| Extort | |
|---|---|
| Keyword Ability | |
| Type | Triggered |
| Introduced | Gatecrash |
| Last used | Modern Horizons 3 |
| Reminder Text |
Extort (Whenever you cast a spell, you may pay  . If you do, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain that much life.) |
| Storm Scale | 6[1] |
| Statistics |
14 cards  28.6%  35.7% 35.7% |
| Scryfall Search | |
| keyword:"Extort" | |
Extort is a keyword introduced in Gatecrash, wherein it was the Orzhov Syndicate guild mechanic.[2]
Description[]
Extort allows players to pay additional or when they cast spells and create a small life-draining effect. The mechanic was designed by Shawn Main who wasn't on the design team for Gatecrash. The cost being hybrid mana happened late in the process.[3]
While the rules support Extort being used on noncreature permanents, only Blind Obedience demonstrated this during its debut. This was expanded on in 2024, with a second enchantment (Life Insurance) and a back-side planeswalker (Sorin, Ravenous Neonate). One creature, Pontiff of Blight, grants Extort to all one's creatures and is the only card to do so.
The effect was designed before the explosion of Commander's popularity, giving the "gain that much life" text a much greater impact than in heads-up matches. Part of why so few noncreatures have it is that it stacks very dangerously and combined this puts Extort on the Storm Scale at 6.
There was also discussion regarding the ability's color identity: the Orzhov hybrid mana symbol was printed on every Extorter at the time of printing, which on first reading makes them all multicolored in identity. However, there is a clause that excludes reminder text for identity purposes, making most of them monocolored in identity.
History[]
Extort was also featured in Dragon's Maze and appeared as a one-off in supplemental sets, such as Commander 2019, New Capenna Commander, Ravnica: Clue Edition and Modern Horizons 3.
Rules[]
From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (November 8, 2024—Magic: The Gathering Foundations)
- Extort
- A keyword ability that lets you gain life and have opponents lose life whenever you cast a spell. See rule 702.101, “Extort.”
From the Comprehensive Rules (November 8, 2024—Magic: The Gathering Foundations)
- 702.101. Extort
- 702.101a Extort is a triggered ability. “Extort” means “Whenever you cast a spell, you may pay {W/B}. If you do, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain life equal to the total life lost this way.”
- 702.101b If a permanent has multiple instances of extort, each triggers separately.
Rulings[]
- You may pay
a maximum of one time for each extort triggered ability. You decide whether to pay when the ability resolves. - The amount of life you gain is based on the total amount of life lost, not necessarily the number of opponents you have. For example, if your opponent's life total can't change (perhaps because that player controls Platinum Emperion), you won't gain any life.
- The extort ability doesn't target any player.
- The hybrid white-black mana symbol does not change the card's color identity.
Cards that grant Extort[]
Examples[]
Example
Treasury Thrull 
Creature — Thrull
4/4
Extort (Whenever you cast a spell, you may pay . If you do, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain that much life.)
Whenever Treasury Thrull attacks, you may return target artifact, creature, or enchantment card from your graveyard to your hand.
References[]
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 2, 2016). "Storm Scale: Ravnica and Return to Ravnica". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 14, 2013). "Gatecrashing the Party, Part 3". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 22, 2017). "I would like some info on the mechanic that the first deck I built was based on: Extort". Blogatog. Tumblr.
