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'''Evoke''' is a keyword ability that allows a player to play an alternate cost for a creature spell that possesses this ability; however, if the evoke cost is paid, the creature is sacrificed when it comes into play. It is confirmed that all creatures in [[Lorwyn (set)|Lorwyn]] with evoke — the set in which the ability was introduced — have a "comes-into-play" ability.<ref name="Threshers and Blades">{{MTGref|fk57|Threshers and Blades|Wednesday, September 19, 2007}}</ref>
{{Infobox keyword
| type = Static
| type2 = Triggered
| first = Lorwyn
| last = Modern Horizons 3
| cost = yes
| reminder = You may cast this spell for its evoke cost. If you do, it's sacrificed when it enters the battlefield.
| storm = 5
| storm_ref=<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/678573180289417216/|title=But since we’re on the topic, what’s evoke on the storm scale?|2022-03-12}}</ref>
| stats = {{stats|W=7|U=5|B=5|R=6|G=5|GU=1}}
}}
'''Evoke''' is a [[keyword ability]] that allows a player to pay an [[alternative cost]] for a [[creature]] [[spell]] that possesses this ability; however, if the evoke cost is paid, the creature is [[sacrificed]] when it enters the battlefield.


[[Frank Karsten]] wrote of evoke:
==Description==
{{cquote|Evoke is a new ''Lorwyn'' mechanic that represents an alternative cost. In short, it allows you to play the spell for its evoke cost rather than paying its mana cost, but if you do that, you have to sacrifice it when it comes into play. Now why would you do that? Each ''Lorwyn'' creature with evoke has a come-in-play ability. So evoke lets you pay a cheaper cost to just get the creature's comes-into-play ability. You can read the more detailed and more boring rules notes in the box.<ref name="Threshers and Blades"/>}}
Evoke was introduced in ''[[Lorwyn]]'' <ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/and-rest-2007-10-01|And the Rest|[[Mark Rosewater]]|October 1, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/and-after-2007-10-08|Before and After|[[Mark Rosewater]]|October 08, 2007}}</ref> and expanded upon in ''[[Morningtide]]''<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/wait-theres-more-2008-01-14|But Wait, There's More|[[Mark Rosewater]]|January 14, 2008}}</ref> as the signature mechanic of the five-color Elementals. It began in design as a mechanic that would allow an instant or sorcery to become a creature if an extra cost was paid, but was changed to its current form due to rules limitations.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/horizons-part-2-2021-06-14|On the Horizons, Part 2|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 14, 2021}}</ref> All creatures in ''Lorwyn'' with evoke have a "[[enters the battlefield]]" ability,<ref name="Threshers and Blades">{{DailyRef|threshers-and-blades-2007-09-19|Threshers and Blades|[[Frank Karsten]]|September 19, 2007}}</ref> followed by those in ''Morningtide'' all having "leaves the battlefield" effects.


<div style="background-color: #f5ece5; border: 1px solid #111111; padding: 10px; padding-top: 0px; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom:20px; margin-right: 100px; margin-left: 100px;">
Evoke allows you to play the spell for its evoke cost rather than paying its mana cost, but if you do that, you have to sacrifice it when it comes into play. This enables the player to pay the cheaper cost to just get the creature's "enters the battlefield" (or "leaves the battlefield") ability.<ref name="Threshers and Blades"/> Three evokers have evoke costs equal to their mana value and one has it above; these were all from ''Morningtide'' with "leaves" triggers, where the effect is much less predictable if left on the board as a creature.
'''From the [[Comprehensive Rules]]'''
*'''502.74.''' Evoke


**'''502.74a''' Evoke represents two abilities: a static ability that functions in any zone from which the card can be played, and a triggered ability that functions in play. "Evoke [cost]" means "You may play this card by paying [cost] rather than paying its mana cost" and "When this permanent comes into play, if its evoke cost was paid, its controller sacrifices it." Paying a card's evoke cost follows the rules for paying alternative costs in rules 409.1b and 409.1fh.
Evoke is similar, but not identical, in concept to [[channel]]. Both are associated with powerful immortal creatures ([[elemental]]s and [[spirit]]s, respectively), but whereas channeling a spirit merely allows a [[planeswalker]] to tap into that spirit's power without actually [[summoning]] it, evoking an elemental brings the elemental into existence for a very brief time, whereupon its power is expended in a single moment. In mechanical terms, evoke casts and has a creature exist temporarily, opening up lines that interact with creatures, whereas channel discards, making the effect difficult to counter and always at instant speed.  


**When you play a spell for its evoke cost, you really are playing the spell—you're just paying a different cost. The spell can be countered as normal. Effects that prevent you from playing a spell also prevent you from playing the spell with evoke.
In theory, the [[rules]] would allow evoke to appear on [[permanent]]s other than creatures.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/189323142068/is-evoke-specifically-a-creature-mechanic-in|title=Is Evoke specifically a creature mechanic?|November 26, 2019}}</ref> Part of this not occurring is due to most other permanents having no inherent impact without abilities, and as of yet all Evoke creatures are virtual French [[vanilla]] creatures. As such, an artifact or enchantment evoker would need an evoke ability, an ability that works when evoked, and an ability that matters when not evoked.


