Question concerning a a cards color identity when casting Wash Out?
Asked by Bantha1342 6 years ago
I have a question concerning the color identity of cards when playing a card such as [card:wash out]. I run a black / red tribal vampire deck and my opponent cast Wash Out. I had no "Counter Spell" or "Ability" available so when the spell resolved, my opponent chose the color "Black." I know that lands are colorless and are not affected. However, my opponent insisted that any card which contained a "Black" mana symbol would be returned to my hand such as Olivia, Mobilized for War. So what constitutes a "Black" permanent? Is that a permanent with only black in the mana cost or does it affect a card with any black symbol in the mana cost? Also, does a card with a mono red mana cost yet a black symbol anywhere on the card constitute a black card? I'm just confused. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Bantha1342 says... #2
Thanks Neotrup. So just for clarification, Olivia, Mobilized for War would be affected by Wash Out if black were the chosen color when the spell resolved? Also, a card such as Simic Signet would be affected if green or blue were the chosen color? Sorry to be a pest, but this is causing a lot of disagreements at FNM. Thanks again.....
July 23, 2017 11:18 a.m.
Olivia, Mobilized for War would be returned by Wash Out if it resolved and black (or red) were chosen. The choice is made when the spell resolves, not when it's cast. Simic Signet costs , has no color indicator, nor ability that defines color, so it is normally colorless and will not be returned by Wash Out, unless something like Painter's Servant is on the battlefield.
July 23, 2017 12:48 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #4
Note that color identity is a concept used only in Commander for the purposes of deck construction. Effects in the game refer to color (unless the explicitly refer to color identity, such as Command Tower).
The difference is that color includes only mana cost, color indicators, and characteristic-defining abilities. Color identity includes color plus any mana symbols in a card's rules text.
For example, Avacyn's Pilgrim is green in color, but green white in color identity.
Neotrup says... Accepted answer #1
A card's color is normally determined by it's casting cost. Any black symbol in the casting cost, such as in Olivia, Mobilized for War's cost (she's black-red), will normally make a card black. If a card has a color indicator located left of the type line, like Ormendahl, Profane Prince Flip, it uses that to determine color instead (he's black). If a card has an ability that redefines it's color, like Bearer of Silence, it uses that to determine color (it's colorless). If an ability of a spell or permanent redefines color, like Rise from the Grave or Darkest Hour, that color is used instead of or in addition to the color(s) of the card. Rise from the Grave would make Thada Adel, Acquisitor blue-black, Darkest Hour would make all creatures on both sides of the field just black.
July 23, 2017 10:55 a.m.