Flipping a coin

Flipping a coin is method of randomization of effects with two possible outcomes of equal likelihood.

The coin flip was introduced as a mechanic in Arabian Nights with Mijae Djinn, Ydwen Efreet and Bottle of Suleiman. Any color can flip coins, but red does it most. It also appears on artifacts do it most. If the card is multicolored, so far it always has been red/blue. There is one blue card with the mechanic (Zndrsplt. Eye of Wisdom), one black card (Tavern Swindler) and one green Un-card (Flock of Rabid Sheep).

Rules

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

• 705. Flipping a Coin
  • 705.1. Some cards refer to flipping a coin. A coin used in a flip must be a two-sided object with easily distinguished sides and equal likelihood that either side lands face up. If the coin that’s being flipped doesn’t have an obvious “heads” or “tails,” designate one side to be “heads,” and the other side to be “tails.” Other methods of randomization may be substituted for flipping a coin as long as there are two possible outcomes of equal likelihood and all players agree to the substitution. For example, the player may roll an even-sided die and call “odds” or “evens,” or roll an even-sided die and designate that “odds” means “heads” and “evens” means “tails.”
  • 705.2. Some effects that instruct a player to flip a coin care only about whether the coin comes up heads or tails. No player wins or loses a coin flip for this kind of effect. For all other effects that instruct a player to flip a coin, the player that flips the coin calls “heads” or “tails.” If the call matches the result, the player wins the flip. Otherwise, the player loses the flip. Only the player who flips the coin wins or loses the flip; no other players are involved.