Reading a card
The cost, the type and the text tell you what a card does and when you can play it.
5 min read
After this guide you can
- Find the mana value of a card from its cost.
- Name the card type and say when you can cast it.
Where to look
- 1Name. The top left corner.
- 2Mana cost. The top right corner. A number is generic mana. A colored symbol demands that exact color.
- 3Art. The picture. It never changes what the card does.
- 4Type line. Under the art. It names the card type and the subtype.
- 5Set symbol. The right of the type line. Its color names the rarity.
- 6Rules text. The box under the type line. The italic line at the bottom is story and does nothing.
- 7Power and toughness. The bottom right corner of a creature. Power is the damage it deals. Toughness is the damage it survives.
Kree Commandos, Marvel Super Heroes, illustrated by Aaron J. Riley. Card images from Scryfall. Magic: The Gathering is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast. Marvel and all related character names are trademarks of MARVEL. BinderLoot is unofficial Fan Content and is not approved or endorsed by Wizards or by Marvel.
A Magic card prints the same information in the same place every time. Learn these places and you can read any card in the game.
The mana cost of a card is printed in its upper right corner.
CR 202.1
The type line, under the illustration, names the card type, such as creature, instant, sorcery or land, and any subtypes.
CR 205.1, 300.1
A creature card prints its power and toughness in the lower right corner. Power is the damage it deals in combat, and toughness is the damage that destroys it.
CR 208.1
Mana value
A.I.M. ScientistsCreature — Human Scientist Villain · 3/3
A.I.M. Scientists, Marvel Super Heroes, illustrated by Bartek Fedyczak. Card images from Scryfall. Magic: The Gathering is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast. Marvel and all related character names are trademarks of MARVEL. BinderLoot is unofficial Fan Content and is not approved or endorsed by Wizards or by Marvel.
A.I.M. Scientists costs {3}. The 3 asks for three mana of any color, and the asks for one blue mana. Its mana value is 3 + 1 = 4.
The blue symbol in the cost also makes it a blue card. BinderLoot uses the mana value to measure the curve of your deck.
The mana value of a card is the total amount of mana in its mana cost, with each colored symbol counted as one.
CR 202.3
A card has the colors of the mana symbols in its mana cost. The frame does not decide the color.
CR 105.1, 105.2
The card type says when you can cast it
Agent of AtlasCreature — Human Spy Hero · 2/2
Wrath of GodSorcery
Lightning StrikeInstant
Agent of Atlas, Marvel Super Heroes, illustrated by Michael Machira. Wrath of God, Commander Masters, illustrated by Willian Murai. Lightning Strike, Marvel Super Heroes, illustrated by Toni Infante. Card images from Scryfall. Magic: The Gathering is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast. Marvel and all related character names are trademarks of MARVEL. BinderLoot is unofficial Fan Content and is not approved or endorsed by Wizards or by Marvel.
- Creature, sorcery, artifact and enchantment: in your own main phase, when no other spell is waiting to happen.
- Instant: at any time you could act, also in the turn of your opponent and in combat.
- Land: you do not cast a land, you play it. The next guide shows how.
A sorcery, a creature and every other permanent spell can be cast only in your own main phase, while the stack is empty.
CR 307.1, 302.1, 117.1a
An instant can be cast at any time you have priority, including in the opponent's turn and in combat.
CR 304.1, 117.1a
Worked example: reading Hour of Defeat
Hour of DefeatInstant
Hour of Defeat, Marvel Super Heroes, illustrated by Jake Murray. Card images from Scryfall. Magic: The Gathering is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast. Marvel and all related character names are trademarks of MARVEL. BinderLoot is unofficial Fan Content and is not approved or endorsed by Wizards or by Marvel.
- 1Look at the upper right corner. The cost is {3}, so the mana value is 4 and the card is black.
- 2Look at the type line. It reads Instant, so you can cast it at any time you could act, also in the turn of your opponent.
- 3Read the text box. It destroys a creature that you choose, then lets you surveil 1.
- 4Look at the lower right corner. It is empty, because only a creature has power and toughness.
What the set symbol tells you
The symbol on the right of the type line names the set. Its color names how rare the card is. Rarity says nothing about how strong a card is.
The color of the expansion symbol gives the rarity of the card in its set: black for common, silver for uncommon, gold for rare and red-orange for mythic rare.
CR 206.2
Oracle text
The text printed on an old card can differ from the rules the card follows today.
BinderLoot shows the Oracle text on every card page. Play the Oracle text, not the printed text.
The Oracle text is the current official wording of a card, and a card follows it, not its printed text.
CR 108.1
Your turn: read Wrath of God
- Wrath of GodSorcery
Wrath of God, Commander Masters, illustrated by Willian Murai. Card images from Scryfall. Magic: The Gathering is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast. BinderLoot is unofficial Fan Content and is not approved or endorsed by Wizards or by Marvel.
Wrath of God costs {2}. Its type line reads Sorcery.