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[[File:Odds and Ends.jpg|thumb|right|Split card: Odds and Ends]] {{TOCright}} '''Split cards''' are ''[[Magic]]'' [[card]]s with two card faces on the front side. A split card is literally "split" into two separate cards each with its card name, art, [[Mana|mana cost]], text, etc. Split cards can only be [[instant]]s and [[sorceries]], not [[permanent]]s.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/178934945123/could-a-split-card-feature-a-creaturecreatures|title=Could a split card feature a creature/creatures?|October 10, 2018}}</ref> ==Description== In any zone except [[the stack]], a split card has the combination of both characteristics; while it's on the stack, it only has the characteristics of the half being played. This provides many interesting interactions with cards that create effects based on [[mana value]]. For example, if <c>Dark Confidant</c> reveals a split card, you would lose life equal to the total mana value of both sides. Split cards are considered to be [[deciduous]].<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/162425409498/just-listened-to-the-hybrid-mana-episode-of-drive|title=What mechanics and tools are currently considered Deciduous?|June 30, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Deciduous">{{DailyRef|making-magic/deciduous-2022-03-28|Deciduous|[[Mark Rosewater]]|March 28, 2022}}</ref> ==History== [[File:Hit & Run playtest.png|thumb|right|Original [[playtest card]] for <c>Assault // Battery</c>.]] Split cards started out as a single design for ''[[Unglued 2: The Obligatory Sequel]]'' that capitalized on, and played off, the popularity of {{card|B.F.M. (Big Furry Monster)|title=B.F.M.}} in the original ''[[Unglued]]''.<ref>{{YouTubeRef|jofyGSFDq8M|How Trivial with Mark Rosewater|channel=Magic: The Gathering|creator=[[Mark Rosewater]]|date=August 4, 2023}}</ref> When ''Unglued 2'' was cancelled, split cards were proposed as a mechanic for [[Invasion block]]. At the time, only Mark Rosewater, Bill Rose and Richard Garfield thought split cards were a good design idea. Over the course of development, the rest of [[R&D]] came around and the cards ended up debuting in ''[[Invasion]]''. To build on ''Invasion'''s [[multicolored]] theme, each half card was from a different [[color]].<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/split-decisions-2002-02-11|Split Decisions|[[Mark Rosewater]]|February 11, 2002}}</ref> There was one cycle in allied colors in [[Invasion]] and a cycle in enemy colors in [[Apocalypse]]. [[File:DGM Promo Breaking and Entering.jpg|thumb|left|The Fuse mechanic allows to cast both halves at the same time.]] In ''[[Dissension]]'' each half was a [[multicolored]] card from a different [[Ravnican guild|guild]].<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/split-odds-ends-2006-04-17|Split (Odds &) Ends|[[Mark Rosewater]]|April 17, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|latest-developments/truth-about-split-cards-2006-04-28|The Truth about Split Cards|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|April 28, 2006}}</ref> There were two cycles of split cards, one of allied colors and one of enemy colors, for two spells per guild in total. This led to a legacy of printing split cards during each return to Ravnica. ''[[Dragon's Maze]]'' introduced split cards with [[Fuse]], an ability that lets you cast ''both'' halves as one spell.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/maze-ing-grace-part-2-2013-04-15|A Maze-ing Grace, Part 2|[[Mark Rosewater]]|April 15, 2013}}</ref> There was one split card for each guild with a monocolored spell on each side, plus a cycle of double-gold split cards featuring one guild from ''[[Return to Ravnica]]'' paired with a guild from ''[[Gatecrash]]''. Split cards from ''[[Guilds of Ravnica]]'' and ''[[Ravnica Allegiance]]'' focus on a single guild, with a smallish [[hybrid mana]] effect as one half and a bigger, [[multicolor]] [[mana]] [[effect]] as the other.<ref>[https://twitter.com/omnidoug/status/1039321101971542018 Doug Beyer on Twitter]</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|card-preview/guilds-ravnica-split-cards-2018-09-10|Guilds of Ravnica Split Cards|Corbin Hosler|September 10, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|feature/guilds-ravnica-mechanics-2018-09-04|''Guilds of Ravnica'' Mechanics|[[Matt Tabak]]|September 4, 2018}}</ref> There is a set of uncommons and a set of rares, with the art of the rares focuses on the two major characters (the Mythic guildmaster and the Rare guild "champion") in that guild, one personality per side. Due to not being focused on the full complement of color pairs, ''[[Murders at Karlov Manor]]'' had only one cycle, each being a split card with two hybrid-colored spells that share a color, which let them be played in one color. ''[[Planar Chaos]]'' introduced split cards where both halves were the same color (all split cards in ''Planar Chaos'' are in a vertical cycle in [[red]]). After the introduction of split cards, ''[[Unhinged]]'' featured <c>Who/What/When/Where/Why</c> which resembled a split card with five different effects, one for each color. ''[[Amonkhet]]'' block added split cards with [[Aftermath]], an ability that lets you cast the 'bottom' part only from the [[graveyard]].