To read a Magic: The Gathering card, start at the top and work down: the card's name and mana cost sit on the top line, the artwork fills the middle, the type line and set symbol sit under the art, the rules text box explains what the card does, and power and toughness appear in the bottom right corner of creatures. The small print at the very bottom tells you the set, collector number, rarity and artist. Every modern MTG card uses this same layout, so once you know these eight parts you can read any card at a glance, whether you're opening packs, buying singles or sorting a collection.
What are the parts of a Magic: The Gathering card?
| Part | Where it is | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Top left | What the card is called |
| Mana cost | Top right | What you pay to cast it |
| Artwork | Center | The illustration, which varies between printings |
| Type line | Under the art, left | Creature, instant, sorcery, land and so on |
| Set symbol | Under the art, right | The set, and the rarity by its color |
| Text box | Lower half | Abilities and rules, plus flavor text |
| Power/toughness | Bottom right | How much damage a creature deals and can take |
| Collector info | Bottom edge | Collector number, rarity letter, set code, artist |
1. Card name
The name is printed in the top left corner. It's how the card is referred to in decklists, rules text and searches, and it's the first thing to type when you look up a card's price.
2. Mana cost
The symbols in the top right corner show what it costs to cast the card.
- A number is generic mana, which you can pay with mana of any color.
- A colored symbol (white, blue, black, red or green) must be paid with that color.
- Add the number and the symbols together to get the card's mana value (it used to be called converted mana cost, or CMC).
3. Artwork
The illustration fills the middle of the card. The same card is often printed with different art or frames, such as borderless, extended art or showcase versions. The rules stay the same, but collectors often pay more for special treatments.
Same card, two looks: a borderless alternate art Rise of the Dark Realms next to the regular version.
4. Type line
The line under the art tells you what kind of card it is: creature, instant, sorcery, enchantment, artifact, planeswalker, battle or land. Many cards also show a supertype such as Legendary, and creatures list subtypes such as Goblin or Warrior. Rules and other cards often refer to these types, so this line matters in play.
5. Set symbol
The small icon at the right end of the type line shows which set the card comes from. Its color shows the rarity (see rarity colors below).
6. Text box
The text box explains what the card does: its abilities, keywords and effects. Italic text in quotation marks or at the bottom of the box is flavor text, which adds story and has no effect on the game. New to terms like haste or trample? Our MTG glossary for beginners explains them.
7. Power and toughness
Creatures show two numbers in the bottom right corner, written like 2/3. The first is power (the damage it deals in combat) and the second is toughness (the damage it can take before it dies). Vehicles have them too. Planeswalkers show a loyalty number in that corner instead, and battles show a defense number.
8. Collector info
The small print along the bottom edge holds the details collectors use to identify an exact printing. On cards printed since 2014 you'll find the collector number, a rarity letter (C, U, R or M), the set code, the language and the artist's name. Rares and mythic rares also have a small holofoil security stamp in the bottom center.
How do you tell which set an MTG card is from?
Start with the set symbol, then confirm it with the collector info in the bottom left corner. Modern cards print a set code (usually three characters) and a collector number there. This matters because the same card name is often reprinted across many sets, with different art, rarity and price.
What do the set symbol colors mean?
The color of the set symbol tells you how rare the card is:
- Black: common
- Silver: uncommon
- Gold: rare
- Orange-red: mythic rare
- Purple: special cards, such as Time Spiral's Timeshifted cards
What do black, white and silver borders mean on Magic cards?
- Black border: the standard for almost all modern sets, and for the earliest Alpha and Beta printings.
- White border: older core sets and some reprint sets, such as Unlimited and Revised.
- Silver border: older "Un-sets" (joke sets like Unglued and Unhinged), which aren't legal in tournaments. Newer Un-cards from Unfinity use black borders with an acorn-shaped security stamp instead.
How can you tell if a Magic card is foil?
Foil cards have a shiny, reflective finish across the whole card that catches the light when you tilt it. Many sets also have special foils, such as etched or textured foils. Players like foils for the extra shine, and collectors often chase foil versions of special treatments.
How do you tell Alpha, Beta, Unlimited and Revised cards apart?
These are Magic's first printings from 1993 and 1994, and telling them apart makes a big difference to value:
- Alpha: black border with noticeably rounder corners.
- Beta: black border with standard, sharper corners.
- Unlimited: white border.
- Revised: white border too, but the colors often look lighter and more washed out than Unlimited.
If you think you have an early card, compare it with a known copy or bring it into the store before you sell or grade it.
What should you read next?
- Magic: The Gathering for beginners, and what to buy first
- MTG terminology 101: the beginner's glossary
- How to build a Commander deck from scratch
Where can you play Magic: The Gathering near Newport, TN?
Landfall Outpost runs Friday Night Magic every Friday from 6 to 10 PM at 138 North St, Newport, TN 37821. New players are welcome, and we're happy to help you read your first cards. Shop Magic: The Gathering cards online with nationwide shipping, or stop in Friday and Saturday 12–8 or Sunday 12–6. Free on-site parking. Questions? Call (423) 237-6248 or email support@landfalloutpost.com. See all events.