Affinity
| Affinity | |
|---|---|
| Keyword Ability | |
| Type | Static |
| Introduced | Mirrodin |
| Last used | Fifth Dawn |
| Reminder Text |
Affinity for (text) (This spell costs you  less to cast for each (text) you control.) |
| Statistics |
20 cards Artifact 50%  45%  5% |
| Scryfall Search | |
| keyword:"Affinity" | |
Affinity is a keyword ability that reduces the mana cost of a spell by the number of permanents of a certain type that player controls.
Description
The ability is always written as "Affinity for [something]". The most common instance is "Affinity for artifacts" (see Frogmite). However, a cycle of Golems (consisting of Dross Golem, Oxidda Golem, Razor Golem, Spire Golem, and Tangle Golem) appeared in the Darksteel expansion, each with affinity for a particular basic land type.[1][2]
All tournament-legal cards with affinity were printed during the Mirrodin block, and contributed heavily to the Second Combo Winter. The mechanic was considered for a return in the Scars of Mirrodin block, but rejected because it had been so destructive for the metagame in its first appearance. [3]
Rules
From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)
- 702.41. Affinity
- 702.41a Affinity is a static ability that functions while the spell with affinity is on the stack. “Affinity for [text]” means “This spell costs you {1} less to cast for each [text] you control.”
- 702.41b If a spell has multiple instances of affinity, each of them applies.
From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)
- Affinity
- A keyword ability that reduces how much mana you need to spend to cast a spell. See rule 702.41, “Affinity.”
Rulings
- The affinity ability reduces only the amount of generic mana you pay. It can't reduce how much nongeneric mana you pay.
- Affinity can't reduce the cost to cast a spell to less than
. - Affinity doesn't change the spell's mana cost or converted mana cost. It just changes how much mana you pay to cast the spell.
- The cost reduction is set before you have to pay any costs for the spell. If you sacrifice an artifact while paying the spell's costs, that artifact still counts toward the cost reduction.
Examples
Notable cards with affinity
Frogmite, Myr Enforcer, Thoughtcast - used in affinity decks