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{{Infobox mechanic
| icon = P.svg
| name = Phyrexian Mana
| first = New Phyrexia
| last = March of the Machine
| stats = {{stats|W=12|U=13|B=13|R=11|G=11|RG=1|GW=1|RW=1|GU=1|M=1|A=8}}
| search = PhyrexianMana
| searchtype = is
}}
[[File:Phyrexian_mana.jpg|right|thumb|The Phyrexian mana version of the ''Magic'' mana pentagon.]]
[[File:Phyrexian_mana.jpg|right|thumb|The Phyrexian mana version of the ''Magic'' mana pentagon.]]
'''Phyrexian mana''' symbols ({{W/P}}, {{U/P}}, {{B/P}}, {{R/P}}, {{G/P}}) were introduced in ''[[New Phyrexia]]'' as a novel [[mechanic]]. <ref>[http://www.wizards.com/magic/tcg/article.aspx?x=mtg/tcg/newphyrexia/mechanics "''New Phyrexia'' Mechanics"] {{em}} [[Wizards of the Coast]]</ref> <ref>{{DailyRef|mtg/daily/li/141|Things to Do with Phyrexian Mana|Steve Sadin|May 3, 2011}}</ref> The Phyrexian mana symbols are represented by the Greek letter "phi" (ϕ) on colored backgrounds, and denote a cost that may be paid with either 2 life or [[mana]] of the color of the background color of the symbol. The generic {{P}} symbol is used in rules text for any of the five Phyrexian mana symbols.
'''Phyrexian mana''' (with the symbols {{W/P}}, {{U/P}}, {{B/P}}, {{R/P}}, {{G/P}}) was introduced as a novel [[mechanic]] in ''[[New Phyrexia]]''.<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/mechanics-2011-04-18-0|''New Phyrexia'' Mechanics|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|April, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|limited-information/things-do-phyrexian-mana-2011-05-03|Things to Do with Phyrexian Mana|Steve Sadin|May 3, 2011}}</ref> It reappeared in ''[[Unstable]],'' ''[[Commander 2019]],'' and in sets dealing with the resurgence of Phyrexia''.'' Phyrexian mana is a [[cost]] and it can’t be generated.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/686963458383708160|title=Can we expect a cycle of completed lands?|June 13, 2022}}</ref>


==Flexibility==
==Description==
''[[Magic]]'' Head Designer [[Mark Rosewater]] noted that Phyrexian mana was similar to normal mana costs but afforded additional [[Answer flexibility|flexibility]] to players, allowing them to reduce costs as well as to play with effects from other colors of the [[Color Pie]]. <ref>{{DailyRef|mtg/daily/mm/140|Phyrexian Powers: International Mana Mystery|[[Mark Rosewater]]|April 25, 2011}}</ref>
The Phyrexian mana symbols are represented by the Greek letter "phi" (ϕ) on colored backgrounds, and denote a cost that may be paid with either 2 life or [[mana]] of the color of the background color of the symbol. The generic {{P}} symbol is used in rules text for any of the five Phyrexian mana symbols. For readiblity, the Phyrexian mana symbol is slightly larger than a normal mana symbol.


==Rules==
''[[Magic]]'' Head Designer [[Mark Rosewater]] noted that Phyrexian mana is similar to normal [[mana cost]]s but affords additional [[Answer flexibility|flexibility]] to players, allowing them to reduce costs as well as to play with effects from other colors of the [[Color Pie]].<ref>{{DailyRef|phyrexian-powers-international-mana-mystery-2011-04-25|Phyrexian Powers: International Mana Mystery|[[Mark Rosewater]]|April 25, 2011}}</ref> Each spell with Phyrexian mana in ''[[New Phyrexia]]'' have no other colored mana and are either artifacts, instants or sorceries. {{Card|K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth}} is the first non-artifact creature.
{{CR|lookup=107.4f}}
{{CR|lookup=107.4g}}


