Magic: The Gathering/Gameplay Tropes: Difference between revisions

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This page is for tropes that appear in ''[[Magic the Gathering]]'''s gameplay (as opposed to [[Magic the Gathering (Tabletop Game)/Flavor And Story Tropes|tropes that appear in its flavor and storyline]]).
This page is for tropes that appear in ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'''s gameplay (as opposed to [[Magic: The Gathering/Flavor And Story Tropes|tropes that appear in its flavor and storyline]]).
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* [[Action Bomb]]: Blowing oneself up is a favorite tactic of red cards, particularly among goblins. Examples include but are not limited to [http://magiccards.info/evg/en/46.html Mudbutton Torchrunner], [http://magiccards.info/sh/en/91.html Mogg Bombers], [http://magiccards.info/rav/en/151.html War-Torch Goblin], [http://magiccards.info/evg/en/43.html Ib Halfheart]'s suicide troops, and whichever schmuck ends up carrying the [http://magiccards.info/fe/en/114.html Goblin Grenade].
* [[Action Bomb]]: Blowing oneself up is a favorite tactic of red cards, particularly among goblins. Examples include but are not limited to [http://magiccards.info/evg/en/46.html Mudbutton Torchrunner], [http://magiccards.info/sh/en/91.html Mogg Bombers], [http://magiccards.info/rav/en/151.html War-Torch Goblin], [http://magiccards.info/evg/en/43.html Ib Halfheart]'s suicide troops, and whichever schmuck ends up carrying the [http://magiccards.info/fe/en/114.html Goblin Grenade].
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** Personified in the ''Rise of the Eldrazi'' expansion, where gigantic monsters are the theme of the set.
** Personified in the ''Rise of the Eldrazi'' expansion, where gigantic monsters are the theme of the set.
** See also [[Serial Escalation]].
** See also [[Serial Escalation]].
* [[Blessed With Suck]]: Many of the extremely mighty creatures (Darksteel Colossus, Serra Avatar, ...) have an ability that puts them back into the deck every time they hit the graveyard. Sounds great, until you realize that this is a deliberate safety measure to prevent players from discarding and reanimating them, thus circumventing paying their steep cost.
* [[Blessed with Suck]]: Many of the extremely mighty creatures (Darksteel Colossus, Serra Avatar, ...) have an ability that puts them back into the deck every time they hit the graveyard. Sounds great, until you realize that this is a deliberate safety measure to prevent players from discarding and reanimating them, thus circumventing paying their steep cost.
* [[Blood Knight]]: [http://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=130715 Blood Knight]. There's also his predecessor, [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=221568 Black Knight].
* [[Blood Knight]]: [http://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=130715 Blood Knight]. There's also his predecessor, [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=221568 Black Knight].
* [[Boogie Knights]]: [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=9742 Knight of the Hokey Pokey] gets a bonus if you do the Hokey Pokey!
* [[Boogie Knights]]: [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=9742 Knight of the Hokey Pokey] gets a bonus if you do the Hokey Pokey!
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** The trope also applies to ''Duels of the Planeswalkers'' and its sequel. While you can unlock any and all of the cards in the game through gameplay, you can also buy DLC that unlocks the thematic decks of the planeswalkers featured in the game. Doing this unlocks all the cards in that deck, meaning you can now use them to customize yours.
** The trope also applies to ''Duels of the Planeswalkers'' and its sequel. While you can unlock any and all of the cards in the game through gameplay, you can also buy DLC that unlocks the thematic decks of the planeswalkers featured in the game. Doing this unlocks all the cards in that deck, meaning you can now use them to customize yours.
* [[Card Battle Game]]: Most video game adaptations, including the Microprose ''Shandalar'' game and ''Duels of the Planeswalkers''.
* [[Card Battle Game]]: Most video game adaptations, including the Microprose ''Shandalar'' game and ''Duels of the Planeswalkers''.
* [[Cave Mouth]]: The card Howling Mine looks like this most of the time, [[Depending On the Artist]].
* [[Cave Mouth]]: The card Howling Mine looks like this most of the time, [[Depending on the Artist]].
* [[Cast From Hit Points]]:
* [[Cast From Hit Points]]:
** Aside from the infamous Channel-Fireball combo, planeswalkers fall under this as well: Some of their ability require the removal of loyalty counters. These same counters effectively act as their life totals; once they're out of counters, they're gone. Most also invert this trope by having abilities that ''give'' them loyalty counters as well, as well as a few with abilities that do nothing to their counter totals.
