Max speed
| Max speed | |
|---|---|
| Keyword Ability | |
| Type | Static |
| Introduced | Aetherdrift |
| Last used | Aetherdrift |
| Reminder Text | No official reminder text |
| Scryfall Statistics | |
Max speed is a keyword ability that grants an ability to the permanent or card it’s on only if that permanent’s controller (or that card’s owner, if it isn’t on the battlefield) has a speed of 4.
Description
Max speed is reached once your speed is 4 and your speed can't go any higher. Most cards with "Start your engines!" have abilities that are active once you have max speed.
These abilities are noted with "Max speed — [Ability]." That means that as long as you have max speed, meaning your speed is 4, the permanent has the stated ability.[1]
Rules
From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (November 14, 2025—Avatar: The Last Airbender)
- Max Speed
- 1. A player has max speed if their speed is 4. See rule 702.179, “Start Your Engines!”
- 2. A keyword ability that grants an ability to the permanent or card it’s on only if that permanent’s controller (or that card’s owner, if it isn’t on the battlefield) has a speed of 4. See rule 702.178, “Max Speed.”
From the Comprehensive Rules (November 14, 2025—Avatar: The Last Airbender)
- 702.178. Max Speed
- 702.178a A max speed ability is a special kind of static ability. “Max speed — [Ability]” means “As long as your speed is 4, this object has ‘[Ability].’” See rule 702.179, “Start Your Engines!”
- 702.178b If an ability granted by a max speed ability states which zones it functions from, the max speed ability that grants that ability functions from those zones. (See rule 113.6c.)
Rulings
From the Release Notes for Aetherdrift (January 31, 2025)[2]
- If the granted ability functions in a zone other than the battlefield, the max speed ability does too.
From Matt Tabak on Bluesky. (January 31, 2025)[3]
- If a card has a max speed activated ability, and you have max speed, the card will have that activated ability in every zone.
- Cards that gain activated abilities, like Agatha’s Soul Cauldron, can gain that ability at max speed.
References
- ↑ Matt Tabak (January 21, 2025). "Aetherdrift Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Jess Dunks (January 31, 2025). "Aetherdrift Release Notes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Matt Tabak (January 31, 2025). "If a card has a max speed activated ability, and you have max speed, ...". Bluesky.