What’s considered a permanent MTG?

What’s Considered a Permanent MTG?

In Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a permanent is a card or token that remains on the battlefield, influencing the game state, unless it’s destroyed, exiled, or removed from the game. In this article, we’ll explore what constitutes a permanent in MTG, its types, and how it affects gameplay.

Definition of a Permanent

According to the MTG rules, a permanent is defined as a card or token that "becomes a permanent as it enters the battlefield" (Rule 307.1). This means that any card or token that enters the battlefield, except for creatures, becomes a permanent. A permanent can be an artifact, creature, enchantment, land, or planeswalker card.

Types of Permanents

There are several types of permanents in MTG:

• Artifact Permanent: These are cards that are not creatures, but still exist on the battlefield, such as equipment, toys, or artifacts.
• Creature Permanent: These are cards that have a power and toughness value and can attack or block.
• Enchantment Permanent: These are cards that are attached to a player or a permanent, and provide ongoing effects.
• Land Permanent: These are cards that are used to generate mana, the magical energy needed to cast spells.
• Planeswalker Permanent: These are cards that are powerful, legendary creatures from other planes, with unique abilities and powers.

Key Characteristics of Permanents

Permanents have some key characteristics that affect gameplay:

• Remains on the battlefield: Permanents stay on the battlefield, influencing the game state, unless they’re destroyed, exiled, or removed from the game.
• Can be attacked: Permanents can be attacked and destroyed by opponents’ creatures.
• Can be blocked: Permanents can be blocked by opponents’ creatures.
• Can have abilities: Permanents can have abilities, such as flying, trample, or destruction.
• Can be manipulated: Permanents can be manipulated by spells and abilities, such as enchanting, equipping, or sacrificing.

Noncreature Permanents

Noncreature permanents are any permanent that is not a creature, such as lands, artifacts, enchantments, or planeswalkers. These permanents don’t have power and toughness values, and can’t attack or block. Noncreature permanents are still considered permanents and can be destroyed, exiled, or removed from the game.

Token Permanents

Token permanents are markers used to represent any permanent that isn’t represented by a card. These tokens are created by spells or abilities, and represent a permanent that exists on the battlefield. Token permanents are treated as permanents and can be destroyed, exiled, or removed from the game.

Land as a Permanent

Lands are a type of permanent that generate mana, the magical energy needed to cast spells. Lands can be tapped to generate mana, and can be played to add mana to a player’s pool. Lands are still considered permanents and can be destroyed, exiled, or removed from the game.

In Conclusion

In Magic: The Gathering, a permanent is a card or token that remains on the battlefield, influencing the game state, unless it’s destroyed, exiled, or removed from the game. Permanents come in various types, such as artifacts, creatures, enchantments, lands, and planeswalkers, and have key characteristics that affect gameplay. Understanding what constitutes a permanent is crucial for making informed decisions during a game.

Important Points to Remember:

• A permanent is a card or token that becomes a permanent as it enters the battlefield.
• There are five types of permanents: artifact, creature, enchantment, land, and planeswalker.
• Noncreature permanents are any permanent that is not a creature.
• Token permanents are markers used to represent any permanent that isn’t represented by a card.
• Lands are a type of permanent that generate mana.

Table: Permanents in MTG