** Aside from the infamous Channel-Fireball combo, planeswalkers fall under this as well: Some of their ability require the removal of loyalty counters. These same counters effectively act as their life totals; once they're out of counters, they're gone. Most also invert this trope by having abilities that ''give'' them loyalty counters as well, as well as a few with abilities that do nothing to their counter totals.
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* [[Creator Cameo]]: Richard Garfield himself [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=74250 has a card] in ''Unhinged''.
* [[Creator Cameo]]: Richard Garfield himself [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=74250 has a card] in ''Unhinged''.
* [[Critical Existence Failure]]: A common adage among players is that the only life point that matters is your last one. It was this revelation that made [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=194977 Necropotence] decks powerful.
* [[Critical Existence Failure]]: A common adage among players is that the only life point that matters is your last one. It was this revelation that made [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=194977 Necropotence] decks powerful.
* [[Cursed With Awesome]]: Skullclamp was originally +1/+2 and "When equipped creature dies, draw two cards." Then it became +1/+1. Then it became +1/-1, meaning you can turn any creature with one toughness into two cards. [[Gone Horribly Right|Players took notice.]]
* [[Cursed with Awesome]]: Skullclamp was originally +1/+2 and "When equipped creature dies, draw two cards." Then it became +1/+1. Then it became +1/-1, meaning you can turn any creature with one toughness into two cards. [[Gone Horribly Right|Players took notice.]]
* [[Cute Is Evil]]: [[Played for Laughs]] with the ''Unglued'' card [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=9779 Infernal Spawn of Evil], along with its sequel from ''Unhinged'', [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=73981 Infernal Spawn of Infernal Spawn of Evil]. As a bonus, it's also a joke about [[Actor Allusion|card artist Ron Spencer only drawing hideous monsters]].
* [[Cute Is Evil]]: [[Played for Laughs]] with the ''Unglued'' card [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=9779 Infernal Spawn of Evil], along with its sequel from ''Unhinged'', [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=73981 Infernal Spawn of Infernal Spawn of Evil]. As a bonus, it's also a joke about [[Actor Allusion|card artist Ron Spencer only drawing hideous monsters]].
* [[Damage Over Time]]: Several cards deal damage during a player's "Upkeep" step, in contrast to most cards which can only deal damage once at a time.
* [[Damage Over Time]]: Several cards deal damage during a player's "Upkeep" step, in contrast to most cards which can only deal damage once at a time.
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* [[Death Is Cheap]]: Or rather, "being removed from the game is cheap". Most permanents and spells that are destroyed, discarded or otherwise gotten rid of go to the graveyard zone by default, but ever since the game was new a few abilities here and there send their targets or themselves to the "removed from game" zone. But such effects have slowly become more common over the years, and two cards were printed that retrieved any card that had been removed from the game, and variations on the effect like suspend have proved very powerful and popular. So in a 2009 rules change, the description of the "remove from game" effect was changed to "exile", to reflect the fact that there's a good chance it hasn't been "removed from the game" at all.
* [[Death Is Cheap]]: Or rather, "being removed from the game is cheap". Most permanents and spells that are destroyed, discarded or otherwise gotten rid of go to the graveyard zone by default, but ever since the game was new a few abilities here and there send their targets or themselves to the "removed from game" zone. But such effects have slowly become more common over the years, and two cards were printed that retrieved any card that had been removed from the game, and variations on the effect like suspend have proved very powerful and popular. So in a 2009 rules change, the description of the "remove from game" effect was changed to "exile", to reflect the fact that there's a good chance it hasn't been "removed from the game" at all.
** Mocked by the unhinged card "AWOL", which first removes an attacking creature from the game, and then takes that creature from the "removed from the game" zone and puts it in a state called "absolutely-removed-from-the-freaking-game-forever".
** Mocked by the unhinged card "AWOL", which first removes an attacking creature from the game, and then takes that creature from the "removed from the game" zone and puts it in a state called "absolutely-removed-from-the-freaking-game-forever".
