MTG Wiki
Advertisement

Flash
Keyword Ability
Type Static
Introduced Visions (mechanic)
Time Spiral (keyword)
Last used Evergreen
Reminder Text Flash (You may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant.)
Statistics
289 cards
{C} 2.4% {W} 17.6% {U} 30.8% {B} 9.3% {R} 6.2% {G} 14.2% {W/U} 4.2% {U/B} 3.8% {B/R} 0.7% {R/G} 0.7% {G/W} 0.7% {U/R} 1% {G/U} 3.5% {M} 1% {artifact symbol} 3.8%
Scryfall Search
keyword:"Flash"

Flash is a keyword ability which allows the card it is printed on to be casted at any time you could cast an Instant.

Description

Flash first appeared in the Time Spiral expansion,[1] its first appearance in a core set was in Tenth Edition.[2] Although this ability existed before Time Spiral, this is the first time it was used a keyword. The earliest card with Flash is King Cheetah from Visions. Older cards with this ability have received errata to give them Flash.[3]

Flash is primary in blue, secondary in green and black and tertiary in white and red.[4][5][6]

Rules

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (April 12, 2024—Outlaws of Thunder Junction)

Flash
A keyword ability that lets a player play a card any time they could cast an instant. See rule 702.8, “Flash.”

From the Comprehensive Rules (April 12, 2024—Outlaws of Thunder Junction)

  • 702.8. Flash
    • 702.8a Flash is a static ability that functions in any zone from which you could play the card it’s on. “Flash” means “You may play this card any time you could cast an instant.”
    • 702.8b Multiple instances of flash on the same object are redundant.

Examples

Example

Ashcoat Bear {1}{G}
Creature — Bear
2/2
Flash (You may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant.)

Cards that grant Flash

Cardtype Name Mana cost Grants flash to
Creatures Hypersonic Dragon {3}{U}{R} Sorceries
Prophet of Kruphix {3}{G}{U} Creatures
Quick Sliver {1}{G} Slivers (any player)
Raff Capashen, Ship's Mage {2}{W}{U} Historic spells
Rattlechains {1}{U} Spirits
Rootwater Shaman {2}{U} Auras with enchant creature
Shimmer Myr {3} Artifacts
Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir {2}{U}{U}{U} Creatures you own that aren't on the battlefield
Yeva, Nature's Herald {2}{G}{G} Green creatures
Enchantments Aluren {2}{G}{G} Creatures with converted mana cost 3 or less (any player)
Leyline of Anticipation {2}{U}{U} Nonland cards
Vernal Equinox {3}{G} Creatures and enchantments (any player)
Instants Quicken {U} Next sorcery you cast this turn
Savage Summoning {G} Next creature you cast this turn
Scout's Warning {W} Next creature you play this turn
Artifacts Vedalken Orrery {4} Nonland cards
Lands Alchemist's Refuge {G}{U}, {T} (activation) Nonland cards
Emergence Zone {1},{T}, Sacrifice Emergence Zone (activaton) Nonland cards (until end of turn)
Winding Canyons {2}, {T} (activation) Creatures (until end of turn)
Planeswalkers Teferi, Time Raveler {1}{W}{U} Sorceries until your next turn (+1 Loyalty Ability)
Vivien, Champion of the Wilds {2}{G} Creatures (Static Ability)
Planes Akoum Enchantments (any player)

References

  1. Mark Rosewater (September 18, 2006). "Plenty of Time". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. Mark Rosewater (June 8, 2015). "Evergreen Eggs & Ham". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. Magic Arcana (November 30, 2006). "Got Flash?". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. Mark Rosewater (April 27, 2017). "Is every color at least tertiary in flash?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  5. Mark Rosewater (June 5, 2017). "Mechanical Color Pie 2017". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. Mark Rosewater (January 14, 2018). "Flash has been upgraded to secondary in black.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
Advertisement