Aura

Aura
Enchantment Type
(Subtype for enchantment cards)
Rules	Enchant [object or player]
Statistics	1171 cards 0.2% 22.5% 25% 17.5% 13.7% 15.9% 1.4% 0.5% 0.3% 0.3% 0.9% 0.4% 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% 0.4% 0.4% 45 Aura token creation cards 15.6% 13.3% 20% 20% 11.1% 11.1% 2.2% 6.7%
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type:"Aura"

Aura is an enchantment type that has the text "enchant [object or player]", generally with restrictions on what object can be enchanted, especially its type.

Description

Auras are unique among evergreen permanents as being the only type that requires a target to cast and resolve (like instants and sorceries do), shared only with the unusual mechanic Mutate. Aura mechanics have been in the game from the start, but were formerly known as "local enchantments" or "enchant [type]" cards. The name was introduced in Ninth Edition.

Usage

Auras have many uses on many types, bestowing continuous effects, setting up triggers, or bringing their own activated abilities. Some Auras, like Pacifism, can be considered removal spells in disguise. Other Auras enhance the creature they're enchanting.

Putting an Aura on a permanent, especially a creature, opens the player up to a 1-for-2 exchange. One removal spell could destroy two cards: the creature and, indirectly, the Aura on it. A bounce spell can also put the Aura into the graveyard, making it "fall off", costing both the Aura spell and the mana spent on both cards. This makes the use of Auras a significant risk when used as an aggressive card. Many of these risks also apply when using Auras as removal: the creature is left on the battlefield, with some abilities still active, ripe for sacrificing, or for other costs like crewing Vehicles. White and Blue are the colors most inclined to use Auras as removal effects.

Rules

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

Aura

An enchantment subtype. Aura spells target objects or players, and Aura permanents are attached to objects or players. See rule 303, “Enchantments,” and rule 702.5, “Enchant.”

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

• 303.4. Some enchantments have the subtype “Aura.” An Aura enters the battlefield attached to an object or player. What an Aura can be attached to is defined by its enchant keyword ability (see rule 702.5, “Enchant”). Other effects can limit what a permanent can be enchanted by.
  • 303.4a An Aura spell requires a target, which is defined by its enchant ability.
  • 303.4b The object or player an Aura is attached to is called enchanted. The Aura is attached to, or “enchants,” that object or player.
  • 303.4c If an Aura is enchanting an illegal object or player as defined by its enchant ability and other applicable effects, the object it was attached to no longer exists, or the player it was attached to has left the game, the Aura is put into its owner’s graveyard. (This is a state-based action. See rule 704.)
  • 303.4d An Aura can’t enchant itself. If this occurs somehow, the Aura is put into its owner’s graveyard. An Aura that’s also a creature can’t enchant anything. If this occurs somehow, the Aura becomes unattached, then is put into its owner’s graveyard. (These are state-based actions. See rule 704.) An Aura can’t enchant more than one object or player. If a spell or ability would cause an Aura to become attached to more than one object or player, the Aura’s controller chooses which object or player it becomes attached to.
  • 303.4e An Aura’s controller is separate from the enchanted object’s controller or the enchanted player; the two need not be the same. If an Aura enchants an object, changing control of the object doesn’t change control of the Aura, and vice versa. Only the Aura’s controller can activate its abilities. However, if the Aura grants an ability to the enchanted object (with “gains” or “has”), the enchanted object’s controller is the only one who can activate that ability.
  • 303.4f If an Aura is entering the battlefield under a player’s control by any means other than by resolving as an Aura spell, and the effect putting it onto the battlefield doesn’t specify the object or player the Aura will enchant, that player chooses what it will enchant as the Aura enters the battlefield. The player must choose a legal object or player according to the Aura’s enchant ability and any other applicable effects.
  • 303.4g If an Aura is entering the battlefield and there is no legal object or player for it to enchant, the Aura remains in its current zone, unless that zone is the stack. In that case, the Aura is put into its owner’s graveyard instead of entering the battlefield. If the Aura is a token, it isn’t created.
  • 303.4h If an effect attempts to put a permanent that isn’t an Aura, Equipment, or Fortification onto the battlefield attached to an object or player, it enters the battlefield unattached.
  • 303.4i If an effect attempts to put an Aura onto the battlefield attached to either an object or player it can’t legally enchant or an object or player that is undefined, the Aura remains in its current zone, unless that zone is the stack. In that case, the Aura is put into its owner’s graveyard instead of entering the battlefield. If the Aura is a token, it isn’t created.
  • 303.4j If an effect attempts to attach an Aura on the battlefield to an object or player it can’t legally enchant, the Aura doesn’t move.
  • 303.4k If an effect allows an Aura that’s being turned face up to become attached to an object or player, the Aura’s controller considers the characteristics of that Aura as it would exist if it were face up to determine what it may be attached to, and they must choose a legal object or player according to the Aura’s enchant ability and any other applicable effects.
  • 303.4m An ability of a permanent that refers to the “enchanted [object or player]” refers to whatever object or player that permanent is attached to, even if the permanent with the ability isn’t an Aura.

