Outlast Question
Asked by Bengernaut 10 years ago
Hey, all. Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this question but since KoT hasn't been officially released (at least where I live) I figured this would be the appropriate place to post this question.
I got numerous cards with the Outlast ability and the mana cost text is incredibly confusing. For example Ainok Bond-Kin says Outlast (1)(w) then it parenthesis it says the mana cost again accompanied by the tap symbol.
I interpreted that as meaning you can pay the mana cost to give another creature the 1/1 counter or pay the secondary mana cost, the one in parenthesis with the tap icon, to put the counter on the card using the outlast ability.
I've tried looking up the rulings on the Outlast ability and it seems that I'm certainly mislead in my belief, however, it still seems incredibly strange to me that they would list the mana cost twice, with an additional tap cost in parenthesis.
Any clarity as to how the ability works and the logic behind the mana cost would be much appreciated. I apologize if this seems like an ignorant question. I've been playing Magic for about two months so I am largely ignorant to many of the game mechanics.
Thanks in advance!
Spoilers forum is for card spoilers and predictions, so this should be moved to the appropriate location by Epochalyptik.
The parentheses that follow the Outlast keyword are reminder text; it is just an explanation of what Outlast is and how to use it.
September 22, 2014 12:52 a.m.
Also the reason they have the mana cost and then the mana cost again in the description is because "Outlast 1W" is essentially a TYPE of outlast. Therefore, they say the type (1W) then how the ability works and that is why they restate it just to describe how that "type" of outlast works you pay the mana tap the creature that the outlast ability is on and then put a counter on it.
September 22, 2014 12:52 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #4
Rules questions belong in the Q&A, which is linked in the header bar. I can't move this to the Q&A, so I'm moving it to BE.
You're misinterpreting it.
The text in parentheses is reminder text that explains the function of the mechanic. "Outlast 
" means ", 
: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. Outlast only as a sorcery."
It isn't two separate costs or abilities. The card would have the exact same functionality and meaning if it didn't have any of the text in parentheses and instead only said "Outlast ." You can't put the counter on another creature.
September 22, 2014 12:57 a.m.
Bengernaut says... #5
Awesome thank you very much for the information everyone! I understand the reasoning now as to why they list the ability cost twice and it makes much more sense now.
Also, my apologies for listing this in the wrong forum!
Thanks again and take care, all.
EmblemMan says... #1
Outlast is basically you pay the mana cost so in this case 1 and a white and tap the creature to put a +1/+1 counter on that creature.
September 22, 2014 12:49 a.m.