Rule evolution

Rule 702.1b

Earliest archived Rules release: 2017-04-28 · 2 wording revisions · 0 renumberings

  1. Added702.1bDetails
    An effect that grants an object a keyword ability may define a variable in that ability based on characteristics of that object or other information about the game state. For these abilities, the value of that variable is constantly reevaluated. Example: Volcano Hellion has the ability “Volcano Hellion has echo {X}, where X is your life total.” If your life total is 10 when Volcano Hellion’s echo ability triggers but 5 when it resolves, the echo cost to pay is {5}. Example: Fire//Ice is a split card whose halves have the associated mana costs {1}{R} and {1}{U}. Past in Flames reads “Each instant and sorcery card in your graveyard gains flashback until end of turn. The flashback cost is equal to its mana cost.” Fire//Ice has “Flashback {2}{U}{R}” while it is in your graveyard, but if you choose to cast Fire, the resulting spell has “Flashback {1}{R}.”
  2. Wording changed702.1bDetails
    An effect that grants an object a keyword ability may define a variable in that ability based on characteristics of that object or other information about the game state. For these abilities, the value of that variable is constantly reevaluated. Example: Volcano Hellion has the ability "Volcano Hellion has echo {X}, where X is your life total." If your life total is 10 when Volcano Hellion's echo ability triggers but 5 when it resolves, the echo cost to pay is {5}. Example: Fire//Ice is a split card whose halves have the associated mana costs {1}{R} and {1}{U}. Past in Flames reads "Each instant and sorcery card in your graveyard gains flashback until end of turn. The flashback cost is equal to its mana cost." Fire//Ice has "Flashback {2}{U}{R}" while it is in your graveyard, but if you choose to cast Fire, the resulting spell has "Flashback {1}{R}."
  3. Wording changed702.1bDetails
    An effect that grants an object a keyword ability may define a variable in that ability based on characteristics of that object or other information about the game state. For these abilities, the value of that variable is constantly reevaluated. Example: Volcano Hellion has the ability "VolcanoThis Hellioncreature has echo {X}, where X is your life total." If your life total is 10 when Volcano Hellion's echo ability triggers but 5 when it resolves, the echo cost to pay is {5}. Example: Fire//Ice is a split card whose halves have the mana costs {1}{R} and {1}{U}. Past in Flames reads "Each instant and sorcery card in your graveyard gains flashback until end of turn. The flashback cost is equal to its mana cost." Fire//Ice has "Flashback {2}{U}{R}" while it is in your graveyard, but if you choose to cast Fire, the resulting spell has "Flashback {1}{R}."

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