==Cards featuring Phyrexian mana==
Phyrexian mana was given an 8 on the Storm Scale during a 2018 article: despite popularity, its gameplay problems were significant<ref>{{DailyRef|storm-scale-mirrodin-and-scars-mirrodin-blocks-2018-06-11|STORM SCALE: MIRRODIN AND SCARS OF MIRRODIN BLOCKS|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 11, 2018}}</ref>. It returned to Standard in ''[[Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty]]'', in the form of [[Phyrexian hybrid mana]], alongside a new mechanic [[Compleated]], which made for balancing some of the issues. In addition to these compleated [[Planeswalker|planeswalkers]], Phyrexian mana returned on [[Activated ability|activated abilities]] in ''[[Phyrexia: All Will Be One]]''<ref name="One Direction 2">{{DailyRef|making-magic/phyrexia-all-will-be-one-direction-part-2|Phyrexia: All Will Be One Direction, Part 2|[[Mark Rosewater]]|January 23, 2023}}</ref> and ''[[March of the Machine]]'', with the developers making a conscious choice not to use them in casting costs.
;In mana cost
*<c>Act of Aggression</c>
*<c>Apostle's Blessing</c>
*<c>Birthing Pod</c>
*<c>Cathedral Membrane</c>
*<c>Corrosive Gale</c>
*<c>Dismember</c>
*<c>Gitaxian Probe</c>
*<c>Gut Shot</c>
*<c>Marrow Shards</c>
*<c>Mental Misstep</c>
*<c>Moltensteel Dragon</c>
*<c>Mutagenic Growth</c>
*<c>Norn's Annex</c>
*<c>Noxious Revival</c>
*<c>Phyrexian Metamorph</c>
*<c>Pith Driller</c>
*<c>Porcelain Legionnaire</c>
*<c>Postmortem Lunge</c>
*<c>Rage Extractor</c>
*<c>Ruthless Invasion</c>
*<c>Slash Panther</c>
*<c>Spined Thopter</c>
*<c>Surgical Extraction</c>
*<c>Tezzeret's Gambit</c>
*<c>Thundering Tanadon</c>
*<c>Vault Skirge</c>


;In text box
==Phyrexian Hybrid==
*<c>Blinding Souleater</c>
[[Phyrexian hybrid mana]] was introduced in ''[[Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty]]'', where it was [[Phyrexian hybrid mana|merged with hybrid mana]]. A hybrid Phyrexian mana symbol represents a cost that can be paid with one mana of either of its component colors or by paying 2 life. Spells with compleated have their Phyrexian mana with their other mana colors, preventing access without the color commitment.
*<c>Hex Parasite</c>
*<c>Immolating Souleater</c>
*<c>Insatiable Souleater</c>
*<c>Lashwrithe</c>
*<c>Pestilent Souleater</c>
*<c>Spellskite</c>
*<c>Trespassing Souleater</c>


==Color percentages==
==Rules==
<div style="background-color: #f7f7d3; border: 1px solid #111111; padding: 10px; padding-top: 0px; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom:20px; margin-right: 100px; margin-left: 100px;">
{{CR|glossary|Phyrexian Mana Symbol}}
There is a total of 34 cards that involve Phyrexian mana, which divide by color as such:
{{CR|glossary|Phyrexian Symbol}}
{{Colorbar|white=5|blue=5|black=5|red=6|green=5|artifact=8}}
{{CR|107.4f}}
</div>
{{CR|107.4g}}


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
* Phyrexian mana was featured as [[rules card]] 1 of 4 in the ''New Phyrexia'' set.
*Phyrexian mana was featured as [[rules card]] 1 of 4 in the ''New Phyrexia'' set.
*<c>Spike, Tournament Grinder</c> is the only [[silver-bordered]] card utilizing Phyrexian mana.
*The Defiler cycle in ''[[Dominaria United]]'' each have similar lengthy colored-mana reducing abilities, but may be easier thought of as having "Your permanent spells have one Phyrexian mana symbol instead of one colored mana symbol". This differentiates them from {{Card|K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth}}, who converts all {{B}} costs in all zones.
*[[R&D]] played around with colorless Phyrexian mana during ''[[Phyrexia: All Will Be One]]'' vision design but ultimately declined to use it.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/708095615977078784|title=Could we ever see Phyrexian colorless mana?|February 01, 2023}}</ref>
*The phyrexian glistening oil contains powerstone nanites, so there is some flavor basis for phyrexians to draw magic from their own life force.


==See also==
==See also==
Line 62: Line 39:
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://wizards.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2181/~/phyrexian-mana ''Magic'' Rules: Phyrexian Mana] {{Em}} [[Wizards of the Coast]] Customer Service


[[Category:Miscellaneous mechanics]]
[[Category:Miscellaneous mechanics]]
[[Category:Parts of a card]]
[[Category:Parts of a card]]

Latest revision as of 10:56, 21 December 2023

Phyrexian Mana
[[File:{{#setmainimage:P.svg}}|70x70px]]
Mechanic
Introduced New Phyrexia
Last used March of the Machine
Statistics
73 cards
{W} 16.4% {U} 17.8% {B} 17.8% {R} 15.1% {G} 15.1% {R/G} 1.4% {G/W} 1.4% {R/W} 1.4% {G/U} 1.4% {M} 1.4% {artifact symbol} 11%
Scryfall Search
is:"PhyrexianMana"
The Phyrexian mana version of the Magic mana pentagon.

