Modal/Charms
A Charm is a modal instant spell with three possible results of which one can be selected. Charms usually appear in horizontal cycles.[1]
Description
So far there have been charms at common that cost a single colored mana, charms at uncommon that cost three different colored mana, and charms at uncommon costing two colored mana.[2] According to Mark Rosewater in 2014, players like these Charms and he was pretty sure they would see them again (knowing that they would appear in Khans of Tarkir).[3] The multicolor modes are arranged in order of the mana cost, left-to-right, for each color's ability.
The term "Charm" came from the Mirage design team, referencing a fantasy term for a small object with tiny amounts of magic. The name has become a staple for this type of effect, but the names now imply a small magical effect rather than a magical object.[4]
Charming Prince from Throne of Eldraine and Charming Scoundrel from Wilds of Eldraine, creatures with a trimodal enters-the-battlefield ability, are nods to the charms.[5]
Charm cycles
Cycle name | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mirage charms | Ivory Charm | Sapphire Charm | Ebony Charm | Chaos Charm | Seedling Charm |
Visions charms | Hope Charm | Vision Charm | Funeral Charm | Hearth Charm | Emerald Charm |
Funeral Charm has been reprinted in the timeshifted portion of Time Spiral without its counterparts. | |||||
Onslaught charms | Piety Charm | Trickery Charm | Misery Charm | Fever Charm | Vitality Charm |
Planar Chaos charms | Dawn Charm | Piracy Charm | Midnight Charm | Fury Charm | Evolution Charm |
A cycle with exceptions as only Dawn, Fury, and Evolution Charm cost 1C, while Piracy Charm is a timeshifted mirrored pair to Funeral Charm.[6] The first mode of each charm is an in-color pie effect, while the second mode is a less common ability still within that color and the third mode is off-color compared to the usual color pie (keeping with the modified color pie theme for Planar Chaos). | |||||
Unknown Event charms | Theros Charm | Ulgrotha Charm | Innistrad Charm | Tarkir Charm | Kamigawa Charm |
During the Unknown Event in Minneapolis, this cycle of charms were named for five different Planes. The modes of each charm were three different same-color spells that fit within the setting of each plane the charms are associated with. As playtest cards, these cards do not have any official printings. | |||||
Cycle name | |||||
Return to Ravnica block charms | Azorius Charm | Dimir Charm | Rakdos Charm | Gruul Charm | Selesnya Charm |
All guild charms were reprinted in their respective guild kit except for Simic. The third mode is a hybrid-mana option. | |||||
Cycle name | |||||
Return to Ravnica block charms | Orzhov Charm | Izzet Charm | Golgari Charm | Boros Charm | Simic Charm |
All guild charms were reprinted in their respective guild kit except for Simic. The third mode is a hybrid-mana option. | |||||
Cycle name | |||||
Planeshift charms | Treva's Charm | Dromar's Charm | Crosis's Charm | Darigaaz's Charm | Rith's Charm |
Also called Dragon Charms as they are named after a cycle of legendary dragons. | |||||
Shards of Alara charms | Bant Charm | Esper Charm | Grixis Charm | Jund Charm | Naya Charm |
Streets of New Capenna charms[1] | Brokers Charm | Obscura Charm | Maestros Charm | Riveteers Charm | Cabaretti Charm |
Cycle name | |||||
Khans of Tarkir charms | Abzan Charm | Jeskai Charm | Sultai Charm | Mardu Charm | Temur Charm |
First cycle that uses the new bullet-point layout for modal spells. |
Mega-mega cycle | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Archmaster Charms | Archmage's Charm (Modern Horizons) | Archdruid's Charm (Murders at Karlov Manor) | |||
A mega-mega cycle of Charms that cost MMM. Started with Archmage's Charm in Modern Horizons and continued with Archdruid's Charm in Murders at Karlov Manor.[7] |
Non-cycles
Other charms
- Warping Wail (Oath of the Gatewatch)[8]
- Blessed Alliance (Eldritch Moon)
- Break Ties (Modern Horizons 2)
- Collective Effort (Eldritch Moon)
- Light of Hope (Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths)
- Thraben Charm (Modern Horizons 3)
- Inscription of Insight (Zendikar Rising)
- Insidious Will (Kaladesh)
- Reverse the Polarity (Doctor Who)
- Collective Brutality (Eldritch Moon)
- Inscription of Ruin (Zendikar Rising)
- Sheoldred's Edict (Phyrexia: All Will Be One)
- Umezawa's Charm (Modern Horizons)
- Collective Defiance (Eldritch Moon)
- Savage Alliance (Eldritch Moon)
- Smash to Dust (Dominaria United)
- Collective Resistance (Modern Horizons 3)
- Growth Charm (Mystery Booster/Test cards)
- Inscription of Abundance (Zendikar Rising)
- Return to Nature (War of the Spark)
- Angrath's Rampage (War of the Spark)
- Hull Breach (Planeshift)
- Evil Boros Charm (Mystery Booster/Test cards)
Charm Creatures
- Charming Prince (Throne of Eldraine)
- Dawnbringer Cleric (Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate)
- Ojutai Exemplars (Dragons of Tarkir)
- Aether Channeler (Dominaria United)
- Djinn of the Fountain (Dominaria United)
- Callous Bloodmage (Strixhaven: School of Mages)
- Lord Skitter's Butcher (Wilds of Eldraine)
- Charming Scoundrel (Wilds of Eldraine)
- Farid, Enterprising Salvager (The Brothers' War Commander)
- Cleanup Crew (Streets of New Capenna)
- Elder Gargaroth (Core Set 2021)
- Gala Greeters (Streets of New Capenna)
- Knight of Autumn (Guilds of Ravnica)
- Gnostro, Voice of the Crags (Commander Legends)
References
- ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (April 18, 2022). "Word on the Streets of New Capenna, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 17, 2012). "Return on Investment, Part 3". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 03, 2014). "Any chance we'll see charms again?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 13, 2015). "Maro's Command". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 3, 2023). "Is CHARMing Prince an intentional reference to the 3 mode charm spells?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Magic Arcana (February 6, 2007). "Planar Chaos Charms". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 29, 2024). "Only Murders That We're Building, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 10, 2016). "Why did you make a 2 mana, 3 choice instant without charm in the name?". Blogatog. Tumblr.