Assist
| Assist | |
|---|---|
| Keyword Ability | |
| Type | Static |
| Introduced | Battlebond |
| Last used | Battlebond |
| Reminder Text |
Assist (Another player can pay up to  of this spell's cost.) |
| Statistics |
16 cards  25%  25%  18.8%  12.5%  12.5%  6.3% |
| Scryfall Search | |
| keyword:"Assist (" | |
Assist is a keyword ability introduced in Battlebond that lets other players (normally your teammates) help you to cast spells.[1][2] The helping player may pay up to the total generic mana part of the casting cost. The assist mechanic was designed by Gavin Verhey.[3]
Rules
From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)
- Assist
- A keyword ability that lets another player help you pay for a spell. See rule 702.132, “Assist.”
From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)
- 702.132. Assist
- 702.132a Assist is a static ability that modifies the rules of paying for the spell with assist (see rules 601.2g-h). If the total cost to cast a spell with assist includes a generic mana component, before you activate mana abilities while casting it, you may choose another player. That player has a chance to activate mana abilities. Once that player chooses not to activate any more mana abilities, you have a chance to activate mana abilities. Before you begin to pay the total cost of the spell, the player you chose may pay for any amount of the generic mana in the spell’s total cost.
Rulings
- Players can't help with the colored mana requirements.
- After you've revealed the card with assist and made all other required choices, including targets, then you can choose the player that will help you. This way the other player will know what they're signing up for.
- If the chosen player doesn't want to pay, you can either pay the full cost yourself, or choose to back up and not cast the spell at all.
Examples
Example
Huddle Up 
Sorcery
Assist. (Another player can pay up to of this spell's cost.)
Two target players each draw a card.
References
- ↑ Gavin Verhey (May 21, 2018). "A New Challenger Apporaches". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Matt Tabak (May 21, 2018). "Battlebond Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 19, 2019). "I made a list of all the mechanics I had a hand in creating.". Twitter.