This is a beginner’s guide to understanding the “regenerate” mechanic in Magic the Gathering. Regeneration protects your almighty creature from everlasting destruction. Regeneration is exactly what it sounds like except when it’s not. Regeneration was discontinued for MTG cards due to its complexity and the ambiguity that it brought to the game. Here is the original definition for regeneration: “The next time the permanent would be destroyed this turn, instead, remove all damage marked on it, and tap it. If it is an attacking or blocking creature, remove it from combat.”Ĭonfusing, right? Here’s what’s clear about regeneration: when used, it will protect the creature that uses it from subsequent damage being done. After the damage is done, the creature loses the regeneration protection, regains all health, and must be tapped and removed from combat. While it seems straightforward, one could easily squabble over the imprecise wording and its specific implications. We will explore some common questions about the regeneration mechanic below. On current or more recent Magic cards, regeneration has been mostly replaced by the indestructible static ability, which is relatively more simple. While regeneration is a mechanic that is substituted in place of destruction, indestructible static prevents a permanent from being destroyed from damage or anything else that calls “destroy.” Both are powerful moves (otherwise known as abilities) and serve similar functions, but be aware that they are not the same. Regeneration works like all other abilities in MTG. It requires a mana cost and can be cast at any time prior to taking damage.Įxpect it isn’t technically an ability – It is a “Keyword action”. To help clarify the ability, the term “regeneration shield” has become common terminology. When a creature uses regeneration, it obtains a “regeneration shield” for the duration of that turn. It is only activated when the creature is about to be destroyed. However, the shield is not activated when the creature simply takes combat damage, only when it is about to be destroyed. When the creature takes an amount of damage that would destroy them, the regeneration shield is activated in place of the creature being destroyed. Thus, you can’t use regeneration when somebody deals you combat damage if you don’t already have a regeneration shield on you, and regeneration can’t undo the destruction of a creature that’s already been destroyed. At the end of each turn, regeneration shields become inactive and must be removed. When a regeneration shield activates-when a creature takes lethal combat damage and has a regeneration shield-the creature’s health is fully replenished. No matter how much damage was dealt, or how many times it was hit, the creature regains full health. You can think of regeneration replacing the destruction event, or happening in place of the destruction event, as opposed to the creature being destroyed and then returning from the dead. The best part? You can continue to regenerate! There’s basically no limit to the number of times you can use regeneration-if you have 15 mana and each regeneration costs 3 mana, you can regenerate up 5 times in one game-so long as you are willing to pay the price! Is Regenerate Good MTG? Remember, regeneration does not work on a destroyed creature.Īfter a card is tapped and removed from combat, any card that has used regeneration continues to function in a similar way to a normal card-you can use them, just like before. In reality, it is slightly more complicated. Regeneration is a powerful mechanic, even if it can get annoying or redundant if used repeatedly. MK.REGENERATION XENOSHYFT RULES FULLĪny attack that can prevent destruction and restore full health to a creature is “good” in our book. However, just because it is a powerful mechanic and a good move doesn’t mean that it will always be the most effective or strategically optimal choice.
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