Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules

Example: An ability reads, “All lands are 1/1 creatures that are still lands.” If any of the affected lands were legendary, they are still legendary.

212.1e If an instruction requires choosing a subtype, you must choose one, and only one, existing subtype, and the subtype you choose must be for the appropriate type. For example, you can’t choose a land type if an instruction requires choosing a creature type. (Use the Oracle card reference to determine whether a creature type exists; see rule 200.2. You can also find complete lists of subtypes in the glossary at the end of this document under “Creature Types,” “Land Types,” etc.)

Example: When choosing a creature type, “Merfolk” or “Wizard” is acceptable, but “Merfolk Wizard” is not. Words like “artifact,” “opponent,” “Swamp,” or “truck” can’t be chosen because they aren’t creature types.

212.2. Artifacts

212.2a A player may play an artifact card from his or her hand during a main phase of his or her turn, when he or she has priority and the stack is empty. Playing an artifact as a spell uses the stack. (See rule 409, “Playing Spells and Activated Abilities.”)

212.2b When an artifact spell resolves, its controller puts it into play under his or her control.

212.2c Artifact subtypes are always a single word and are listed after a long dash: “Artifact – Equipment.” Artifact subtypes are also called artifact types. Artifacts may have multiple subtypes.

212.2d Artifacts have no characteristics specific to their type. Because artifacts have no colored mana in their mana costs, they’re colorless. Effects can give artifacts one or more colors, however, and colored objects can become artifacts without losing any colors they had.

212.2e Artifact creatures combine the characteristics of both the creature and artifact types and are subject to spells and abilities that affect either or both types.

212.2f Artifact lands combine the characteristics of both the land and artifact types, and are subject to spells and abilities that affect either or both types. Artifact lands can only be played as lands. They can’t be played as spells.

212.2g Some artifacts have the subtype “Equipment.” An Equipment can be attached to a creature. It can’t legally be attached to an object that isn’t a creature.

212.2h An Equipment is played and comes into play just like any other artifact. An Equipment doesn’t come into play attached to a creature. The equip keyword ability moves the Equipment onto a creature you control (see rule 502.33, “Equip”). Control of the creature matters only when the equip ability is played and when it resolves. The creature to which the Equipment is to be moved must be able to be equipped by it. If it can’t, the Equipment doesn’t move.

212.2i An Equipment that’s also a creature can’t equip a creature. Equipment that loses the subtype “Equipment” can’t equip a creature. An Equipment can’t equip itself. An Equipment that equips an illegal or nonexistent permanent becomes unattached from that permanent but remains in play. (This is a state-based effect. See rule 420.)

212.2j The creature an Equipment is attached to is called the “equipped creature.” The Equipment is attached to, or “equips,” that creature.

212.2k An Equipment’s controller is separate from the equipped creature’s controller; the two need not be the same. Changing control of the creature doesn’t change control of the Equipment, and vice versa. Only the Equipment’s controller can play its abilities. However, if the Equipment adds an ability to the equipped creature (with “gains” or “has”), the equipped creature’s controller is the only one who can play that ability.

212.3. Creatures

212.3a A player may play a creature card from his or her hand during a main phase of his or her turn, when he or she has priority and the stack is empty. Playing a creature as a spell uses the stack. (See rule 409, “Playing Spells and Activated Abilities.”)

212.3b When a creature spell resolves, its controller puts it into play under his or her control.

212.3c Creature subtypes are always a single word and are listed after a long dash: “Creature – Human Soldier,” “Artifact Creature – Golem,” and so on. Creature subtypes are also called creature types. Creatures may have multiple subtypes.

Example: “Creature – Goblin Wizard” means the card is a creature with the subtypes Goblin and Wizard.

212.3d A creature’s activated ability with the tap symbol in its activation cost can’t be played unless the creature has been under its controller’s control since the start of his or her most recent turn. A creature can’t attack unless it has been under its controller’s control since the start of his or her most recent turn. This rule is informally called the “summoning sickness” rule. Ignore this rule for creatures with haste (see rule 502.5).

212.4. Enchantments

212.4a A player may play an enchantment card from his or her hand during a main phase of his or her turn, when he or she has priority and the stack is empty. Playing an enchantment as a spell uses the stack. (See rule 409, “Playing Spells and Activated Abilities.”)

212.4b When an enchantment spell resolves, its controller puts it into play under his or her control.

212.4c Enchantment subtypes are always a single word and are listed after a long dash: “Enchantment – Shrine.” Each word after the dash is a separate subtype. Enchantment subtypes are also called enchantment types. Enchantments may have multiple subtypes.

212.4d Some enchantments have the subtype “Aura.” An Aura comes into play attached to a permanent or player. What an Aura can be attached to is restricted by its enchant keyword ability (see rule 502.45, “Enchant”). Other effects can limit what a permanent can be enchanted by.