Phyrexian mana

Phyrexian Mana
[[File:{{#setmainimage:P.svg}}|70x70px]]
Mechanic
Introduced	New Phyrexia
Last used	Phyrexia: All Will Be One
Statistics	52 cards 15.4% 17.3% 17.3% 13.5% 13.5% 1.9% 1.9% 1.9% 1.9% 15.4%
Scryfall Search
fulloracle:"or 2 life\..*\)"

The Phyrexian mana version of the Magic mana pentagon.

Phyrexian mana symbols (, , , , ) were introduced in New Phyrexia as a novel mechanic. 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.

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 symbol is used in rules text for any of the five Phyrexian mana symbols.

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. 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 nonartifact creature.

Phyrexian mana was given an 8 on the Storm Scale during a 2018 article: despite popularity, its gameplay problems were significant. 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, it also appears in costs of activate abilities in Phyrexia: All Will Be One.

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 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.

See also

• Hybrid mana, which can also be paid in two ways