Speed
| Speed | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mechanic | |
| Introduced | Aetherdrift |
| Last used | Aetherdrift |
| Scryfall Statistics | |
Speed is a trait that players can have. It was introduced in Aetherdrift and is associated with the Start your engines! mechanic.[1] When your speed is 4 you reached Max Speed.
Description
The first time in a game a player controls a permanent with Start your engines!, that player's speed becomes 1. This happens immediately as a state-based action and cannot be responded to.
Players with at least 1 speed control a triggered ability: "Whenever one or more opponents lose life during your turn, if your speed is less than 4, increase your speed by 1. This ability triggers only once each turn." This ability has no source. It will continue to trigger for the rest of the game, or until that player's speed is 4 or greater (due to the intervening "if" clause), regardless of whether the player controls a permanent with Start your engines! or any other abilities referencing speed.[1]
Max speed
Once your speed is 4, you've achieved "max speed," and your speed can't go any higher. Some cards have abilities that care if 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 (September 19, 2025—Marvel's Spider-Man)
- Speed
- Speed is a value that a player can have. See rule 702.179, “Start Your Engines!”
From the Comprehensive Rules (September 19, 2025—Marvel's Spider-Man)
- 704.5z If a player controls a permanent with start your engines! and that player has no speed, that player’s speed becomes 1. See rule 702.179, “Start Your Engines!”
Rulings
- Start your engines! isn't a triggered ability. Increasing your speed to 1 is something that happens as a state-based action as soon as you control a permanent with the ability.[2]
- This includes gaining control of a permanent with the ability that another player controls.
- Your speed doesn't change until a spell or ability says so, such as the inherent triggered ability that cares about opponents losing life during your turn.
- Losing control of permanents with start your engines! doesn't affect your speed.
- Each player tracks their speed (or lack thereof) separately. Increasing your speed has no effect on whether another player has speed.
- If an effect needs to know what a player's speed is and that player doesn't have a speed, their speed is considered 0.
Cards that reduce speed
- Spikeshell Harrier (reduces an opponent's speed by 1 if that player has the highest speed)
References
- ↑ a b c 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.