* [[Depending On the Writer]]: Or rather, Depending On The Design Team. For entire sets. The company is always struggling to deal with [[Gameplay and Story Segregation]], and exactly how the game is supposed to represent an actual wizards' duel. At the moment they seem to have settled on a balance the company likes, but it still changes a little with every new set, partly as they iron out tiny details and partly as another potential way to add variety to the game. A few examples of the ways this goes back and forth:
* [[Depending on the Writer]]: Or rather, Depending On The Design Team. For entire sets. The company is always struggling to deal with [[Gameplay and Story Segregation]], and exactly how the game is supposed to represent an actual wizards' duel. At the moment they seem to have settled on a balance the company likes, but it still changes a little with every new set, partly as they iron out tiny details and partly as another potential way to add variety to the game. A few examples of the ways this goes back and forth:
** Early in the game, many big blue creatures (like [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=3939 Sea Serpents]) could attack players that didn't control any islands only with difficulty, if at all, to symbolize that they were natural aquatic monsters and therefore couldn't leave the water. That effect still appears occasionally, but is much rarer now, partly because designers have decided it's less fun to have creatures with such severe restrictions on attacking and partly because the idea that lands actually represent physical terrain on which creatures are fighting [[Voodoo Shark|raises more questions than it answers]].
** Early in the game, many big blue creatures (like [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=3939 Sea Serpents]) could attack players that didn't control any islands only with difficulty, if at all, to symbolize that they were natural aquatic monsters and therefore couldn't leave the water. That effect still appears occasionally, but is much rarer now, partly because designers have decided it's less fun to have creatures with such severe restrictions on attacking and partly because the idea that lands actually represent physical terrain on which creatures are fighting [[Voodoo Shark|raises more questions than it answers]].
** Creature types have come and gone and been standardized several times. At the moment, humans are the [[Jack of All Stats]]: represented more or less equally in all colors but with no Human-specific racial bonuses. Most colors have one "weenie" race (Elves for green, goblins for red, for example) full of small, cheap, quick and/or utility creatures, one "large flier" race (Dragons for red, demons for black, angels for white), and a few other creature types that are much more common in one or two colors than the rest. The thing is, this leaves many creature types from fantasy stories or previous Magic sets unused just because that design space is already taken. Orcs, for example, appeared in early sets, but they eventually fell into the niche of "like goblins, just a little taller" and stopped being used soon after that. Merfolk didn't appear for a long time for the same reason that sea monsters' inherent weakness was dropped, but as soon as designers figured out that they could be bipedal - sort of like [[Fish People]] but not as ugly - they were brought back.
** Creature types have come and gone and been standardized several times. At the moment, humans are the [[Jack of All Stats]]: represented more or less equally in all colors but with no Human-specific racial bonuses. Most colors have one "weenie" race (Elves for green, goblins for red, for example) full of small, cheap, quick and/or utility creatures, one "large flier" race (Dragons for red, demons for black, angels for white), and a few other creature types that are much more common in one or two colors than the rest. The thing is, this leaves many creature types from fantasy stories or previous Magic sets unused just because that design space is already taken. Orcs, for example, appeared in early sets, but they eventually fell into the niche of "like goblins, just a little taller" and stopped being used soon after that. Merfolk didn't appear for a long time for the same reason that sea monsters' inherent weakness was dropped, but as soon as designers figured out that they could be bipedal - sort of like [[Fish People]] but not as ugly - they were brought back.
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** ...issues with balance; cards tended to be either [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=692 insanely powerful] or [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=1345 extremely weak].
** ...issues with balance; cards tended to be either [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=692 insanely powerful] or [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=1345 extremely weak].
** ...[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202586 rather informal wording] which seems strange when contrasted with modern cards.
** ...[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202586 rather informal wording] which seems strange when contrasted with modern cards.
** ...cards based on [[Public Domain Characters]] and stories, with flavour text quoting things like [[The Bible (Literature)|The Bible]] or [[William Shakespeare]] plays, as opposed to creating an original story and basing the cards around that. Even the first expansion was based entirely off of characters and themes from ''[[Arabian Nights (Literature)|Arabian Nights]]''.
** ...cards based on [[Public Domain Characters]] and stories, with flavour text quoting things like [[The Bible]] or [[William Shakespeare]] plays, as opposed to creating an original story and basing the cards around that. Even the first expansion was based entirely off of characters and themes from ''[[Arabian Nights]]''.
* [[Elemental Rock-Paper-Scissors]]: The Color Wheel is probably the most well-known non-traditional version in gaming.
* [[Elemental Rock-Paper-Scissors]]: The Color Wheel is probably the most well-known non-traditional version in gaming.
