Divvy

Divvy is the nickname used in R&D for an otherwise unnamed mechanic that was first used for a group of cards in Invasion.

Description

Divvy cards involve one or more players creating piles from ("divvying up") some set of cards, and those players' opponents making a choice regarding those piles.

Fact or Fiction is the most prolific of the original set, being an exceptionally powerful draw effect. In contrast to the others in the set, the opponent made the piles and the caster made the final choice. The wording and five cards meant that the caster can always get three cards at minimum but also can get the most important card of the five if it's warranted, and the opponent had to navigate the unknown of whether the caster was looking for raw material or one particular card. It further inspired many later cards such as Gifts Ungiven and Truth or Tale, but most of which let the opponent have the final say of what they get. These are termed below as "Fact or Fiction-likes" that reveal cards from the top of the library, where both players have to assess the cards after the spell is cast. One of the quicker ways to minimize the power is making the number of cards even, often four, which largely removes the question of card advantage and focuses on card quality. Some like Fortune's Favor introduced the face-down pile. In this way, they have elements of being a punisher, where the power of rate is diluted by the opponent's influence.

Although the term "divvy" hadn't yet been applied, Phyrexian Portal from Alliances is functionally a divvy card. Murmurs from Beyond is a lighter version as the opponent chooses one card to remove of three. In addition to those, divvy cards have been printed in Time Spiral, Shards of Alara, Magic 2012, Innistrad, Return to Ravnica, Theros, Shadows over Innistrad and Theros Beyond Death. Divvy does not have the space to support being a set mechanic, but it has enough to see regular new cards.

Piles have also been used for non-divvy cards: Camouflage and Raging River

List of Divvy cards

Fact or Fiction-likes

• Atris, Oracle of Half-Truths
• Brilliant Ultimatum
• Choose Your Demise (Scheme)
• Curator of Destinies
• Epiphany at the Drownyard
• Fact or Fiction
• Fortune's Favor
• Hostile Negotiations
• Intrude on the Mind
• Jace, Architect of Thought
• Murmurs from Beyond
• Sauron's Ransom
• Sphinx of Clear Skies
• Sphinx of Uthuun
• Steam Augury
• Truth or Tale
• Unesh, Criosphinx Sovereign

Others

• Bend or Break
• Boneyard Parley
• Burning-Rune Demon
• Death or Glory
• Do or Die
• Ecological Appreciation
• Emergent Ultimatum
• Fight or Flight
• Gifts Ungiven
• Intuition
• Liliana of the Veil
• Make an Example
• Manifold Insights
• Phyrexian Portal
• Realms Uncharted
• Split the Spoils
  • A-Split the Spoils
• Stand or Fall
• Threats Undetected

Rules

From the Comprehensive Rules (September 19, 2025—Marvel's Spider-Man)

• 700.3. Some effects cause objects to be temporarily grouped into piles.
  • 700.3a Each of the affected objects must be put into exactly one of those piles, unless the effect specifies otherwise.
  • 700.3b Each object in a pile is still an individual object. The pile is not an object.
  • 700.3c Objects grouped into piles don’t leave the zone they’re currently in. If cards in a graveyard are split into piles, the order of the graveyard must be maintained.

    Example: Fact or Fiction reads, “Reveal the top five cards of your library. An opponent separates those cards into two piles. Put one pile into your hand and the other into your graveyard.” While an opponent is separating the revealed cards into piles, they’re still in their owner’s library. They don’t leave the library until they’re put into their owner’s hand or graveyard.

  • 700.3d A pile can contain zero or more objects.