| Delve | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Keyword Ability | |
| Type | Static |
| Introduced | Future Sight |
| Last used | Lord of the Rings Holiday Release |
| Reminder Text |
Delve (Each card you exile from your graveyard while casting this spell pays for  .) |
| Storm Scale | 8[1] |
| Statistics |
27 cards  37%  48.1%  3.7%  7.4%  3.7% |
| Scryfall Search | |
| keyword:"Delve" | |
Delve is a keyword ability, introduced in Future Sight. Delve is a static ability that functions while the spell with delve is on the stack. “Delve” means “For each generic mana in this spell’s total cost, you may exile a card from your graveyard rather than pay that mana.”
History[]
In Future Sight, delve was only printed on three timeshifted cards and was a cost reduction. It was re-introduced as the clan specific mechanic for the Sultai Brood in Khans of Tarkir[2][3] and Fate Reforged.[4] It also appeared in Modern Horizons[5] and Commander 2020.
As with many cost reduction mechanics, several Delve cards were banned in various formats. While the development aspect may theoretically be solvable, the anti-linearity and environmental requirements has rendered it high on the Storm Scale.
Rules[]
From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (November 8, 2024—Magic: The Gathering Foundations)
- Delve
- A keyword ability that lets you exile cards from your graveyard rather than pay generic mana to cast a spell. See rule 702.66, “Delve.”
From the Comprehensive Rules (November 8, 2024—Magic: The Gathering Foundations)
- 702.66. Delve
- 702.66a Delve is a static ability that functions while the spell with delve is on the stack. “Delve” means “For each generic mana in this spell’s total cost, you may exile a card from your graveyard rather than pay that mana.”
- 702.66b The delve ability isn’t an additional or alternative cost and applies only after the total cost of the spell with delve is determined.
- 702.66c Multiple instances of delve on the same spell are redundant.
Rulings[]
- The rules for delve have changed slightly since it was last in an expansion. Previously, delve reduced the cost to cast a spell. Under the current rules, you exile cards from your graveyard at the same time you pay the spell’s cost. Exiling a card this way is simply another way to pay that cost. (This is similar to the change made to convoke for the Magic 2015 Core Set.)
- You can’t exile cards to pay for the colored mana requirements of a spell with delve.
- You can’t exile more cards than the generic mana requirement of a spell with delve. For example, you can’t exile more than nine cards from your graveyard to cast Dead Drop.
- Because delve isn’t an alternative cost, it can be used in conjunction with alternative costs.
Examples[]
Example
Death Rattle 
Instant
Delve (Each card you exile from your graveyard while casting this spell pays for .)
Destroy target nongreen creature. It can't be regenerated.
References[]
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 29, 2016). "Storm Scale: Khans of Tarkir Block". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Sam Stoddard (September 5, 2014). "Delving the Pits". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Matt Tabak (August 31, 2014). "Mechanics of Khans of Tarkir". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Matt Tabak (December 29, 2014). "Mechanics of Fate Reforged". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Matt Tabak (May 31, 2019). "Modern Horizons Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