* [[Equivalent Exchange]]: A key part of the game, every spell you cast or ability you activate has some sort of exchange going on. Even the most simple of cards require you to generate mana and fill precious deck slots with the given cards to work. Some more elaborate spells ask for more tangible costs such as [[Cast From Hit Points|life payments]], discarding cards, or sacrificing permanents. Most of the game's problems have come from cards doing far more in return for what you paid for them...
* [[Equivalent Exchange]]: A key part of the game, every spell you cast or ability you activate has some sort of exchange going on. Even the most simple of cards require you to generate mana and fill precious deck slots with the given cards to work. Some more elaborate spells ask for more tangible costs such as [[Cast From Hit Points|life payments]], discarding cards, or sacrificing permanents. Most of the game's problems have come from cards doing far more in return for what you paid for them...
* [[Everything's Better With Chickens]]: ''Unglued'' had a lot of fun with chickens, which would be out of place in any normal expansion.
* [[Everything's Better with Chickens]]: ''Unglued'' had a lot of fun with chickens, which would be out of place in any normal expansion.
* [[Everything's Better With Penguins]]: ''Unhinged'' brings us the rather unusual [http://ww2.wizards.com/gatherer/CardDetails.aspx?&id=73956 Curse of the Fire Penguin], which turns a creature into a penguin. And it's contagious.
* [[Everything's Better with Penguins]]: ''Unhinged'' brings us the rather unusual [http://ww2.wizards.com/gatherer/CardDetails.aspx?&id=73956 Curse of the Fire Penguin], which turns a creature into a penguin. And it's contagious.
* [[Everythings Nuttier With Squirrels]]: According to Mark Rosewater, the game has squirrels because [http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/daily/mr30 the designers thought they were cool].
* [[Everythings Nuttier With Squirrels]]: According to Mark Rosewater, the game has squirrels because [http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/daily/mr30 the designers thought they were cool].
* [[Everything's Squishier With Cephalopods]]:
* [[Everything's Squishier with Cephalopods]]:
** When the folks in charge got tired of Merfolk, they decided to try replacing them with the Cephalid squid-folk for a while in the ''Odyssey'' block. Squids are cool, right?
** When the folks in charge got tired of Merfolk, they decided to try replacing them with the Cephalid squid-folk for a while in the ''Odyssey'' block. Squids are cool, right?
** [http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/mm/60 Mark Rosewater's description] of the origin of [http://magiccards.info/zen/en/53.html Lorthos, the Tidemaker] (the legendary Octopus from ''Zendikar'') fits the trope quite well.
** [http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/mm/60 Mark Rosewater's description] of the origin of [http://magiccards.info/zen/en/53.html Lorthos, the Tidemaker] (the legendary Octopus from ''Zendikar'') fits the trope quite well.
* [[Evil Plan]]: The casual format "Archenemy" has one player as the, well, [[Evil Overlord|Archenemy]] who sets [[Evil Plan|Schemes]] in motion, against a coalition of players.
* [[Evil Plan]]: The casual format "Archenemy" has one player as the, well, [[Evil Overlord|Archenemy]] who sets [[Evil Plan|Schemes]] in motion, against a coalition of players.
* [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin]]: the enchantment cards [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Fear Fear], [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Lifelink Lifelink] and [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Vigilance Vigilance] give the enchanted creature the abilities ''Fear'', ''Lifelink'', and ''Vigilance'' respectively.
* [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin]]: the enchantment cards [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Fear Fear], [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Lifelink Lifelink] and [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Vigilance Vigilance] give the enchanted creature the abilities ''Fear'', ''Lifelink'', and ''Vigilance'' respectively.
* [[Expansion Pack]]: In a sense; each set is an expansion to the ever-widening game, though each block can be played independently as well.
* [[Expansion Pack]]: In a sense; each set is an expansion to the ever-widening game, though each block can be played independently as well.
* [[Fan Nickname]]: [[Lampshaded]]. [http://ww2.wizards.com/gatherer/CardDetails.aspx?name=Morphling Morphling] earned the nickname "Superman" for its high power level at the time. So when the designers made an enchantment that could give Morhpling's abilities to any of your creatures, they called it [http://ww2.wizards.com/gatherer/CardDetails.aspx?&id=43581 Pemmin's Aura]--an [[Significant Anagram|anagram]] for "I am Superman."