**Playing a creature by paying its evoke cost will result in two comes-into-play abilities: The sacrifice ability from evoke, and whatever other ability the creature has. The creature's controller chooses in what order to put them on the stack. Both abilities can be responded to as normal.
===History===
Evoke was reused sparingly in ''[[Modern Horizons]]'' and ''[[Modern Horizons 2]],'' where the latter introduced non-mana Evoke costs (specifically, exiling a colored card, resulting in [[Pitch spell|pitch spells]]). It also appeared in ''[[Modern Horizons 3]]''. All creatures with evoke have continued to be Elementals in race.


**Evoke doesn't change the timing of when you can play the creature that has it. If you could play that creature spell only when you could play a sorcery, the same is true for playing it with evoke.
==Rules==
{{CR+G}}


**If a creature spell played with evoke changes controllers before it comes into play, it will still be sacrificed when it comes into play. Similarly, if a creature played with evoke changes controllers after it comes into play but before its sacrifice ability resolves, it will still be sacrificed.
==Rulings==
*Casting a creature by paying its evoke cost will result in two enters-the-battlefield abilities: The sacrifice ability from evoke, and whatever other ability the creature has. The creature's controller chooses in what order to put them on the stack. Both abilities can be responded to as normal.
*Evoke doesn't change the timing of when you can cast the creature that has it. If you could cast that creature spell only when you could cast a sorcery, the same is true for casting it with evoke.
*If a creature spell cast with evoke changes controllers before it enters the battlefield, it will still be sacrificed when it enters the battlefield. Similarly, if a creature cast with evoke changes controllers after it enters the battlefield but before its sacrifice ability resolves, it will still be sacrificed.
*When you cast a spell by paying its evoke cost, its mana cost doesn't change. You just pay the evoke cost instead.
*Effects that cause you to pay more or less for a spell will cause you to pay that much more or less while casting it for its evoke cost, too. That's because they affect the total cost of the spell, not its mana cost.
*Whether evoke's sacrifice ability triggers when the creature enters the battlefield depends on whether the spell's controller chose to pay the evoke cost, not whether they paid it (if it was reduced or otherwise altered by another ability, for example).
*If you're casting a spell "without paying its mana cost," you can't use its evoke ability.


**When you play a spell by paying its evoke cost, its mana cost doesn't change. You just pay the evoke cost instead.
==Examples==
{{examples|<c>Wispmare</c> {{2}}{{W}}<br>Creature {{-}} Elemental<br>1/3<br>Flying<br>When Wispmare enters the battlefield, destroy target enchantment.<br>Evoke {{W}} ''(You may cast this spell for its evoke cost. If you do, it's sacrificed when it enters the battlefield.)''}}
{{examples|<c>Mulldrifter</c>{{4}}{{U}}<br>Creature {{-}} Elemental<br>2/2<br>Flying<br>When Mulldrifter enters the battlefield, draw two cards.<br>Evoke {{2}}{{U}} ''(You may cast this spell for its evoke cost. If you do, it’s sacrificed when it enters the battlefield.)''}}


**Effects that cause you to pay more or less for a spell will cause you to pay that much more or less while playing it for its evoke cost, too. That's because they affect the total cost of the spell, not its mana cost.
**Whether evoke's sacrifice ability triggers when the creature comes into play depends on whether the spell's controller chose to pay the evoke cost, not whether he or she actually paid it (if it was reduced or otherwise altered by another ability, for example).
**If you're playing a spell "without paying its mana cost," you can't use its evoke ability. (Then again, you probably wouldn't want to.)
</div>
*Each Lorwyn creature with evoke has a comes-into-play ability. That means paying the normal cost gets you both the ability and the creature, while paying the evoke cost just gets you the ability.
[[Image:Cloudthresher.jpg|right|200px]]
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Keywords]][[Category:Magic rules]]
 
{{Mechanics|keyword}}

Latest revision as of 10:06, 22 May 2024

Evoke
Keyword Ability
Type Static (1st ability)
Triggered (2nd ability)
Introduced Lorwyn
Last used Modern Horizons 3
Reminder Text Evoke [cost] (You may cast this spell for its evoke cost. If you do, it's sacrificed when it enters the battlefield.)
Storm Scale 5[1]
Statistics
29 cards
{W} 24.1% {U} 17.2% {B} 17.2% {R} 20.7% {G} 17.2% {G/U} 3.4%
Scryfall Search
keyword:"Evoke"

Evoke is a keyword ability that allows a player to pay an alternative cost for a creature spell that possesses this ability; however, if the evoke cost is paid, the creature is sacrificed when it enters the battlefield.

