Phyrexian mana

Phyrexian Mana
Mechanic
Introduced	New Phyrexia
Last used	March of the Machine
Statistics	73 cards 16.4% 17.8% 17.8% 15.1% 15.1% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 11%
Scryfall Search
is:"PhyrexianMana"

The Phyrexian mana version of the Magic mana pentagon.

Phyrexian mana (with the symbols , , , , ) was introduced as a novel mechanic in New Phyrexia. It reappeared in Unstable, Commander 2019, and in sets dealing with the resurgence of Phyrexia. Phyrexian mana is a cost and it can’t be generated.

Description

The Phyrexian mana symbols are represented by the Greek letter "phi" (ϕ) on colored backgrounds, and denote a cost that may be paid with either 2 life or mana of the color matching the background color of the symbol. The generic symbol is used in rules text for any of the five Phyrexian mana symbols. For readability, the Phyrexian mana symbol is slightly larger than a normal mana symbol and best illustrated on Omnath, Locus of All.

Magic Head Designer Mark Rosewater noted that Phyrexian mana is similar to normal mana costs but affords additional flexibility to players, allowing them to reduce costs as well as to play with effects from other colors of the Color Pie. Each spell with Phyrexian mana in New Phyrexia have no other colored mana and are either artifacts, instants or sorceries. K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth is the first non-artifact creature.

Phyrexian mana was given an 8 on the Storm Scale during a 2018 article: despite popularity, its gameplay problems were significant. It returned to Standard in Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, in the form of Phyrexian hybrid mana, alongside a new mechanic Compleated, which made for balancing some of the issues. In addition to these compleated planeswalkers, Phyrexian mana returned on activated abilities in Phyrexia: All Will Be One and March of the Machine, with the developers making a conscious choice not to use them in casting costs.

Colorless Phyrexian mana

Colorless Phyrexian mana () was initially left out of the design because it ran antithetically to the concept of colored mana influencing the New Phyrexians in New Phyrexia. When the Phyrexians returned in Phyrexia: All Will Be One, R&D played around with colorless Phyrexian mana during vision design but ultimately declined to use it. Players introduced the mana type to the game through a "You Make the Card" panel at MagicCon Chicago 2024 that resulted in the Unknown Event test card That Which Was Compleated. Gavin Verhey would more formally introduce it in Mystery Booster 2 on the test card Kozilek, Compleated.

Phyrexian Hybrid

Phyrexian hybrid mana was introduced in Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, where it was merged with hybrid mana. A hybrid Phyrexian mana symbol represents a cost that can be paid with one mana of either of its component colors or by paying 2 life. Spells with compleated have their Phyrexian mana with their other mana colors, preventing access without the color commitment.

Rules

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (November 8, 2024—Magic: The Gathering Foundations)

Phyrexian Mana Symbol

A mana symbol that represents a cost that can be paid either by spending colored mana or by paying life. See rule 107.4.

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (November 8, 2024—Magic: The Gathering Foundations)

Phyrexian Symbol

A symbol used in rules text to represent any of the five Phyrexian mana symbols. See rule 107.4g.

From the Comprehensive Rules (November 8, 2024—Magic: The Gathering Foundations)

• 107.4f Phyrexian mana symbols are colored mana symbols: {W/P} is white, {U/P} is blue, {B/P} is black, {R/P} is red, and {G/P} is green. A Phyrexian mana symbol represents a cost that can be paid either with one mana of its color or by paying 2 life. There are also ten hybrid Phyrexian mana symbols. A hybrid Phyrexian mana symbol represents a cost that can be paid with one mana of either of its component colors or by paying 2 life. A hybrid Phyrexian mana symbol is both of its component colors.

  Example: {W/P}{W/P} can be paid by spending {W}{W}, by spending {W} and paying 2 life, or by paying 4 life.

From the Comprehensive Rules (November 8, 2024—Magic: The Gathering Foundations)

• 107.4g In rules text, the Phyrexian symbol {H} with no colored background means any of the fifteen Phyrexian mana symbols.

Trivia

• Phyrexian mana was featured as rules card 1 of 4 in the New Phyrexia set.
• Spike, Tournament Grinder is the only silver-bordered card utilizing Phyrexian mana.
• The Defiler cycle in Dominaria United each have similar lengthy colored-mana reducing abilities, but may be easier thought of as having "Your permanent spells have one Phyrexian mana symbol instead of one colored mana symbol". This differentiates them from K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth, who converts all costs in all zones.
• The phyrexian glistening oil contains powerstone nanites, so there is some flavor basis for phyrexians to draw magic from their own life force.
• Prior to the release of Bloomburrow, generic Phyrexian mana was represented by the plaintext "{P}".
  • After Bloomburrow's release, it was switched to "{H}" to allow Pawprints () to use "{P}".

See also

• Hybrid mana, which can also be paid in two ways