* [[Fan Nickname]]: [[Lampshaded]]. [http://ww2.wizards.com/gatherer/CardDetails.aspx?name=Morphling Morphling] earned the nickname "Superman" for its high power level at the time. So when the designers made an enchantment that could give Morhpling's abilities to any of your creatures, they called it [http://ww2.wizards.com/gatherer/CardDetails.aspx?&id=43581 Pemmin's Aura]--an [[Significant Anagram|anagram]] for "I am Superman."
* [[Fan Speak]]: Magic players have created an extensive vocabulary of slang terms and technical jargon. [[Useful Notes/Magic the Gathering|This]] Useful Notes pages has some examples.
* [[Fan-Speak]]: Magic players have created an extensive vocabulary of slang terms and technical jargon. [[Useful Notes/Magic the Gathering|This]] Useful Notes pages has some examples.
* [[Fastball Special]]: [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=191094&type=card Stone Giant], among others, can be tapped to hurl a creature into the air to attack your opponent directly or block an enemy flyer. This is generally not a survivable experience for the creature.
* [[Fastball Special]]: [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=191094&type=card Stone Giant], among others, can be tapped to hurl a creature into the air to attack your opponent directly or block an enemy flyer. This is generally not a survivable experience for the creature.
* [[Field Power Effect]]: Various spells that boost and debuff creatures.
* [[Field Power Effect]]: Various spells that boost and debuff creatures.
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* [[Gameplay and Story Segregation]]:
* [[Gameplay and Story Segregation]]:
** Early sets tried to avert this to a degree with mechanics such as islandhome, which stopped sea-based creatures from attacking opponents who don't control an island, and causing them to cease to exist if their controller controls no islands. This was a rather clumsy and unpopular solution, and R's current policy is to ignore moments of [[Fridge Logic]] in favour of gameplay. (After all, [[A Wizard Did It|you are a wizard!]])
** Early sets tried to avert this to a degree with mechanics such as islandhome, which stopped sea-based creatures from attacking opponents who don't control an island, and causing them to cease to exist if their controller controls no islands. This was a rather clumsy and unpopular solution, and R's current policy is to ignore moments of [[Fridge Logic]] in favour of gameplay. (After all, [[A Wizard Did It|you are a wizard!]])
** Another common example are Equipments, a subtype of Artifacts that can be, well, [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin|equipped]] to your creatures. Often it works well, almost as often it results in humongous axes being wielded by a little bird, or magical armor being worn by a ''tree''. Indeed, under certain circumstances you can end up putting cranial plating on a mountain.
** Another common example are Equipments, a subtype of Artifacts that can be, well, [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|equipped]] to your creatures. Often it works well, almost as often it results in humongous axes being wielded by a little bird, or magical armor being worn by a ''tree''. Indeed, under certain circumstances you can end up putting cranial plating on a mountain.
* [[Glass Cannon]]:
* [[Glass Cannon]]:
** Many combo decks, as well as many linearly-focused decks like the Affinity deck of the ''Mirrodin'' era, are incredibly powerful if the opponent has no way to interact with them, but vulnerable to being completely shut down by a single "hoser" card that can disrupt them in the proper way.
** Many combo decks, as well as many linearly-focused decks like the Affinity deck of the ''Mirrodin'' era, are incredibly powerful if the opponent has no way to interact with them, but vulnerable to being completely shut down by a single "hoser" card that can disrupt them in the proper way.
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** The Selesnya Conclave apparently also has a weak Hive Mind of some sorts. Hinted at by the Convoke mechanic.
** The Selesnya Conclave apparently also has a weak Hive Mind of some sorts. Hinted at by the Convoke mechanic.
* [[Homage]]:
* [[Homage]]:
** The subjects of the [http://magiccards.info/od/en/157.html Repentant Vampire] and [http://magiccards.info/od/en/23.html Gallantry] cards from ''Odyssey'' are ''[[Angel (TV)|Angel]]'' and ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'', respectively.
** The subjects of the [http://magiccards.info/od/en/157.html Repentant Vampire] and [http://magiccards.info/od/en/23.html Gallantry] cards from ''Odyssey'' are ''[[Angel]]'' and ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'', respectively.
** [http://magiccards.info/tp/en/97.html Time Warp] has the flavor text "[[Rocky Horror Picture Show|Let's do it again!]]"
** [http://magiccards.info/tp/en/97.html Time Warp] has the flavor text "[[Rocky Horror Picture Show|Let's do it again!]]"
