Charm
A Charm is a modal instant spell with three possible results of which one can be selected. Charms usually appear in horizontal cycles. So far there have been charms at common that cost a single colored mana, charms at uncommon that cost three different colored mana and charms at uncommon costing two colored mana.[1] According to Mark Rosewater in 2014, players like these Charms and he was pretty sure they would see them again (knowing that they would appear in Khans of Tarkir).[2] The multicolor modes are arranged in order of the mana cost, left-to-right, for each color's ability.
The term "Charm" came from the Mirage design team, referencing a fantasy term for a small object with tiny amounts of magic. The name has become a staple for this type of effect, but the names now imply a small magical effect rather than a magical object.[3]
The card Charming Prince from Throne of Eldraine, a creature with a trimodal enters-the-battlefield ability, is a nod to the charms.
Charm cycles
| Cycle name |  |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mirage charms | Ivory Charm | Sapphire Charm | Ebony Charm | Chaos Charm | Seedling Charm |
| Visions charms | Hope Charm | Vision Charm | Funeral Charm | Hearth Charm | Emerald Charm |
| Funeral Charm has been reprinted in the timeshifted portion of Time Spiral without its counterparts. | |||||
| Onslaught charms | Piety Charm | Trickery Charm | Misery Charm | Fever Charm | Vitality Charm |
| Planar Chaos charms | Dawn Charm | Piracy Charm | Midnight Charm | Fury Charm | Evolution Charm |
| A cycle with exceptions as only Dawn, Fury and Evolution Charm cost 1C, while Piracy Charm is a timeshifted mirrored pair to Funeral Charm.[4] The first mode of each charm is an in-color pie effect, while the second mode is a less common ability still within that color, and the third mode is off-color compared to the usual color pie (keeping with the modified color pie theme for Planar Chaos). | |||||
| Cycle name | |
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| Return to Ravnica block charms | Azorius Charm | Dimir Charm | Rakdos Charm | Gruul Charm | Selesnya Charm |
| All guild charms were reprinted in their respective guild kit except for Simic. The third mode is a hybrid-mana option. | |||||
| Cycle name | |
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| Return to Ravnica block charms | Orzhov Charm | Izzet Charm | Golgari Charm | Boros Charm | Simic Charm |
| All guild charms were reprinted in their respective guild kit except for Simic. The third mode is a hybrid-mana option. | |||||
| Cycle name | |
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| Planeshift charms | Treva's Charm | Dromar's Charm | Crosis's Charm | Darigaaz's Charm | Rith's Charm |
| Also called Dragon Charms as they are named after a cycle of legendary dragons. | |||||
| Shards of Alara charms | Bant Charm | Esper Charm | Grixis Charm | Jund Charm | Naya Charm |
| Streets of New Capenna charms | Brokers Charm | Obscura Charm | Maestros Charm | Riveteers Charm | Cabaretti Charm |
| Cycle name | |
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| Khans of Tarkir charms | Abzan Charm | Jeskai Charm | Sultai Charm | Mardu Charm | Temur Charm |
| First cycle that uses the new bullet-point layout for modal spells. | |||||
Other charms
Warping Wail (Oath of the Gatewatch)[5]- Blessed Alliance (Eldritch Moon)
- Break Ties (Modern Horizons 2)
- Light of Hope (Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths)
- Archmage's Charm (Modern Horizons)
- Insidious Will (Kaladesh)
- Umezawa's Charm (Modern Horizons)
- Savage Alliance (Eldritch Moon)
- Inscription of Abundance (Zendikar Rising)
- Return to Nature (War of the Spark)
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 17, 2012). "Return on Investment, Part 3". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 03, 2014). "Any chance we'll see charms again?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 13, 2015). "Maro's Command". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Magic Arcana (February 6, 2007). "Planar Chaos Charms". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 10, 2016). "Why did you make a 2 mana, 3 choice instant without charm in the name?". Blogatog. Tumblr.