Flavor text

Flavor text is the italicized text (but not in parentheses) on a Magic card that serves to provide a mood or give background information on the game world, but has no effect on gameplay.

Description

Flavor text is written by freelance writers, contracted by Wizards of the Coast to submit names and flavor text for cards on an online database. The writers are paid if their submissions are accepted by the creative team.

Real-world quotations (mostly literature, the bible and so on) were a thing in early sets, but nowadays they are mostly avoided. Exceptions may appear in core sets and on promos. A few iconic cards in core sets (e.g. Wrath of God, Lightning Bolt, Disenchant) have no flavor text, even though there is room for it. Flavor text was actually seen as detracting from the overall aesthetics of these staples.

Rules

Any italicized text in parentheses is not flavor text, but reminder text.

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

• 207.2. The text box may also contain italicized text that has no game function.
  • 207.2a Reminder text is italicized text within parentheses that summarizes a rule that applies to that card. It usually appears on the same line as the ability it’s relevant to, but it may appear on its own line if it applies to an aspect of the card other than an ability.
  • 207.2b Flavor text is italicized text that, like the illustration, adds artistic appeal to the game. It usually appears below the rules text.
  • 207.2c An ability word appears in italics at the beginning of some abilities. Ability words are similar to keywords in that they tie together cards that have similar functionality, but they have no special rules meaning and no individual entries in the Comprehensive Rules. The ability words are adamant, addendum, alliance, battalion, bloodrush, celebration, channel, chroma, cohort, constellation, converge, council’s dilemma, coven, delirium, descend 4, descend 8, domain, eminence, enrage, fateful hour, fathomless descent, ferocious, formidable, grandeur, hellbent, heroic, imprint, inspired, join forces, kinship, landfall, lieutenant, magecraft, metalcraft, morbid, pack tactics, paradox, parley, radiance, raid, rally, revolt, secret council, spell mastery, strive, sweep, tempting offer, threshold, undergrowth, and will of the council.
  • 207.2d Similar to ability words, flavor words appear in italics at the beginning of some abilities. Flavor words provide a flavorful description of abilities, but they have no special rules meaning and are not listed in the Comprehensive Rules. While an ability word ties together several abilities with similar functionality, each flavor word is tailored to the specific ability it appears with.

Four-letter flavor text

Starting with Mirage expansion that flavor text team als ways included a four-letter piece of flavor text. Mirage had "Heel", Visions "BOOM!", Weatherlight "Ewww!", Tempest "Here" and Exodus "Stay". The team decided to end the trend in Unglued with "MOOO!!!" in extra-large type.

List of mentioned persons

• Comprehensive Flavor text Table - A comprehensive sortable table that lists every character that is mentioned in flavor text, but have never appeared in the storyline.

External links

• Rei Nakazawa (March 21, 2002). "Adding a Little Flavor". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Jay Moldenhauer-Salazar (March 21, 2002). "Clash of the Empires". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Jay Moldenhauer-Salazar (June 07, 2004). "Perspectives of a Writing Grunt". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Jay Moldenhauer-Salazar (October 10, 2005). "Urban Flavor". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Ben Bleiweiss (March 20, 2002). "Fire and Ice". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Mark Rosewater (March 18, 2002). "The Write Stuff". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Mark Rosewater (March 25, 2002). "Add Text to Flavor". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Randy Buehler (March 22, 2002). "Unlikely Flavorful Inspiration". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Magic Arcana (February 08, 2002). "The most flavor". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Matt Cavotta (March 08, 2007). "Breathe Deep, Smell the Words". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Matt Cavotta (May 31, 2007). "Behind The Cardboard". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Doug Beyer (July 22, 2009). "Flavor of the Constellari". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Doug Beyer (February 17, 2010). "Staging an Intervention". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Doug Beyer (May 05, 2010). "Form of the Writer". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Doug Beyer (June 30, 2010). "The Lich Get Licher". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Doug Beyer (January 05, 2011). "Mail Bonding". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.