Deck tag: Affinity

What is affinity in Magic?

• Arcbound Ravager
• Thoughtcast
• Cranial Plating

Affinity for artifacts reduces a spell's cost by one generic mana for each artifact its controller has on the battlefield. It only lowers generic mana, so colored requirements such as Thoughtcast's blue mana still have to be paid. The keyword debuted in the set Mirrodin, where cheap artifact lands let spells like Frogmite and Myr Enforcer be cast for free within the first few turns. The Modern format helped put Arcbound Ravager into the spotlight as one of the auto-includes for any "Affinity" deck.

Artifact lands, Springleaf Drum, and zero-cost artifacts such as Ornithopter and Memnite lower costs quickly, letting Thoughtcast and Frogmite follow for little or no mana. Cranial Plating and Arcbound Ravager convert that artifact count into damage, and Etched Champion gains protection from all colors once three artifacts hit the battlefield on your side.

Aliases: reduction reduce cost