Why have some mana sources been changed to "Gain" instead of "Add"?
TappedOut forum
Posted on Feb. 22, 2022, 10:56 a.m. by meecht
For example, the site text for Llanowar Elves and Birds of Paradise have been changed to "{T}: Gain..." However, not all cards are changed. Orochi Merge-Keeper and Boreal Druid still say "Add". Was there an Oracle change I'm not aware of? This is also on some lands, like Access Tunnel.
JANKYARD_DOG says... #3
Was a time you would ': Add (mana) to your manapool. Since a couple of years ago... around Dominaria(?)...maybe... the term Manapool was discontinued. Now you see cards with just 'Add (mana)' because the rules are implied I guess? Like it's a known by all thing. Gaining may be much older, not sure. I cannot find any examples, though I'm sure I've seen it before.
February 22, 2022 10:06 p.m.
Femme_Fatale says... #4
Should be add, if anyone finds them as gains they can change it back. I do think gains is a much better word than add what with the mana pool being gone, since you no longer add mana to anything. But it does mean people will have a harder time using the search if they are different.
February 22, 2022 10:08 p.m. Edited.
Gidgetimer says... #5
The mana pool still exists in the rules. It is just no longer explicitly referenced on any card because the concept was confusing newer players.
CR 106.4. When an effect instructs a player to add mana, that mana goes into a player’s mana pool. From there, it can be used to pay costs immediately, or it can stay in the player’s mana pool as unspent mana. Each player’s mana pool empties at the end of each step and phase, and the player is said to lose this mana. Cards with abilities that produce mana or refer to unspent mana have received errata in the Oracle™ card reference to no longer explicitly refer to the mana pool.
(pulled from the Comprehensive Rules effective 18 February, 2022 on the official Magic website)
February 22, 2022 10:23 p.m.
Femme_Fatale, That's why I checked Neon Dynasty cards (every set has a mana dork) in case I missed an Oracle update. "Gain" may be a better word, but Magic verbiage is specific to the point where "gain" and "add" could have different rules baggage.
February 23, 2022 12:12 p.m.
Femme_Fatale says... #7
Rules can be changed if and when WotC feels the need to do so, so I'm not really too worried about verbiage or rules baggage. But at the moment, it should be add, so feel free to put in submissions changing them back to add when you find them.
TypicalTimmy says... #2
Likely, semantics. Notice how color is spelled "colour" as well.
Merely depends on which side of the pond the editor is from.
February 22, 2022 9:47 p.m. Edited.