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 always included a four-letter piece of flavor text. Mirage had "Heel" on Ray of Command, Visions had "BOOM!" on Magma Mine and "Next!" on Goblin Recruiter, Weatherlight had "Ewww!" on Mwonvuli Ooze, Tempest had "Here" on Jinxed Idol, Stronghold had "Mine" on Cannibalize, and Exodus had "Stay" on Monstrous Hound. The team decided to end the trend in Unglued with "MOOO!!!" on Hungry Hungry Heifer in extra-large type.[1]
Flavor text matters
Un-cards may care about flavor text. Flavor text matters is featured in Unhinged (Carnivorous Death-Parrot and My First Tome) and Unstable (Ineffable Blessing).[2]
List of mentioned persons
- The List of secondary characters is a comprehensive sortable table that lists every character that is mentioned in flavor text, but only played a minor role or even have never appeared in the storyline.