Part 5

Learn about Magic: The Gathering Arena mechanics like Sacrifice, Scry, Shroud, Sorcery, Soulshift, Stack, Summoning Sickness, Thinning, Token, Trample, Tribute, Tutor, Unblockability, Unearth, Undying, Unleash, Vanishing, Vigilance, and Weenie.

Glossary:

• REGENERATION: A state-based action where a creature can prevent its destruction. Examples include Asphodel Wanderer and Drudge Skeletons.
• SACRIFICE: A type of removal effect where cards are sent to the graveyard as a cost (e.g., Corpse Blockade) or through an effect (e.g., Tribute to Hunger). This is distinct from a "destroy" effect and is often shortened to "sac".
• SCRY: A keyword ability allowing owners to look at the top cards of their library, up to a specified number (e.g., "Scry 2"), and then reorder them.
• SHROUD: A keyword ability preventing cards with shroud from being targeted by spells or abilities, even by their owners. This differs from the Hexproof keyword.
• SORCERY: A card type that can only be cast during one's own main phase. Examples include Vapor Snag (a CMC 1 bouncer that causes the target's owner to lose 1 life) and Void Snare (which can bounce most permanents, not just creatures, for the same cost).
• SOULSHIFT: An enemy-only keyword ability. When creatures with Soulshift die, they can add a Spirit card from their graveyard to the hand with a converted mana cost (CMC) equal to or less than the Soulshift value. Nightsoil Kami has Soulshift 5, allowing it to fetch a Spirit with a CMC of 5 or less.
• STACK: When spells or abilities are used, they are placed on the "stack" before resolving, allowing players to respond. The topmost (most recent) ability on the stack resolves first.
• SUMMONING SICKNESS: Creatures that haven't been continuously controlled since the beginning of the most recent turn have "summoning sickness," preventing them from attacking or using activated abilities that require tapping. Creatures with the Haste keyword bypass this.
• THINNING: The practice of removing cards from the library to increase the chances of drawing specific cards. Squadron Hawk, which can fetch three other Squadron Hawks upon entering the battlefield, is an example.
• TOKEN: Generated creatures represented as tokens. They are not considered "cards" in the same way as those in the library. If a token is destroyed, it goes to the graveyard briefly before disappearing. If bounced to hand or exiled, it also disappears.
• TRAMPLE: A keyword ability. When a creature with Trample is blocked, if its power is higher than the blocker's toughness, the excess damage is dealt to the player. For example, an 8/8 creature blocked by a 0/4 would deal 4 damage to the owner.
• TRIBUTE: A mechanic where a card entering the battlefield has a "Tribute X" cost. The opponent must choose whether the card enters with X +1/+1 counters or faces a secondary effect if tribute is not paid.
• TUTOR: The ability to search one's library for any card and put it into one's hand. This is a powerful searchability mechanic, named after the card "Demonic Tutor."
• UNBLOCKABILITY: Cards that state "X can't be blocked" prevent blockers from being assigned to them during an attack. Triton Shorestrider is an example.
• UNEARTH: A keyword ability for cards in the graveyard. Paying the unearth cost brings the creature into play with haste, and it is exiled at the end of the turn or if it leaves the battlefield.
• UNDYING: A keyword ability. Cards with Undying return to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter when they leave the battlefield without one. Examples include Howlgeist, Young Wolf, and Butcher Ghoul. If an Undying creature dies with a counter from another source, it won't trigger.
• UNLEASH: An enemy-only keyword ability. Creatures with Unleash can enter the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter but cannot block as long as they have a +1/+1 counter.
• VANISHING: A keyword ability. Permanents with Vanishing enter the battlefield with a set number of time counters. One counter is removed during each upkeep, and the permanent is sacrificed when no counters remain. No player-available cards have this ability.
• VIGILANCE: A keyword ability. Cards with Vigilance do not tap when they attack, allowing them to be used as blockers on the next turn. They can still be tapped by other effects.
• WEENIE: Refers to any creature with low power and toughness, often easy to deploy.