Phyrexian mana (with the symbols {W/P}, {U/P}, {B/P}, {R/P}, {G/P}) was introduced as a novel mechanic in New Phyrexia.[1][2] It reappeared in Unstable, Commander 2019, and in sets dealing with the resurgence of Phyrexia. Phyrexian mana is a cost and it can’t be generated.[3]

Description

The Phyrexian mana symbols are represented by the Greek letter "phi" (ϕ) on colored backgrounds, and denote a cost that may be paid with either 2 life or mana of the color of the background color of the symbol. The generic {P} symbol is used in rules text for any of the five Phyrexian mana symbols. For readiblity, the Phyrexian mana symbol is slightly larger than a normal mana symbol.

Magic Head Designer Mark Rosewater noted that Phyrexian mana is similar to normal mana costs but affords additional flexibility to players, allowing them to reduce costs as well as to play with effects from other colors of the Color Pie.[4] Each spell with Phyrexian mana in New Phyrexia have no other colored mana and are either artifacts, instants or sorceries. K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth is the first non-artifact creature.

Phyrexian mana was given an 8 on the Storm Scale during a 2018 article: despite popularity, its gameplay problems were significant[5]. It returned to Standard in Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, in the form of Phyrexian hybrid mana, alongside a new mechanic Compleated, which made for balancing some of the issues. In addition to these compleated planeswalkers, Phyrexian mana returned on activated abilities in Phyrexia: All Will Be One[6] and March of the Machine, with the developers making a conscious choice not to use them in casting costs.

Phyrexian Hybrid

Phyrexian hybrid mana was introduced in Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, where it was merged with hybrid mana. A hybrid Phyrexian mana symbol represents a cost that can be paid with one mana of either of its component colors or by paying 2 life. Spells with compleated have their Phyrexian mana with their other mana colors, preventing access without the color commitment.

Rules

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

Phyrexian Mana Symbol
A mana symbol that represents a cost that can be paid either by spending colored mana or by paying life. See rule 107.4.

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

Phyrexian Symbol
A symbol used in rules text to represent any of the five Phyrexian mana symbols. See rule 107.4g.

From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

  • 107.4f Phyrexian mana symbols are colored mana symbols: {W/P} is white, {U/P} is blue, {B/P} is black, {R/P} is red, and {G/P} is green. A Phyrexian mana symbol represents a cost that can be paid either with one mana of its color or by paying 2 life. There are also ten hybrid Phyrexian mana symbols. A hybrid Phyrexian mana symbol represents a cost that can be paid with one mana of either of its component colors or by paying 2 life. A hybrid Phyrexian mana symbol is both of its component colors.

    Example: {W/P}{W/P} can be paid by spending {W}{W}, by spending {W} and paying 2 life, or by paying 4 life.

From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

  • 107.4g In rules text, the Phyrexian symbol {P} with no colored background means any of the fifteen Phyrexian mana symbols.

Trivia

  • Phyrexian mana was featured as rules card 1 of 4 in the New Phyrexia set.
  • Spike, Tournament Grinder is the only silver-bordered card utilizing Phyrexian mana.
  • The Defiler cycle in Dominaria United each have similar lengthy colored-mana reducing abilities, but may be easier thought of as having "Your permanent spells have one Phyrexian mana symbol instead of one colored mana symbol". This differentiates them from K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth, who converts all {B} costs in all zones.
  • R&D played around with colorless Phyrexian mana during Phyrexia: All Will Be One vision design but ultimately declined to use it.[7]
  • The phyrexian glistening oil contains powerstone nanites, so there is some flavor basis for phyrexians to draw magic from their own life force.

See also

References

  1. Wizards of the Coast (April, 2011). "New Phyrexia Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. Steve Sadin (May 3, 2011). "Things to Do with Phyrexian Mana". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. Mark Rosewater (June 13, 2022). "Can we expect a cycle of completed lands?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  4. Mark Rosewater (April 25, 2011). "Phyrexian Powers: International Mana Mystery". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. Mark Rosewater (June 11, 2018). "STORM SCALE: MIRRODIN AND SCARS OF MIRRODIN BLOCKS". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. Mark Rosewater (January 23, 2023). "Phyrexia: All Will Be One Direction, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. Mark Rosewater (February 01, 2023). "Could we ever see Phyrexian colorless mana?". Blogatog. Tumblr.