* [[I'm a Humanitarian]]:
* [[I'm a Humanitarian]]:
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** Rearranging the top few cards of your library is a staple ability that appears most commonly on blue cards (like [http://magiccards.info/m10/en/69.html Sage Owl]). Related abilities include [http://magiccards.info/query?q=o%3Ascry&v=card&s=cname Scry], [http://magiccards.info/query?q=o%3Afateseal&v=card&s=cname Fateseal], and [http://magiccards.info/query?q=o%3Aclash+%28e%3Amt%2Fen+or+e%3Alw%2Fen%29&v=card&s=cname Clash].
** Rearranging the top few cards of your library is a staple ability that appears most commonly on blue cards (like [http://magiccards.info/m10/en/69.html Sage Owl]). Related abilities include [http://magiccards.info/query?q=o%3Ascry&v=card&s=cname Scry], [http://magiccards.info/query?q=o%3Afateseal&v=card&s=cname Fateseal], and [http://magiccards.info/query?q=o%3Aclash+%28e%3Amt%2Fen+or+e%3Alw%2Fen%29&v=card&s=cname Clash].
* [[Luke Nounverber]]: A common naming convention.
* [[Luke Nounverber]]: A common naming convention.
* [[Playing With Fire]]: A large portion of Red, described in detail throughout this page. Also, [http://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=109752 Jaya Ballard] and her pupil, the lesser planeswalker [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=205958 Chandra Nalaar].
* [[Playing with Fire]]: A large portion of Red, described in detail throughout this page. Also, [http://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=109752 Jaya Ballard] and her pupil, the lesser planeswalker [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=205958 Chandra Nalaar].
* [[Let's Mock the Monsters|Let's Mock Our Own Monsters]] every un-set.
* [[Let's Mock the Monsters|Let's Mock Our Own Monsters]] every un-set.
* [[Loophole Abuse]]:
* [[Loophole Abuse]]:
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** Several shapeshifters can copy the abilities of defeated foes; [http://magiccards.info/rav/en/202.html Dimir Doppelganger] and [http://magiccards.info/lw/en/105.html Cairn Wanderer], for example.
** Several shapeshifters can copy the abilities of defeated foes; [http://magiccards.info/rav/en/202.html Dimir Doppelganger] and [http://magiccards.info/lw/en/105.html Cairn Wanderer], for example.
** [http://magiccards.info/di/en/110.html Experiment Kraj] copies all the abilities of creatures that have +1/+1 counters on them.
** [http://magiccards.info/di/en/110.html Experiment Kraj] copies all the abilities of creatures that have +1/+1 counters on them.
* [[Metamorphosis]]: [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=226755 Delver of Secrets/Insectile Aberration]. Starts as a human scientist, morphs into [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin|an insectile aberration]]. According to [[Word of God]], it was inspired by ''[[The Fly]]''.
* [[Metamorphosis]]: [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=226755 Delver of Secrets/Insectile Aberration]. Starts as a human scientist, morphs into [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|an insectile aberration]]. According to [[Word of God]], it was inspired by ''[[The Fly]]''.
* [[Metagame]]: Probably the best-known instance; decks that dominate one tournament can get curbstomped in the next due to metagame changes.
* [[Metagame]]: Probably the best-known instance; decks that dominate one tournament can get curbstomped in the next due to metagame changes.
* [[Mook Maker]]: A staple effect. Examples included but are ''definitely'' not limited to: [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Breeding%20Pit Breeding Pit], [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Kjeldoran%20Outpost Kjeldoran Outpost], [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Thallid Thallid], [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=The%20Hive The Hive], [http://magiccards.info/on/en/309.html Riptide Replicator], ''[http://magiccards.info/ts/en/263.html Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII]'', [http://magiccards.info/mbs/en/117.html Myr Turbine], and many, many more.
* [[Mook Maker]]: A staple effect. Examples included but are ''definitely'' not limited to: [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Breeding%20Pit Breeding Pit], [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Kjeldoran%20Outpost Kjeldoran Outpost], [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Thallid Thallid], [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=The%20Hive The Hive], [http://magiccards.info/on/en/309.html Riptide Replicator], ''[http://magiccards.info/ts/en/263.html Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII]'', [http://magiccards.info/mbs/en/117.html Myr Turbine], and many, many more.
