What does the arrow mean on MTG?

What Does the Arrow Mean on MTG?

In the world of Magic: The Gathering, symbols and markings are an essential part of the game. From mana symbols to loyalty counters, understanding what each symbol means is crucial for playing the game correctly. One of the most common symbols in MTG is the arrow symbol. But what does it mean?

What is the Arrow Symbol?

The arrow symbol is a simple, yet important part of many MTG cards. It is typically represented by an arrow pointing either up or down. The up arrow indicates that the loyalty counter should be increased, while the down arrow indicates that it should be decreased.

How is the Arrow Symbol Used?

The arrow symbol is commonly used on planeswalker cards, which have a loyalty counter that starts at 0. When a planeswalker is cast, its loyalty counter is set to its starting loyalty value. From there, the player can use the card’s abilities to increase or decrease its loyalty counter.

What Happens When the Arrow Symbol is Used?

When an ability or spell is used to increase a planeswalker’s loyalty counter, the up arrow is used to indicate the number of loyalty counters to be added. For example, if a planeswalker ability says "Gain 2 loyalty counters," the up arrow would be used to indicate the number 2.

Conversely, when a planeswalker’s loyalty counter is decreased, the down arrow is used to indicate the number of loyalty counters to be removed. For example, if a planeswalker ability says "Lose 1 loyalty counter," the down arrow would be used to indicate the number 1.

How to Interpret the Arrow Symbol

Here are some key points to keep in mind when interpreting the arrow symbol:

• Up Arrow: Always increases the loyalty counter by the number indicated.
• Down Arrow: Always decreases the loyalty counter by the number indicated.
• Numbers: Always pay attention to the number following the arrow symbol, as it indicates how many loyalty counters to add or remove.
• Planeswalker Abilities: The arrow symbol is most commonly used on planeswalker abilities, but it can also be used on other cards.

Example Cards

Here are a few examples of cards that use the arrow symbol:

In the example above, Chandra’s ability uses the up arrow to increase her loyalty counter by 2, while Nicol Bolas’s ability uses the down arrow to decrease the loyalty counter by 2.

Conclusion

The arrow symbol is a crucial part of the Magic: The Gathering game, especially when it comes to planeswalker cards. By understanding what the arrow symbol means, you can better understand how to use your planeswalker cards and increase your chances of winning. Remember to always pay attention to the number following the arrow symbol, as it indicates how many loyalty counters to add or remove.