Dash

Dash
Keyword Ability
Type	Static (1st ability) Static (2nd ability) Static (3rd ability)
Introduced	Fate Reforged
Last used	The Lord of the Rings Commander Decks
Reminder Text	Dash [cost] (You may cast this spell for its dash cost. If you do, it gains haste, and it's returned from the battlefield to its owner's hand at the beginning of the next end step.)
Storm Scale	3
Statistics	22 cards 31.8% 54.5% 4.5% 4.5% 4.5%
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keyword:"Dash"

Dash is a keyword ability on permanents that allows the player to play the card for an alternative cost. When you pay its dash cost instead of paying its mana cost, the creature will have haste, so it can attack that turn. At the beginning of the next end step, you'll return the creature from the battlefield to its owner's hand.

Description

Dash was introduced in Fate Reforged where it replaced Raid from Khans of Tarkir as the mechanic associated with the Mardu Horde. It also features in Dragons of Tarkir, associated with Clan Kolaghan. Without the keyword, the nonoptional concept was featured as early as Visions, on Viashino Sandstalker.

Dash costs are all one mana's difference than the converted mana value, and whether that difference is higher or lower is largely dependant on context. The typical trend is that Dash costs pull towards the middle of the mana curve into the 2-3 mana spot: cheaper ones use costlier Dash as superior utility late in the game, while expensive ones use cheaper Dash as a bonus when missing a spot on the curve. Dash costs at 4 all have high impact attack or entry triggers, or in the case of Pitiless Horde and Sprinting Warbrute, use it as downside mitigation.

Dash also appeared in Modern Horizons on the first and only green card. It also reappeared in the March of the Machine Commander Decks.

Rules

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

Dash

A keyword ability found on creature cards that allows them to be cast for an alternative cost. See rule 702.109, “Dash.”

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

• 702.109. Dash
  • 702.109a Dash represents three abilities: two static abilities that function while the card with dash is on the stack, one of which may create a delayed triggered ability, and a static ability that functions while the object with dash is on the battlefield. “Dash [cost]” means “You may cast this card by paying [cost] rather than its mana cost,” “If this spell’s dash cost was paid, return the permanent this spell becomes to its owner’s hand at the beginning of the next end step,” and “As long as this permanent’s dash cost was paid, it has haste.” Casting a spell for its dash cost follows the rules for paying alternative costs in rules 601.2b and 601.2f–h.

Rulings

• If you choose to pay the dash cost, you're still casting the spell, so it goes on the stack and can be countered.
• Dash doesn't change when you can cast creature spells — usually only during your main phase.
• If you cast a creature spell using its dash cost, it will return to your hand only if it's still on the battlefield at the beginning of the next end step. If it leaves the battlefield before that point, it'll just stay wherever it is.
• You don't have to attack with the creature with dash unless another ability says you do.
• If a creature enters the battlefield as a copy of or becomes a copy of a creature whose dash cost was paid, the copy won't have haste and won't be returned to its owner's hand.

Examples

Example

Goblin Heelcutter
Creature — Goblin Berserker
3/2
Dash (You may cast this spell for its dash cost. If you do, it gains haste, and it's returned from the battlefield to its owner's hand at the beginning of the next end step.)