i dont get it

[blackice101]

hi im new to magic and was going over the rules and what i dont get is mana cost would some1 care to explan how it works:confused:

[a-slice-of-cake]

Hey, Blackice! Welcome to Pojo's Magic forums!

A mana cost can be found in the upper-right corner of a card. It'll consist of a series of numbers and symbols. I'll break it down:

Lands will be the most common source of mana. Whenever you "tap" a land for mana, you turn it sideways to show it's been used, and you can utilize the mana from that land to activate an ability or cast a spell.

The "mana cost" in a card dictates what types of mana must be used in order to cast that spell.

"Colorless" mana costs appear as a number in a gray box. You can use any kind of mana to pay this cost -- white, blue, black, red, green, or even colorless mana! (This tends to be used at more advanced stages.)

White mana in a mana cost looks like a sun in a white circle. Only white mana can pay the cost. The basic land that produces white mana is Plains.

Blue mana looks like a water drop. That basic land is an Island.

Black mana looks like a skull. That basic land is a Swamp.

Red mana looks like a fireball. That basic land is a Mountain.

Green mana looks like a tree. That basic land is a Forest.

Most cards will have a combination of the above symbols in its mana cost -- you must pay all of them to cast the spell. For example, if you see a spell with a casting cost of 2 (in a gray circle), a tree, and a skull, it means in order to cast it you must pay 2 of any mana, PLUS Green mana (probably from a Forest), PLUS Black mana (probably from a Swamp).

Wizards of the Coast has some Youtube videos aimed at newer players -- I suggest you look them up. They can be very helpful!

I hope this helps clarify. Feel free to ask any further questions.

[blackice101]

thanks but whats the numbers 4 like a grey 2 whats that is that mana to?

[jasonj]

It is part of the mana cost but you dont have to spend a specific color on it.

[blackice101]

so if it has a grey1 and a fire symbol i can pay any other symbol?

[jasonj]

yes you would have to spend 1 of any color and 1 red/fire symbol