Extort
| Extort | |
|---|---|
| Keyword Ability | |
| Type | Triggered |
| Introduced | Gatecrash |
| Last used | Modern Horizons 3 |
| Reminder Text |
Extort (Whenever you cast a spell, you may pay  If you do, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain that much life.) |
| Storm Scale | 6[1] |
| Statistics |
14 cards  28.6%  35.7% 35.7% |
| Scryfall Search | |
| keyword:"Extort" | |
Extort is a keyword introduced in Gatecrash, wherein it was the Orzhov Syndicate guild mechanic.[2]
Description
Extort allows players to pay additional or for spells they cast and create a small life-draining effect. The mechanic was designed by Shawn Main who wasn't actually on the design team for Gatecrash. The cost being hybrid mana happened late in the process.[3]
History
Extort was also featured in Dragon's Maze and appeared as a one-off in supplemental sets, such as Commander 2019, New Capenna Commander, Ravnica: Clue Edition and Modern Horizons 3.
Rules
From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)
- Extort
- A keyword ability that lets you gain life and have opponents lose life whenever you cast a spell. See rule 702.101, “Extort.”
From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)
- 702.101. Extort
- 702.101a Extort is a triggered ability. “Extort” means “Whenever you cast a spell, you may pay {W/B}. If you do, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain life equal to the total life lost this way.”
- 702.101b If a permanent has multiple instances of extort, each triggers separately.
Rulings
- You may pay a maximum of one time for each extort triggered ability. You decide whether to pay when the ability resolves.
- The amount of life you gain is based on the total amount of life lost, not necessarily the number of opponents you have. For example, if your opponent's life total can't change (perhaps because that player controls Platinum Emperion), you won't gain any life.
- The extort ability doesn't target any player.
- The hybrid white-black mana symbol does not change the card's color identity.
Examples
Example
Treasury Thrull 
Creature — Thrull
4/4
Extort (Whenever you cast a spell, you may pay . If you do, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain that much life.)
Whenever Treasury Thrull attacks, you may return target artifact, creature, or enchantment card from your graveyard to your hand.
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 2, 2016). "Storm Scale: Ravnica and Return to Ravnica". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 14, 2013). "Gatecrashing the Party, Part 3". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 22, 2017). "I would like some info on the mechanic that the first deck I built was based on: Extort". Blogatog. Tumblr.
