Reminder text

Reminder text is parenthesized text printed in italics that follows a keyword or some other ability that might be confusing to players. Reminder text summarizes the basic function of keywords, or provides other information on how the rules affect the preceding ability.

Description

While it is intended to illustrate the rules to players, reminder text does not define the actual mechanics gameplay, and though it may illustrate the general meaning of a keyword, it is often not completely accurate, sacrificing technical accuracy for ease of understanding. This can have some interesting implications; for example, changing the reminder text of Fear to 'this creature cannot be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or green creatures' with Mind Bend does not actually change the ability to reflect the new reminder text. The Unhinged card Duh destroys creatures with reminder text.

Reminder text was introduced in the Mirage set. The first Core Set to feature reminder text was Fifth Edition. Some players thought of this as 'dumbing down' the game. This was expanded upon when in the Eighth Edition even flying gained reminder text. Since then, most keywords printed on cards in a Core Set are followed by reminder text. However, in Tenth Edition, foil cards don't have reminder text, and may feature flavor text instead.

The rare Odyssey artifact Charmed Pendant is one of a handful of cards that uses an example in its reminder text.

Example

Unseen Walker
Creature — Dryad
1/1
Forestwalk (This creature can’t be blocked as long as defending player controls a Forest.)
: Target creature gains forestwalk until end of turn.

Rules

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

Reminder Text

Parenthetical text in italics in the text box of a card that summarizes a rule that applies to that card, but is not actually rules text and has no effect on play. See rule 207.2.