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* [[Power At a Price]]: A major theme for Black. [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=207891 Phyrexian Negator], [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=201129 Cosmic Horror], [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=189885 Xathrid Demon]...one commentator [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Discussion.aspx?multiverseid=207891 here] describes the entire Suicide Black ethos as "tearing off your own arm so you can beat your opponent over the head with it."
* [[Power At a Price]]: A major theme for Black. [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=207891 Phyrexian Negator], [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=201129 Cosmic Horror], [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=189885 Xathrid Demon]...one commentator [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Discussion.aspx?multiverseid=207891 here] describes the entire Suicide Black ethos as "tearing off your own arm so you can beat your opponent over the head with it."
* [[Power Creep]]: Of a sort. Creatures started rather poorly and rose in power and usefulness over time (compare Alpha's [http://magiccards.info/al/en/103.html Force of Nature] to Zendikar's [http://magiccards.info/zen/en/187.html Terra Stomper], both 8/8 green creatures), while some early spells were considered too powerful and weaker versions were released to replace them ([http://magiccards.info/al/en/55.html Counterspell] vs. [http://magiccards.info/m12/en/47.html Cancel]). Cards that experience either are often considered "[http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Strictly_better strictly better/worse]".
* [[Power Creep]]: Of a sort. Creatures started rather poorly and rose in power and usefulness over time (compare Alpha's [http://magiccards.info/al/en/103.html Force of Nature] to Zendikar's [http://magiccards.info/zen/en/187.html Terra Stomper], both 8/8 green creatures), while some early spells were considered too powerful and weaker versions were released to replace them ([http://magiccards.info/al/en/55.html Counterspell] vs. [http://magiccards.info/m12/en/47.html Cancel]). Cards that experience either are often considered "[http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Strictly_better strictly better/worse]".
* [[Powers As Programs]]: Creature enchantments are this. As are equipment; yes, it's possible for a bird to carry three swords, a shield, and armor clearly designed with humans in mind. Could they be [[Morph Weapon|Morph Weapons]]? It sounds like something [[A Wizard Did It|a Planeswalker could do]], but we might never know.
* [[Powers as Programs]]: Creature enchantments are this. As are equipment; yes, it's possible for a bird to carry three swords, a shield, and armor clearly designed with humans in mind. Could they be [[Morph Weapon|Morph Weapons]]? It sounds like something [[A Wizard Did It|a Planeswalker could do]], but we might never know.
* [[Power Equals Rarity]]: An interesting case. Although many rares are more powerful than their common or uncommon counterparts, powerful cards are not exclusively rare. Additionally, rarity is used to balance Limited formats (in which players build decks out of a random or semi-random pool of cards). And this is only scratching the surface--whole essays can ([http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/daily/mr9 and have]) been written on the guidelines the designers use to determine rarity.
* [[Power Equals Rarity]]: An interesting case. Although many rares are more powerful than their common or uncommon counterparts, powerful cards are not exclusively rare. Additionally, rarity is used to balance Limited formats (in which players build decks out of a random or semi-random pool of cards). And this is only scratching the surface--whole essays can ([http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/daily/mr9 and have]) been written on the guidelines the designers use to determine rarity.
* [[Practical Taunt]]: [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=39890 Taunting Elf] causes all of the defending opponent's creatures to block it when it attacks.
* [[Practical Taunt]]: [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=39890 Taunting Elf] causes all of the defending opponent's creatures to block it when it attacks.
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* [[The Power of Friendship]]: The aptly-named Ally creature mechanic, which benefits from the presence of other Allies.
* [[The Power of Friendship]]: The aptly-named Ally creature mechanic, which benefits from the presence of other Allies.
* [[Random Effect Spell]]:
* [[Random Effect Spell]]:
** ''[[Magic the Gathering]] Online'''s "Vanguard" has several Vanguard avatars which pull random effects like these. Most prominently, Momir Vig allows you to pay X mana to make a copy of a random creature that also costs X mana, spawning an entire alternative format called Momir Basic, where players build a deck using only mana sources and a Momir Vig avatar and battle with randomized creatures from all over ''Magic''. Jhoira of the Ghitu has a similar effect for instants and sorceries; likewise with Stonehewer Giant and equipment.