<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/amonkhet-mechanics-2017-04-03|Amonkhet Mechanics|[[Matt Tabak]]|April 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|card-preview/five-trials-2017-04-04|Five Trials|[[Ethan Fleischer]]|April 4, 2017}}</ref> Split cards with aftermath have a new frame treatment β the half you can cast from your hand is oriented the same as other cards you'd cast from your hand, while the half you can cast from your graveyard is a traditional split card half. This frame treatment is for your convenience and has no significance in the rules. There is a cycle of monocolored Aftermath split cards, with two enemy and allied color cycles, going in both directions around the color wheel. ''[[Modern Horizons 2]]'' had three new split cards: one multicolor Aftermath split card in {{R}}{{G}}, and two regular monocolored split cards in blue and red. [[Modal double-faced card]]s fit in the same design space as split cards. Because split cards can only be instants and sorceries, MDFCs tend to have at least one side as a [[permanent]]. Technically, there could be an MDFC with two instants and/or sorceries with text that couldnβt fit on a split card.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/628251093200224256/going-forward-when-making-cards-and-deciding|title=Going forward, when making cards and deciding split/double-sided cards?|September 3, 2020}}</ref> ===Rules change=== *Originally a split card could have three costs when an effect asked for the mana value (formerly [[converted mana cost|converted mana cost (CMC)]]) - the cost of each side individually, and the cost of both combined. This would allow for interactions such as <c>Isochron Scepter</c> or 3-mana [[cascade]] cards casting Bound from <c>Bound // Determined</c>, cheating on mana much more than intended. *The Expertise cycle in ''[[Aether Revolt]]'' was another series of cards that could exploit split cards. During the next set, ''[[Amonkhet]],'' the process of determining the mana value of split cards was simplified.<ref>{{DailyRef|news/amonkhet-split-card-rules-changes-2017-04-04|Amonkhet Split Card Rules Changes|[[Eli Shiffrin]]|April 4, 2017}}</ref> The mana value of a split card is always the combination of both halves except on the stack. On the stack, only the half which is cast is considered for color and mana value. This change is mentioned in Rule 709.4. ===Naming convention=== Regular split cards are named with a β__________ and __________β convention while Aftermath cards use a β__________ to __________β convention.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/159174592333/is-the-naming-convention-for-the-new-aftermath|title=Is the naming convention for the new aftermath cards still and (Fire and Ice) or has it changed?|April 03, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/177984504623/how-do-you-say-the-new-split-cards-names-there|title=How do you say the new Split cards names?|September 11, 2018}}</ref> Most of them are full phrases, though some are only connected in theme and are not usually used as such (<c>Order // Chaos</c>, <c>Illusion // Reality</c>); <c>Spite // Malice</c> is in fact another card game. In ''[[Guilds of Ravnica]]'' and ''[[Ravnica Allegiance]]'', the card halves have alliterative names, starting with the same three letters. <c>Coward // Killer</c> is an "or" question to the Ninth Doctor, while <c>Gallifrey Falls // No More</c> is the name of an artwork, whose name changed when a legion of Doctors save the city of Gallifrey through timeline manipulation. Both are phrases from episodes of Doctor Who. ==Rules== [[File:Destined to Lead.png|thumb|right|The bottom half of ''Amonkhet'' split cards is turned sideways for easy use out of the graveyard]] {{CR+G|Split Cards}} ==Rulings== *Split cards have two card faces on a single card. The characteristics of the half you didn't cast are ignored while the spell is on the stack.<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/dominaria-remastered-release-notes|''Dominaria Remastered'' Release Notes|[[Jess Dunks]] and [[Matt Tabak]]|January 6, 2023}}</ref> *Each split card is a single card. For example, if you discard a split card, you've discarded one card, not two. If an effect counts the number of sorcery cards in your graveyard, Assault // Battery counts once, not twice. *Each split card has two names. If an effect instructs you to choose a card name, you may choose one of those names, but not both. *A split card's characteristics are a combination of its two halves while it is not on the stack. For example, Assault // Battery has a mana value of 5 while it is in your library. If an effect allows you to search your library for a card with a mana value of 4 or less, you can't find Assault // Battery. *If an effect allows you to cast a spell with certain characteristics, consider only the characteristics of the half you're casting. For example, if an effect allows you to cast a sorcery spell with a mana value of 2 or less from among cards in your graveyard, you could cast Assault this way, but not Battery. ==Notable split cards== *<c>Fire // Ice</c> - Legacy threshold decks *<c>Wear // Tear</c> - Common sideboard card *<c>Research // Development</c> - Vintage decks ==See also== *[[Fuse]] *[[Aftermath]] ==References== {{Reflist}} {{CR Navbox|700}} [[Category:Cards]] [[Category:Miscellaneous mechanics]]
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