As though

Some effects on Magic: The Gathering cards state that a player may do something “as though” some condition were true or a creature can do something “as though” some condition were true.

Description

These effects are a perfect example of Magic's golden rule #1: Whenever a card’s text directly contradicts the comprehensive rules, the card takes precedence.

The changed parameters only apply to the stated effect. For purposes of that effect, the game is treated exactly as if the stated condition were true. For all other purposes, the game is treated normally.

Examples

Cards with these effects have existed since the beginning of the game, although the exact wording wa sonly introduced in Fifth Edition

• Animate Wall — Enchanted Wall can attack as though it didn’t have defender.
• Sunglasses of Urza — You may spend white mana as though it were red mana.
• Gosta Dirk — Creatures with islandwalk can be blocked as though they didn’t have islandwalk.
• Winding Canyons — You may cast creature spells as though they had flash.
• Deathcoil Wurm — You may have this creature assign its combat damage as though it weren’t blocked.

Rules

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (July 25, 2025—Edge of Eternities)

As Though

Text used to indicate that the game, for some specific purpose, treats a condition as true even though it’s not. See rule 609.4.

From the Comprehensive Rules (July 25, 2025—Edge of Eternities)

• 609.4. Some effects state that a player may do something “as though” some condition were true or a creature can do something “as though” some condition were true. This applies only to the stated effect. For purposes of that effect, treat the game exactly as if the stated condition were true. For all other purposes, treat the game normally.
  • 609.4a If two effects state that a player may (or a creature can) do the same thing “as though” different conditions were true, both conditions could apply. If one “as though” effect satisfies the requirements for another “as though” effect, then both effects will apply.

    Example: A player controls Vedalken Orrery, an artifact that says “You may cast spells as though they had flash.” That player casts Shaman’s Trance, an instant that says, in part, “You may play lands and cast spells from other players’ graveyards this turn as though those cards were in your graveyard.” The player may cast a sorcery with flashback from another player’s graveyard as though it were in that player’s graveyard and as though it had flash.

  • 609.4b If an effect allows a player to spend mana “as though it were mana of any [type or color],” this affects only how the player may pay a cost. It doesn’t change that cost, and it doesn’t change what mana was actually spent to pay that cost. The same is true for effects that say “mana of any type can be spent.”