Anchor word

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An anchor word is a word that precedes a choice on a modal spell, to give the respective abilities a bit of flavor and signify the choice. Anchor words don't have a specific rule attached to them, but always tie the existence of a continuous effect to the choice.[1]

History

Anchor words were introduced in Fate Reforged, where the "Siege"-cycle featured the choice between "Khans" and "Dragons".[2][3]

Anchor words also appeared in Unstable and Modern Horizons. The flavor words from Adventures in the Forgotten Realms have a similar function, and those involving a modal choice can be accounted as anchor words as well.[4][5]

Anchor words are now considered to be deciduous.[4]

Examples of anchor words

Anchor words Card(s) Set Note
"Self" and "Others"

Feed the Machine
May Civilization Collapse
Surrender Your Thoughts
The Fate of the Flammable

Archenemy
"Khans" and "Dragons" "Siege"-cycle Fate Reforged
"Flavorful" and "Bland" Ineffable Blessing Unstable[6] Acorn
"Whack", "Doodle" and "Buzz" Buzzing Whack-a-Doodle Unstable[7] Acorn
"Mirran" and "Phyrexian" Mirrodin Besieged Modern Horizons
"Truth" and "Dare" Truth or Dare Mystery Booster Test card
"Two-Weapon Fighting" and "Archery" Choose Your Weapon Adventures in the Forgotten Realms
"Breathe Flame" and "Smash Relics" Klauth's Will Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Commander decks
"Sonic Boom" and "Flash Kick" Guile, Sonic Soldier Secret Lair Drop Series: Street Fighter Reskinned without anchor words as Immard, the Stormcleaver
"Money", "Friendship" and "Secrets" Master of Ceremonies Streets of New Capenna Commander decks
"Fame" and "Fortune" Seize the Spotlight Streets of New Capenna Commander decks
"Feed" and "Friends" Astarion, the Decadent Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate
"Executioner Round" and "Hyperfang Round" Primaris Eliminator Warhammer 40,000 Commander Decks Types of ammunition from a Universes Beyond IP
"Flavor" and "History" Meet and Greet "Sisay" Unfinity
"Ambitious" and "Expedient" Crucias, Titan of the Waves Alchemy: The Brothers' War Designed-for-digital

Rules

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

Anchor Word
A word that precedes one of two abilities a permanent may enter the battlefield with. See rule 614.12b.

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

  • 614.12b Some replacement effects cause a permanent to enter the battlefield with its controller’s choice of one of two abilities, each marked with an anchor word and preceded by a bullet point. “[Anchor word] — [ability]” means “As long as [anchor word] was chosen as this permanent entered the battlefield, this permanent has [ability].” The abilities preceded by anchor words are each linked to the ability that causes a player to choose between them. See rule 607, “Linked Abilities.”

Rulings

References

  1. ↑ a b Ethan Fleischer (July 30, 2019). "Know Your Anchor Words.". Twitter.
  2. ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 12, 2015). "Fate-ful Stories, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. ↑ Matt Tabak (January 15, 2015). "Fate Reforged Update Bulletin — Comprehensive Rule Changes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (March 28, 2022). "Deciduous". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 29, 2022). "You seem to count flavor words as anchor words. Is that correct?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  6. ↑ Adam Styborski (November 14, 2017). "Welcome to Flavortown! (Or Not)". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 27, 2017). "Unstable Scraps, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  8. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (January 14, 2015). "Fate Reforged Release Notes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
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