Mayhem

Mayhem
Keyword Ability
Type	Static (1st ability) Triggered (2nd ability)
Introduced	Through the Omenpaths 1
Last used	Marvel's Spider-Man
Reminder Text	Mayhem [cost] (You may cast this card from your graveyard for [cost] if you discarded it this turn. Timing rules still apply.)
Scryfall Statistics
cards

Mayhem is a keyword ability on spells that allows a player to cast that spell for an alternate cost if the card is discarded that turn. It is a cleaner version of Madness.

Description

Mayhem is an alternate cost that can appear on any type and color. It first appeared in Marvel's Spider-Man associated with Spider-Man's rogues' gallery and its associated Universes Within set Through the Omenpaths 1. While it has similarities to madness, it has three major differences:

• The cards are put directly into the graveyard and trigger abilities for doing so, rather than being discarded into exile;
• The cards do not have to be cast immediately;
• The cards still follow normal timing restrictions, unlike how madness allows them to be cast whenever they're discarded.

Rules

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (November 14, 2025—Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Mayhem

A keyword ability that allows you to play cards you discarded this turn from your graveyard for an alternative cost. See rule 702.187, “Mayhem.”

From the Comprehensive Rules (November 14, 2025—Avatar: The Last Airbender)

• 702.187. Mayhem
  • 702.187a Mayhem is a static ability that functions while the card with mayhem is in a player’s graveyard.
  • 702.187b “Mayhem [cost]” means “As long as you discarded this card this turn, you may cast it from your graveyard by paying [cost] rather than paying its mana cost.” Casting a spell using its mayhem ability follows the rules for paying alternative costs in rules 601.2b and 601.2f–h.
  • 702.187c “Mayhem” without a cost means “You may play this card from your graveyard if you discarded it this turn.”

Rulings

From the Release Notes for Marvel's Spider-Man (September 5, 2025)

• Mayhem represents an alternative cost that can be paid to cast a spell from your graveyard if you discarded the card with mayhem that turn. You must pay any additional costs the spell has.
• You must follow all normal timing rules when casting a spell with mayhem. For example, you can't cast a creature card with mayhem you couldn't normally cast during an opponent's turn, even if you discard that card during an opponent's turn.

Examples

Example

Electro's Bolt
Sorcery
Electro's Bolt deals 4 damage to target creature.
Mayhem (You may cast this card from your graveyard for if you discarded it this turn. Timing rules still apply.)

See also

• Madness