Description

Evoke was introduced in Lorwyn [2][3] and expanded upon in Morningtide[4] as the signature mechanic of the five-color Elementals. It began in design as a mechanic that would allow an instant or sorcery to become a creature if an extra cost was paid, but was changed to its current form due to rules limitations.[5] All creatures in Lorwyn with evoke have a "enters the battlefield" ability,[6] followed by those in Morningtide all having "leaves the battlefield" effects.

Evoke allows you to play the spell for its evoke cost rather than paying its mana cost, but if you do that, you have to sacrifice it when it comes into play. This enables the player to pay the cheaper cost to just get the creature's "enters the battlefield" (or "leaves the battlefield") ability.[6] Three evokers have evoke costs equal to their mana value and one has it above; these were all from Morningtide with "leaves" triggers, where the effect is much less predictable if left on the board as a creature.

Evoke is similar, but not identical, in concept to channel. Both are associated with powerful immortal creatures (elementals and spirits, respectively), but whereas channeling a spirit merely allows a planeswalker to tap into that spirit's power without actually summoning it, evoking an elemental brings the elemental into existence for a very brief time, whereupon its power is expended in a single moment. In mechanical terms, evoke casts and has a creature exist temporarily, opening up lines that interact with creatures, whereas channel discards, making the effect difficult to counter and always at instant speed.

In theory, the rules would allow evoke to appear on permanents other than creatures.[7] Part of this not occurring is due to most other permanents having no inherent impact without abilities, and as of yet all Evoke creatures are virtual French vanilla creatures. As such, an artifact or enchantment evoker would need an evoke ability, an ability that works when evoked, and an ability that matters when not evoked.

History

Evoke was reused sparingly in Modern Horizons and Modern Horizons 2, where the latter introduced non-mana Evoke costs (specifically, exiling a colored card, resulting in pitch spells). It also appeared in Modern Horizons 3. All creatures with evoke have continued to be Elementals in race.

Rules

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

Evoke
A keyword ability that causes a permanent to be sacrificed when it enters the battlefield. See rule 702.74, “Evoke.”

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

  • 702.74. Evoke
    • 702.74a Evoke represents two abilities: a static ability that functions in any zone from which the card with evoke can be cast and a triggered ability that functions on the battlefield. “Evoke [cost]” means “You may cast this card by paying [cost] rather than paying its mana cost” and “When this permanent enters the battlefield, if its evoke cost was paid, its controller sacrifices it.” Casting a spell for its evoke cost follows the rules for paying alternative costs in rules 601.2b and 601.2f–h.

Rulings

  • Casting a creature by paying its evoke cost will result in two enters-the-battlefield abilities: The sacrifice ability from evoke, and whatever other ability the creature has. The creature's controller chooses in what order to put them on the stack. Both abilities can be responded to as normal.
  • Evoke doesn't change the timing of when you can cast the creature that has it. If you could cast that creature spell only when you could cast a sorcery, the same is true for casting it with evoke.
  • If a creature spell cast with evoke changes controllers before it enters the battlefield, it will still be sacrificed when it enters the battlefield. Similarly, if a creature cast with evoke changes controllers after it enters the battlefield but before its sacrifice ability resolves, it will still be sacrificed.
  • When you cast a spell by paying its evoke cost, its mana cost doesn't change. You just pay the evoke cost instead.
  • Effects that cause you to pay more or less for a spell will cause you to pay that much more or less while casting it for its evoke cost, too. That's because they affect the total cost of the spell, not its mana cost.
  • Whether evoke's sacrifice ability triggers when the creature enters the battlefield depends on whether the spell's controller chose to pay the evoke cost, not whether they paid it (if it was reduced or otherwise altered by another ability, for example).
  • If you're casting a spell "without paying its mana cost," you can't use its evoke ability.

Examples

Example

Wispmare {2}{W}
Creature — Elemental
1/3
Flying
When Wispmare enters the battlefield, destroy target enchantment.
Evoke {W} (You may cast this spell for its evoke cost. If you do, it's sacrificed when it enters the battlefield.)

Example

Mulldrifter{4}{U}
Creature — Elemental
2/2
Flying
When Mulldrifter enters the battlefield, draw two cards.
Evoke {2}{U} (You may cast this spell for its evoke cost. If you do, it’s sacrificed when it enters the battlefield.)

References

  1. ↑ Mark Rosewater (2022-03-12). "But since we’re on the topic, what’s evoke on the storm scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  2. ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 1, 2007). "And the Rest". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 08, 2007). "Before and After". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 14, 2008). "But Wait, There's More". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 14, 2021). "On the Horizons, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. ↑ a b Frank Karsten (September 19, 2007). "Threshers and Blades". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 26, 2019). "Is Evoke specifically a creature mechanic?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
 
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