What are Permanents in MTG?

In Magic: the Gathering, a permanent card remains on the battlefield until it’s destroyed or otherwise removed from play. This includes lands, creatures, enchantments, artifacts, and planeswalker cards. They are placed in the battlefield and can be used to attack and block, tap for mana, or continuously affect the game.

With so many different cards available, it can be overwhelming for new players to know where to start. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to permanent cards, to help you get a handle on the basics and start building a winning deck.

What are Permanent Cards in Magic: The Gathering?

Permanent cards are the backbone of Magic: The Gathering. These cards represent creatures, lands, artifacts, and other permanents that remain on the battlefield until they are destroyed or otherwise removed. They are the foundation of your deck, and are the primary way you interact with your opponent’s board.

Types of Permanent Cards

There are five main types of permanent cards in Magic: The Gathering:

1. Creatures: Creatures are the primary way you attack your opponent. They have power and toughness, and can block your opponent’s creatures to prevent damage to you.
2. Lands: Lands provide you with mana, the resource you need to cast spells and summon creatures. There are five basic land types, each of which produces a different color of mana.
3. Artifacts: Artifacts are colorless cards that have special abilities and often help you generate mana or disrupt your opponent’s strategy.
4. Enchantments: Enchantments are spells that remain on the battlefield and provide ongoing effects. Some enchantments provide bonuses to your creatures, while others have effects that disrupt your opponent’s strategy.
5. Planeswalkers: Planeswalkers are unique, powerful cards that represent powerful wizards from the Magic universe. Each planeswalker has its own abilities and can be used to gain advantages over your opponent, such as drawing cards, gaining life, or generating mana. They are also legendary, meaning you can only have one of each type in your deck.

Choosing the Right Permanent Cards for Your Deck

When building a deck, choosing the right mix of permanent cards that complement each other and support your overall strategy is important. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

1. Consider the colors of mana you want to play with. Each color has its own strengths and weaknesses, and it’s important to choose colors that work well together.
2. Think about your play style. Do you prefer to play aggressively and attack with creatures, or do you want to play more defensively and control the board with enchantments and artifacts?
3. Make sure your lands support your color choices. You need to have enough lands that produce the colors of mana you need to cast your spells and summon your creatures.
4. Balance your creature-to-land ratio. You need enough creatures to attack and defend, but not so many that you don’t have enough mana to cast spells.

What is not considered a permanent? 

Spells, such as instants and sorceries, are not considered permanents. Neither are emblems or dungeons. 

Wrapping Up

Permanents are a vital component of Magic: The Gathering, serving as the backbone of your strategy on the battlefield. Whether you’re summoning powerful creatures, generating mana with lands, utilizing artifacts to gain advantages, or relying on the ongoing effects of enchantments, permanents play a crucial role in shaping your game plan and achieving victory. Understanding the various types of permanents and their functions is essential for any player looking to succeed in this complex and challenging card game.