Enters the battlefield

"Enters the battlefield" refers to putting a permanent onto the battlefield, or to an ability which is triggered when a permanent is put onto the battlefield. It is commonly abbreviated ETB.

History
"Enters-the-battlefield" abilities are a mechanic designed by Bill Rose for Portal. The design team liked it so much that they included it on one card of each color in Visions. Popular cards with "enters-the-battlefield" effects were Nekrataal and Man-o'-War.

"Enters the battlefield" replaced the term "comes into play" when Magic 2010 rules changes went into effect.

"Enters-the-battlefield" abilities which damage or kill a creature or destroy a permanent were colloquially known as 187 effects.

Rules
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