A.2 - Activated Abilities


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A.2.1- Activated abilities are written as ": " when the ability is on a permanent in play, or on a card which is in a zone other than "in play" that also has text such as "Play this ability only if is in ." [CompRules 1999/04/23]

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A.2.2- The cost is paid and the ability is placed on the stack (see Rule T.2) when the ability is announced (see Rule T.4). The effect happens when the ability resolves (see Rule T.6). [CompRules 1999/04/23]

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A.2.3- Activated abilities may only be used while the permanent is in play unless otherwise stated. See Rule A.1.3 [CompRules 1999/04/23]

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A.2.4- Only a permanent's controller can play its activated ability unless the card specifically says otherwise. [CompRules 1999/04/23]

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A.2.5- Once activated, the ability exists independently of the card or token which generated it. It exists on the stack as a pseudospell. Destruction or removal of the source after that time will not affect the ability. [CompRules 1999/04/23]

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A.2.6- If the ability says that its source does something, then the characteristics of the source at the time the ability resolves are used. For example, "Prodigal Sorcerer deals 1 damage to target creature or player" is an ability that will have the Sorcerer deal 1 damage. [CompRules 1999/04/23] If the source is not in play at the time the ability resolves, use its last known characteristics. [CompRules 1999/04/23]

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A.2.7- A restriction on the use of an ability continues to apply if the permanent changes controllers. For example, "No more than {B}{B} can be spent each turn" would allow a total of {B}{B} among all players, and "Play this ability only once each turn" would only allow one player to play it each turn. [CompRules 1999/04/23]

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A.2.8- When the ability is placed on the stack (see Rule T.2), it is placed on as a pseudospell, with a copy of its source's text, color, and controller. [CompRules 1999/04/23]

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A.2.Ruling.1- Each use of an ability is separate. You cannot pay the cost multiple times in a single use. [Duelist Magazine #12, Page 26] For example, you cannot pay {B}{B} to have Pestilence do 2 points of damage. You can pay {B} twice to have Pestilence do 1 damage two separate times.

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