** ''[[Magic: The Gathering]] Online'''s "Vanguard" has several Vanguard avatars which pull random effects like these. Most prominently, Momir Vig allows you to pay X mana to make a copy of a random creature that also costs X mana, spawning an entire alternative format called Momir Basic, where players build a deck using only mana sources and a Momir Vig avatar and battle with randomized creatures from all over ''Magic''. Jhoira of the Ghitu has a similar effect for instants and sorceries; likewise with Stonehewer Giant and equipment.
** The [http://magiccards.info/query?q=o%3Acascade+e%3Aarb&v=card&s=cname Cascade] ability from the ''Alara Reborn'' expansion allows you to cast a random spell from your deck for free. There are [http://tinyurl.com/4xzj6eh a variety of spells with similar randomizing effects.]
** The [http://magiccards.info/query?q=o%3Acascade+e%3Aarb&v=card&s=cname Cascade] ability from the ''Alara Reborn'' expansion allows you to cast a random spell from your deck for free. There are [http://tinyurl.com/4xzj6eh a variety of spells with similar randomizing effects.]
** [http://magiccards.info/ug/en/45.html Strategy, Schmategy] has you roll a six-sided die to determine which of five totally unrelated abilities you'll get when you cast it. To up the ante, one of the options is "Roll the die two more times."
** [http://magiccards.info/ug/en/45.html Strategy, Schmategy] has you roll a six-sided die to determine which of five totally unrelated abilities you'll get when you cast it. To up the ante, one of the options is "Roll the die two more times."
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* [[Shout-Out]]:
* [[Shout-Out]]:
** The Time Spiral set consisted entirely of cards that referenced other cards printed earlier. For an comprehensive list to [[Reference Overdosed|(most of?) the call-backs]] check: [http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Time_Spiral/Trivia Here], [http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Planar_Chaos/Trivia here] and [http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Future_Sight/Trivia here].
** The Time Spiral set consisted entirely of cards that referenced other cards printed earlier. For an comprehensive list to [[Reference Overdosed|(most of?) the call-backs]] check: [http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Time_Spiral/Trivia Here], [http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Planar_Chaos/Trivia here] and [http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Future_Sight/Trivia here].
** Nevinyrral's Disk is a direct reference to the "Warlock's Wheel" from [[Larry Niven]]'s ''[[The Magic Goes Away (Literature)|The Magic Goes Away]]'' series.
** Nevinyrral's Disk is a direct reference to the "Warlock's Wheel" from [[Larry Niven]]'s ''[[The Magic Goes Away (novel)|The Magic Goes Away]]'' series.
** The unreleased ''Unglued 2'' set was slated to contain a card called [[Jeopardy (TV)|"Jeopardy"]], with [http://media.wizards.com/images/magic/daily/arcana/658_jeopardy.jpg this art].
** The unreleased ''Unglued 2'' set was slated to contain a card called [[Jeopardy!|"Jeopardy"]], with [http://media.wizards.com/images/magic/daily/arcana/658_jeopardy.jpg this art].
** The flavor text of the ''Tempest'' card [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4737 Time Warp] is "[[The Rocky Horror Picture Show|Let's do it again!]]"
** The flavor text of the ''Tempest'' card [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4737 Time Warp] is "[[The Rocky Horror Picture Show|Let's do it again!]]"
** The card [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Discussion.aspx?multiverseid=220378 Creepy Doll] is, by admission of [[Word of God|MaRo]], a reference to the [[Jonathan Coulton]] song of the same name.
** The card [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Discussion.aspx?multiverseid=220378 Creepy Doll] is, by admission of [[Word of God|MaRo]], a reference to the [[Jonathan Coulton]] song of the same name.
** [http://magiccards.info/isd/en/184.html Grave Bramble] was inspired by [[Plants vs. Zombies]]. Its playtest name was "Tall-Nut."
** [http://magiccards.info/isd/en/184.html Grave Bramble] was inspired by [[Plants vs. Zombies]]. Its playtest name was "Tall-Nut."
* [[Spell My Name With a Blank]]: [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=74252 _____]
* [[Spell My Name with a Blank]]: [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=74252 _____]
* [[Strategy Guide]]: Very common online; as the game constantly changes, it's essential for even the most basic [[Tournament Play]].
* [[Strategy Guide]]: Very common online; as the game constantly changes, it's essential for even the most basic [[Tournament Play]].
* [[Strategy Schmategy]]: [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=9784 This card] is the [[Trope Namer]].
* [[Strategy Schmategy]]: [http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=9784 This card] is the [[Trope Namer]].
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