Absorb
| Absorb | |
|---|---|
| Keyword Ability | |
| Type | Static |
| Introduced | Future Sight |
| Last used | Future Sight |
| Reminder Text | Absorb N (If a source would deal damage to this creature, prevent N of that damage.) |
| Storm Scale | 8[1] |
| Statistics |
1 card  100% |
| Scryfall Search | |
| keyword:"Absorb" | |
Absorb is a damage prevention keyword ability, written as Absorb N, where N is any natural number. It prevents N damage from each single source that deals damage to the creature.
Description
Absorb was introduced in Future Sight.[2] By its nature as a damage prevention ability, this is a white ability. It has only been printed on one card so far, the timeshifted Lymph Sliver.
This mechanic was inspired by a mechanic Wizards of the Coast had made for the Star Wars Trading Card Game called Armor.[3] It ended up being a little too powerful and stalled the game too much to reuse in greater number.[2] As such, when the effect was reused for Shield of the Realm in Dominaria, it wasn't even made a keyword ability.
Rules
From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)
- Absorb
- A keyword ability that prevents damage. See rule 702.64, “Absorb.”
From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)
- 702.64. Absorb
- 702.64a Absorb is a static ability. “Absorb N” means “If a source would deal damage to this creature, prevent N of that damage.”
- 702.64b Each absorb ability can prevent only N damage from any one source at any one time. It will apply separately to damage from other sources, or to damage dealt by the same source at a different time.
- 702.64c If an object has multiple instances of absorb, each applies separately.
Example
Example
Lymph Sliver 
Creature — Sliver
3/3
All Sliver creatures have absorb 1. (If a source would deal damage to a Sliver, prevent 1 of that damage.)
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (2015-01-29). "Strangely Absorb is among by favorite mechanics. Can I get...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (May 17, 2021). "Future Sight Design Handoff Document". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 10, 2020). "Back to the Future Sight, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.