolves).

502.41. Defender

502.41a Defender is a static ability.

502.41b A creature with defender can’t attack.

502.41c Multiple instances of defender on the same creature are redundant.

502.42. Offering

502.42a Offering is a static ability of a card that functions in any zone from which the card can be played. “[Text] offering” means “You may play this card any time you could play an instant by sacrificing a [text] permanent. If you do, the total cost to play this card is reduced by the sacrificed permanent’s mana cost.”

502.42b The permanent is sacrificed at the same time the spell is announced (see rule 409.1a). The total cost of the spell is reduced by the sacrificed permanent’s mana cost (see rule 409.1f).

502.42c Generic mana in the sacrificed permanent’s mana cost reduces generic mana in the total cost to play the card with offering. Colored mana in the sacrificed permanent’s mana cost reduces mana of the same color in the total cost to play the card with offering. Colored mana in the sacrificed permanent’s mana cost that doesn’t match colored mana in the colored mana cost of the card with offering, or is in excess of the card’s colored mana cost, reduces that much generic mana in the total cost.

502.43. Ninjutsu

502.43a Ninjutsu is an activated ability that functions only while the card with ninjutsu is in a player’s hand.