Magic, in plain words

The resource you spend to cast spells. Most of it comes from lands — and each of the five colors has its own flavor.

Turning a card sideways to use it (tap), then straightening it back up at the start of your next turn (untap).

Your deck once the game begins. You draw from it each turn — and running out of cards to draw means you lose.

Your discard pile. Cards that die, get used up, or are discarded land here face-up for everyone to see.

A “removed from the game” zone. Cards sent here are far harder to get back than ones in the graveyard.

Where spells wait before they happen. The last thing added resolves first — so responses take effect before the original.

Redrawing an unplayable opening hand. You shuffle back, draw seven again, then put one card on the bottom.

Anything that stays on the battlefield: creatures, lands, artifacts, enchantments, and planeswalkers.

Both are spells. Instants can be cast almost any time; sorceries only on your own turn with nothing else happening.

A freshly-played creature can’t attack or tap for abilities until you’ve controlled it since the start of your turn.

A creature’s two numbers: power is how hard it hits, toughness is how much damage it takes to destroy it.

A one-word ability with a fixed meaning — like Flying, Trample, or Haste. Learn it once, know it forever.

A creature or object made by a spell that isn’t a real card. It simply vanishes when it leaves the battlefield.

A small step at the very start of your turn, just before you draw, when certain “at the beginning of” effects trigger.

A hugely popular casual format built around one legendary creature as your “commander.” Social and beginner-friendly.

Two meanings! To “counter” a spell cancels it on the stack. A “+1/+1 counter” is a little marker that boosts a creature.