Adamant

Adamant
[[File:{{#setmainimage:MTGA Adament.png}}|70x70px]]
Ability Word
Introduced	Throne of Eldraine
Last used	Commander Masters
Typical Text	Adamant — If at least three [color] mana was spent to cast this spell, ... (colored spells) Adamant — If at least three mana of the same color was spent to cast this spell, ... (colorless spells)
Storm Scale	7
Statistics	18 cards 5.6% 16.7% 16.7% 16.7% 16.7% 16.7% 11.1%
Scryfall Search
keyword:"Adamant"

Adamant is an ability word introduced in Throne of Eldraine for spells of the five courts that make up "the Realm".

Description

Spells with Adamant have additional or alternative effects if you cast the spell with three or more mana of one color. The text is different on each color of spell, as colored spells specify the spell's color whereas the two artifact spells outline that any color can be used. Commander Masters revealed an Adamant spell that uses colorless mana, which changes the definition to "type of mana" rather than "color"; while not a large expansion in definition, this would also include snow mana.

Adamant's Storm Scale rating is due to underexposure: it had no discernable Constructed presence, and while they reinforced the monocolor Limited theme of Eldraine, Adamant was not seen as one of the relevant pressures. The payoff for achieving monocolor with Adamant spells was deliberately weakened due to monocolor payoffs elsewhere in the set, and often the fallback case was not worth the risk for two-colored decks. Additionally, all Adamant spells required three mana at minimum, with costs above five often needing weaker payoffs as the Adamant cost became lower, putting a narrow range for costing as well. Mark Rosewater's conclusion is that the mechanic will return with a similar purpose when a set needs an incentive for monocolor drafting.

History

There were three cycles of Adamant spells printed in Throne of Eldraine (a cycle of common Knights, one common and one uncommon cycle of instant or sorcery spells), plus two artifact creatures and one unworded super-Adamant spell (Sundering Stroke) that takes effect when paying seven red mana.

A new card with colorless-focused Adamant was featured in the Commander Masters Commander decks (Desecrate Reality).

The card Throne of Eldraine from the Wilds of Eldraine set obliquely references to Adamant with both its abilities.

Examples

Example

Slaying Fire
Instant
Slaying Fire deal 3 damage to any target.
Adamant — If at least three red mana was spent to cast this spell, it deals 4 damage instead.

Rulings

• If an instant or sorcery spell has an adamant ability, you perform the spell's instructions in order. You don't perform the adamant instruction before the spell resolves or before any other effects printed above it.
• If an effect allows you to cast a spell without paying its mana cost, you can't choose to cast it and pay unless another rule or effect allows you to cast that spell for a cost. Similarly, you can't waive a cost reduction unless that effect says you may.
• Adamant effects check what mana was actually spent to cast a spell. If an effect allows you to spend mana "as though it were mana" of any color or type, that allows you to spend mana you couldn't otherwise spend, but it doesn't change what mana you spent to cast the spell.
• If you copy a spell that has an adamant ability, no mana was spent to cast the copy at all, so that ability won't apply.

External links

• Mechanic Spotlight: Adamant (Video). YouTube.