Object

An object is almost any concrete "thing" in a game of Magic: an ability on the stack, a card, a copy of a card, a token, a spell, a permanent, or an emblem. However, players are not objects, nor are counters, damage, and many other concepts that apply to objects. No card currently references objects as such, only particular types of objects.

An object can have many characteristics: Name, mana cost, color, card type, subtype, supertype, rules text, abilities, power and toughness, loyalty, hand modifier and life modifier. Any other information regarding the object is not considered a characteristic, but rather an attribute, a property or a quality.

Rules

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

Object

An ability on the stack, a card, a copy of a card, an emblem, a token, a spell, or a permanent. See rule 109, “Objects.”

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

• 109. Objects
  • 109.1. An object is an ability on the stack, a card, a copy of a card, a token, a spell, a permanent, or an emblem.
  • 109.2. If a spell or ability uses a description of an object that includes a card type or subtype, but doesn’t refer to a specific zone or include the word “card,” “spell,” “source,” or “scheme,” it means a permanent of that card type or subtype on the battlefield.
    • 109.2a If a spell or ability uses a description of an object that includes the word “card” and the name of a zone, it means a card matching that description in the stated zone.
    • 109.2b If a spell or ability uses a description of an object that includes the word “spell,” it means a spell matching that description on the stack.
    • 109.2c If a spell or ability uses a description of an object that includes the word “source,” it means a source matching that description—a source of an ability, of damage, or of mana—in any zone. See rules 113.7 and 609.7.
    • 109.2d If an ability of a scheme card includes the text “this scheme,” it means the scheme card in the command zone on which that ability is printed.
  • 109.3. An object’s characteristics are name, mana cost, color, color indicator, card type, subtype, supertype, rules text, abilities, power, toughness, loyalty, defense, hand modifier, and life modifier. Objects can have some or all of these characteristics. Any other information about an object isn’t a characteristic. For example, characteristics don’t include whether a permanent is tapped, a spell’s target, an object’s owner or controller, what an Aura enchants, and so on.
  • 109.4. Only objects on the stack or on the battlefield have a controller. Objects that are neither on the stack nor on the battlefield aren’t controlled by any player. See rule 108.4. There are six exceptions to this rule:
    • 109.4a The controller of a mana ability is determined as though it were on the stack. See rule 605, “Mana Abilities.”
    • 109.4b A triggered ability that has triggered but is waiting to be placed on the stack is controlled by the player who controlled its source at the time it triggered, unless it’s a delayed triggered ability. To determine the controller of a delayed triggered ability, see rules 603.7d–f. See also rule 603, “Handling Triggered Abilities.”
    • 109.4c An emblem is controlled by the player who puts it into the command zone. See rule 114, “Emblems.”
    • 109.4d In a Planechase game, a face-up plane or phenomenon card is controlled by the player designated as the planar controller. This is usually the active player. See rule 901.6.
    • 109.4e In a Vanguard game, each vanguard card is controlled by its owner. See rule 902.6.
    • 109.4f In an Archenemy game, each scheme card is controlled by its owner. See rule 904.7.
    • 109.4g In a Conspiracy Draft game, each conspiracy card is controlled by its owner. See rule 905.5.
  • 109.5. The words “you” and “your” on an object refer to the object’s controller, its would-be controller (if a player is attempting to play, cast, or activate it), or its owner (if it has no controller). For a static ability, this is the current controller of the object it’s on. For an activated ability, this is the player who activated the ability. For a triggered ability, this is the controller of the object when the ability triggered, unless it’s a delayed triggered ability. To determine the controller of a delayed triggered ability, see rules 603.7d–f.

Characteristic

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

Characteristics

Information that defines an object. See rule 109.3.