Modal

Modal describes a spell spell or ability in Magic that gives the caster a choice of two or more effects when it is cast or otherwise put on the stack.

Description

A modal spell or ability begins with "Choose one —" (or "Choose two —", etc.) followed by multiple possible effect choices, or modes. When a modal spell or ability is announced its controller first chooses one of the modes to take effect before choosing its target or targets if it requires any. The earliest modal spell is Healing Salve, although initially it didn't have the "Choose one —" wording. It was reworded when reprinted in Urza's Saga.

There are several variations of modal spells and abilities:

• "An opponent chooses one —" appears on three spells, Fatal Lore, Library of Lat-Nam and Misfortune, all from Alliances.
• "If [event], instead choose one —". This is a modal replacement effect. This wording was used for Time Vault's Oracle text at one point, but is no longer on any cards.
• "Choose two —" appears on a cycle of cards (Command cycle from Lorwyn); the caster is given a choice of four effects, and as expected allows the user to use two of them.
• "Choose one or both —" has appeared a few times in the Alara block and Zendikar; two effects are given, and the caster is allowed to choose either for resolution. This is to allow flexibility if the caster prefers to use only one effect (or is forced to, for lack of a valid target for one half), while allowing the capability to perform both if required. This was an updated wording for effects similar to Hull Breach, which was forced to list out all three options.
• "Choose one that hasn't been chosen —" appears on Demonic Pact.

In August 2014, along with the rules update for Khans of Tarkir, the templating for modal abilities was changed from its previous semicolon-separated prose list format to a bulleted list, making them more readable. All existing modal cards received errata on Oracle to have bullet points, and all subsequent modal cards (e.g. Jeskai Charm) have been formatted this way.

The keyword abilities escalate/entwine allow the caster to choose additional/all options by paying an additional cost.

Rules

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

Modal, Mode

A spell or ability is “modal” if it has two or more options in a bulleted list preceded by instructions for a player to choose a number of those options, such as “Choose one —.” See rule 700.2.

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

• 700.2. A spell or ability is modal if it has two or more options in a bulleted list preceded by instructions for a player to choose a number of those options, such as “Choose one —.” Each of those options is a mode. Modal cards printed prior to the Khans of Tarkir™ set didn’t use bulleted lists for the modes; these cards have received errata in the Oracle card reference so the modes do appear in a bulleted list.
  • 700.2a The controller of a modal spell or activated ability chooses the mode(s) as part of casting that spell or activating that ability. If one of the modes would be illegal (due to an inability to choose legal targets, for example), that mode can’t be chosen. (See rule 601.2b.)
  • 700.2b The controller of a modal triggered ability chooses the mode(s) as part of putting that ability on the stack. If one of the modes would be illegal (due to an inability to choose legal targets, for example), that mode can’t be chosen. If no mode is chosen, the ability is removed from the stack. (See rule 603.3c.)
  • 700.2c If a spell or ability targets one or more targets only if a particular mode is chosen for it, its controller will need to choose those targets only if they chose that mode. Otherwise, the spell or ability is treated as though it did not have those targets. (See rule 601.2c.)
  • 700.2d If a player is allowed to choose more than one mode for a modal spell or ability, that player normally can’t choose the same mode more than once. However, some modal spells include the instruction “You may choose the same mode more than once.” If a particular mode is chosen multiple times, the spell is treated as if that mode appeared that many times in sequence. If that mode requires a target, the same player or object may be chosen as the target for each of those modes, or different targets may be chosen.
  • 700.2e Some spells and abilities specify that a player other than their controller chooses a mode for it. In that case, the other player does so when the spell or ability’s controller normally would do so. If there is more than one other player who could make such a choice, the spell or ability’s controller decides which of those players will make the choice.
  • 700.2f Modal spells and abilities may have different targeting requirements for each mode. Changing a spell or ability’s target can’t change its mode.
  • 700.2g A copy of a modal spell or ability copies the mode(s) chosen for it. The controller of the copy can’t choose a different mode. (See rule 707.10.)
  • 700.2h Some modal spells use plus signs (+) rather than bullet points, with each plus sign followed by a cost. This indicates that each mode has an additional cost that must be paid as the spell is cast if that mode is chosen. If more than one such mode is chosen, all additional costs must be paid to cast that spell. Paying these costs follows the rules for paying additional costs in rules 601.2b and 601.2f–h.

Non-legal creature type

Mode is also a creature type on the non-legal Heroes of the Realm card Optimus Prime, Inspiring Leader.