Rules text: Difference between revisions

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|Cowards can’t block this turn.
|Cowards can’t block this turn.
|They fear fire.
|They fear fire.
|-
|<c>Resilient Roadrunner</c>
|Protection from Coyotes
|Meep, meep!
|-
|-
|<c>Vindictive Mob</c>
|<c>Vindictive Mob</c>

Latest revision as of 06:18, 28 March 2024

Example of a text box with rules text and flavor text

Rules text defines the abilities of a Magic: The Gathering card'.

Description

Rules text is contained within the text box of a Magic card and is not italicized like reminder text or flavor text.

Generally, Magic card text runs between 7.5 and 9 points in font size, and it is the editing department's job to make sure that the text is large enough to be readable, that there aren't unsightly blank spaces, and so on. There are also certain rules about separating abilities and flavor text with blank lines, which prevents awkward text layouts.

Trinket text

"Trinket text" is rules text on a card that is more for flavor than mechanics.[1]

Examples

Card Trinket text Notes
Baneslayer Angel Protection from Demons and from Dragons.[2] Fighting all sources of harm and ruin.
Eye Gouge If it’s a Cyclops, destroy it. Cyclopses only have one eye.
Gingerbrute Except by creatures with haste. "You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!"
Hour of Devastation Non-Bolas. Bolas's finest hour.
Hundred-Handed One It can block an additional ninety-nine creatures each combat. Making it a hundred.
Juggernaut Can't be blocked by walls. A juggernaut is unstoppable and breaks through walls.
Pyrophobia Cowards can’t block this turn. They fear fire.
Resilient Roadrunner Protection from Coyotes Meep, meep!
Vindictive Mob Can't be blocked by saprolings.[3][4] Torches burn saprolings down.
Walk the Plank Non-Merfolk creature Merfolk can breathe underwater.

Altering rules text

Main article: Text-changing effect

Removing rules text

The keyword ability Cleave, introduced in Innistrad: Crimson Vow, can remove parts of the rules text of the card that features Cleave.

Rules

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

Rules Text
A characteristic that defines a card’s abilities. See rule 207.1.

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

  • 207.1. The text box is printed on the lower half of the card. It usually contains rules text defining the card’s abilities.

References

  1. Mark Rosewater (February 13, 2016). "Where did the term "trinket text" come from?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  2. Mark Rosewater (December 7, 2023). "What is trinket text?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  3. Mark Rosewater (March 15, 2013). "How often in a set do you like to use trinket text?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  4. Mark Rosewater (January 10, 2022). "Even More Words From R&D". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.