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

• 604.4. Many Auras, Equipment, and Fortifications have static abilities that modify the object they’re attached to, but those abilities don’t target that object. If an Aura, Equipment, or Fortification is moved to a different object, the ability stops applying to the original object and starts modifying the new one.

Aura tokens

Token Name	Color	Type Line	P/T	Text Box	Source	Printings
Mask	White	Enchantment — Aura		Enchant permanent Totem armor	Estrid, the Masked
Mark of the Rani	Red	Enchantment — Aura		Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +2/+2 and is goaded.	The Rani
Smoke Blessing	Red	Enchantment — Aura		Enchant creature When enchanted creature dies, it deals 1 damage to its controller and you creature a Treasure token.	Smoke Spirits' Aid
Settlement	Green	Enchantment — Aura		Enchant land Enchanted land has ": Add one mana of any color."	Preston Garvey, Minuteman
Cursed	Colorless	Enchantment — Aura Role		Enchant creature Enchanted creature has base power and toughness 1/1.	Asinine Antics Croaking Curse Cursed Courtier Diminisher Witch Gadwick's First Duel Spiteful Hexmage
Monster	Colorless	Enchantment — Aura Role		Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 and has trample.	Become Brutes Curse of the Werefox Faunsbane Troll Giant Inheritance Guard Change Gylwain, Casting Director Monstrous Rage Syr Armont, the Redeemer
Royal	Colorless	Enchantment — Aura Role		Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 and has ward .	Betroth the Beast Charmed Clothier Gylwain, Casting Director Redtooth Genealogist Royal Treatment
Sorcerer	Colorless	Enchantment — Aura Role		Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 and has "Whenever this creature attacks, scry 1."	Gylwain, Casting Director Living Lectern Spellbook Vendor Splashy Spellcaster Unassuming Sage
Virtuous	Colorless	Enchantment — Aura Role		Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 for each enchantment you control.	Ellivere of the Wild Court
Wicked	Colorless	Enchantment — Aura Role		Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +1/+1. When this Aura is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, each opponent loses 1 life.	Charming Scoundrel Dunbarrow Revivalist Eriette's Whisper Lord Skitter's Blessing Not Dead After All Price of Beauty Shatter the Oath Twisted Fealty Twisted Sewer-Witch Witch's Mark The Witch's Vanity
Young Hero	Colorless	Enchantment — Aura Role		Enchant creature Enchanted creature has "Whenever this creature attacks, if its toughness is 3 or less, put a +1/+1 counter on it."	Cut In Embereth Veteran Merry Bards Protective Parents Return Triumphant

Test cards

Token Name	Color	Type Line	P/T	Text Box	Source	Printings
Pacifism	White	Enchantment — Aura		Enchant creature Enchanted creature can’t attack or block.	Domesticated Mammoth