Revolt

Revolt
[[File:{{#setmainimage:MTGA Revolt.png}}|70x70px]]
Ability Word
Introduced	Aether Revolt
Last used	Modern Horizons 3
Typical Text	Revolt — ..., if a permanent you controlled left the battlefield this turn, ...
Storm Scale	6
Statistics	17 cards 35.3% 17.6% 35.3% 5.9% 5.9%
Scryfall Search
keyword:"Revolt"

Revolt is an ability word was introduced in the 2017 set Aether Revolt, that checks if a permanent you controlled left the battlefield this turn.

Description

The name of Revolt played into the name and theme of the set.

The use of Revolt on a card signals that a spell or ability can have different effects, additional effects, or may only be used on the condition that a permanent you controlled left the battlefield earlier in the same turn. It is very similar to Morbid, which checks if a creature died earlier in this turn.

Revolt can take several different forms. Sometimes it appears as a bonus on an instant or sorcery spell. Some creatures have revolt abilities that let them enter the battlefield with +1/+1 counters or produce different effects when they enter the battlefield.

Mark Rosewater considers Revolt to be a failed mechanic, because it was a hard ability to monitor and disconnected flavorfully.

History

Several cards in Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate had functional Revolt, but due to the use flavor words it was specifically named (e.g. Vrock, Pegasus Guardian). In Modern Horizons 3 it made a surprise cameo on the card named after the original set, Aether Revolt.

Examples

Example

Silkweaver Elite
Creature — Elf Archer
2/2
Reach
Revolt — When Silkweaver Elite enters the battlefield, if a permanent you control left the battlefield this turn, draw a card.

Rulings

• Revolt abilities check only whether a permanent you controlled left the battlefield this turn or not. They don't apply multiple times if more than one permanent you controlled left the battlefield. They don't check whether the permanent that left the battlefield is still in the zone it moved to.
• Revolt abilities don't care why the permanent left the battlefield, who caused it to move, or where it moved to. They're equally satisfied by an artifact you sacrificed to pay a cost, a creature you controlled that was destroyed by Murder, or an enchantment you returned to your hand with Leave in the Dust.
• Tokens that leave the battlefield will satisfy a revolt ability.
• Energy counters aren't permanents. Paying E won't satisfy a revolt ability.
• All cards in the Aether Revolt set with triggered revolt abilities use an intervening “if” clause. A permanent you controlled must have left the battlefield earlier in the turn in order for these abilities to trigger; otherwise they do nothing. In other words, there's no way to have the ability trigger if no permanent you controlled has left the battlefield that turn, even if you intend to have one do so in response to the triggered ability.