Cleave
| Cleave | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Keyword Ability | |
| Type |
Static (1st ability) Static (2nd ability) |
| Introduced | Innistrad: Crimson Vow |
| Last used | Innistrad: Crimson Vow |
| Reminder Text | Cleave (You may cast this spell for its cleave cost. If you do, remove the words in square brackets.) |
| Storm Scale | 7[1] |
| Statistics |
12 cards  16.7%  41.7%  25%  8.3%  8.3% |
| Scryfall Search | |
| keyword:"Cleave" | |
Cleave is a keyword ability introduced in Innistrad: Crimson Vow. It can only be found on instants and sorceries, offering an alternative cost.[2]
Description
Cleave means “to cut”. The mechanic cuts text.[3] The introduction of cleave was foreshadowed in the 2020 Mystery Booster test card Graveyard Dig, which was first concepted by Linus Ulyssus Hamilton during the Great Designer Search 3.[4][5][6]
When casting a card with cleave, you can cast it for its mana cost as normal.[7] If you do, the spell's effect is processed as normal. That is, every single word of its rules text is followed, just like you'd expect.
But if you opt to pay the cleave cost rather than the mana cost, you can ignore all the words in brackets. This will change some key aspect of the effect. For most of them, cleaving the spell deletes the qualifying adjectives, broadening the range of impact.
No matter how you cast a card that has cleave, the resulting spell's color and mana value are both based on the spell's mana cost. Specifically, Dig Up is a green spell with mana value 1, even if you choose to cast it for its cleave cost (
).
History
Ari Nieh designed Cleave in Streets of New Capenna exploratory design. Called "Misconduct," it was tested as the mechanic for the Brokers, who were initially concepted as corrupt police officers.[8] As it didn’t end up in the final set, Mark Gottlieb suggested it to Adam Prosak for Crimson Vow’s use.[9][10]
Rules
From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (February 7, 2025—Aetherdrift)
- Cleave
- A keyword ability that allows you to pay an alternative cost to remove some of a spell’s text. See rule 702.148, “Cleave.”
From the Comprehensive Rules (February 7, 2025—Aetherdrift)
- 702.148. Cleave
- 702.148a Cleave is a keyword that represents two static abilities that function while a spell with cleave is on the stack. “Cleave [cost]” means “You may cast this spell by paying [cost] rather than paying its mana cost” and “If this spell’s cleave cost was paid, change its text by removing all text found within square brackets in the spell’s rules text.” Casting a spell for its cleave cost follows the rules for paying alternative costs in rules 601.2b and 601.2f–h.
- 702.148b Cleave’s second ability is a text-changing effect. See rule 612, “Text-Changing Effects.”
Rulings
- If you cast a spell for its cleave cost, that spell doesn't have any of the text in square brackets while it's on the stack.[11]
- A cleave cost is an alternative cost that's paid instead of the spell's mana cost. Casting a spell for its cleave cost doesn't change the spell's mana value.
- You can't cast a spell for both its cleave cost and another alternative cost. For example, if an effect gives an Alchemist's Retrieval in your graveyard a flashback cost of , you can't cast it from your graveyard for its cleave cost.
- If an effect allows you to "cast a spell without paying its mana cost," you can't cast that spell for its cleave cost.
Examples
Example
Dig Up
Sorcery
Cleave (You may cast this spell for its cleave cost. If you do, remove the words in square brackets.)
Search your library for a [basic land] card, [reveal it,] put it into your hand, then shuffle.
Multicleave
The Mystery Booster 2 test card Cleaver Blow introduced "Multicleave" (You may pay an additional any number of times as you cast this spell. For each time you do, choose a paired set of square brackets and remove the words in between.)
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (2022-02-11). "Now that VOW has run it’s course, where is cleave on the storm scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 8, 2021). "From Vow On, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 31, 2021). "Cleave as a name is very confusing i would...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Gavin Verhey (November 14, 2019). "Unraveling the Mystery Booster". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (March 9, 2018). "Great Designer Search 3 Finalist – Linus Ulyssus Hamilton". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2018-03-09.
- ↑ 10 Sneaky Easter Eggs on Mystery Booster Playtest Cards! (Video). Good Morning Magic. YouTube (August 20, 2021).
- ↑ Matt Tabak (October 28, 2021). "Innistrad: Crimson Vow Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ The 20 Worst Mechanics of All Time (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (October 28, 2024).
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 28, 2021). "I just want to say that i love cleave ive been...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 1, 2021). "Why is cleave on innistrad why does it need to be...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast] (November 10, 2021). "Innistrad: Crimson Vow Release Notes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.