Rule evolution

Rule 701.23c

Previously numbered 701.15c, 701.17c, 701.18c, 701.19c.

Earliest archived Rules release: 2012-10-01 · 1 wording revision · 4 renumberings

  1. Added701.15cDetails
    If a player is instructed to search a hidden zone for cards that match an undefined quality, that player may still search that zone but can't find any cards. Example: Lobotomy says "Target player reveals his or her hand, then you choose a card other than a basic land card from it. Search that player's graveyard, hand, and library for all cards with the same name as the chosen card and exile them. Then that player shuffles his or her library." If the target player has no cards in his or her hand when Lobotomy resolves, the player who cast Lobotomy searches the specified zones but doesn't exile any cards.
  2. Renumbered701.15c → 701.17cDetails

    Previously
    7. Additional Rules
    701. Keyword Actions

    Then
    7. Additional Rules
    701. Keyword Actions

    If a player is instructed to search a hidden zone for cards that match an undefined quality, that player may still search that zone but can’t find any cards. Example: Lobotomy says “Target player reveals his or her hand, then you choose a card other than a basic land card from it. Search that player’s graveyard, hand, and library for all cards with the same name as the chosen card and exile them. Then that player shuffles his or her library.” If the target player has no cards in his or her hand when Lobotomy resolves, the player who cast Lobotomy searches the specified zones but doesn’t exile any cards.
  3. Wording changed & Renumbered701.17c → 701.18cDetails

    Previously
    7. Additional Rules
    701. Keyword Actions

    Then
    7. Additional Rules
    701. Keyword Actions

    If a player is instructed to search a hidden zone for cards that match an undefined quality, that player may still search that zone but can't find any cards. Example: Lobotomy says "Target player reveals histheir or her hand, then you choose a card other than a basic land card from it. Search that player's graveyard, hand, and library for all cards with the same name as the chosen card and exile them. Then that player shuffles histheir or her library." If the target player has no cards in histheir or her hand when Lobotomy resolves, the player who cast Lobotomy searches the specified zones but doesn't exile any cards.
  4. Renumbered701.18c → 701.19cDetails

    Previously
    7. Additional Rules
    701. Keyword Actions

    Then
    7. Additional Rules
    701. Keyword Actions

    If a player is instructed to search a hidden zone for cards that match an undefined quality, that player may still search that zone but can’t find any cards. Example: Lobotomy says “Target player reveals their hand, then you choose a card other than a basic land card from it. Search that player’s graveyard, hand, and library for all cards with the same name as the chosen card and exile them. Then that player shuffles their library.” If the target player has no cards in their hand when Lobotomy resolves, the player who cast Lobotomy searches the specified zones but doesn’t exile any cards.
  5. Renumbered701.19c → 701.23cDetails

    Previously
    7. Additional Rules
    701. Keyword Actions

    Then
    7. Additional Rules
    701. Keyword Actions

    If a player is instructed to search a hidden zone for cards that match an undefined quality, that player may still search that zone but can’t find any cards. Example: Lobotomy says “Target player reveals their hand, then you choose a card other than a basic land card from it. Search that player’s graveyard, hand, and library for all cards with the same name as the chosen card and exile them. Then that player shuffles their library.” If the target player has no cards in their hand when Lobotomy resolves, the player who cast Lobotomy searches the specified zones but doesn’t exile any cards.

Current in the latest available Rules
Unchanged since 2026-08-07.