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Imprint
Ability Word
Introduced Mirrodin
Last used Commander 2014
Typical Text Imprint — ... exile [a card] ... [do something with exiled card].
Statistics 23 cards
{X}88% {U}4% {R}4% {W}4%
Scryfall Search
keyword:"Imprint"

Imprint is a mechanic that was introduced in Mirrodin as a keyword ability.[1] It was updated as an ability word in Magic 2010 rules,[2] and thus then officially reintroduced in Scars of Mirrodin.[3][4]

Description

Some abilities associated with the imprint ability word are triggered, commonly by entering the battlefield; and some are activated abilities, but both exile cards from some zone. Prior to the reintroduction of Imprint as an ability word in Scars of Mirrodin, this was referred to as "imprinting" that card.[5] Imprint was an artifact-centric keyword / ability word until the release of New Phyrexia where it saw use on colored cards.[6]

Rulings

  • Each permanent with an imprint ability also has an ability that refers to the "exiled card(s)." These two abilities are linked. The second ability refers only to cards exiled as a result of the imprint ability, not by any other ability.
  • If all cards exiled by an imprint ability somehow leave the exile zone, or if a card isn't exiled by an optional imprint ability, or if the ability failed to exile a card because it was countered, then it is possible for an imprint ability to have no exiled card to refer to. In this case, the linked ability associated with the imprint ability has no card values to refer to and will only do as much as possible. It may do nothing at all.
  • If a permanent with an imprint ability leaves the battlefield and then returns to the battlefield, it is a new object. It has no association with any cards it exiled during its previous existence.

Rules

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

Imprint
“Imprint” used to be a keyword ability. It is now an ability word and has no rules meaning. All cards printed with the imprint keyword have received errata in the Oracle card reference.

As a keyword ability (Obsolete)

Template:Obsolete

Examples

Notable cards with imprint

Trivia

References

  1. Template:NewRef
  2. Template:NewRef
  3. Template:NewRef
  4. A Planeswalker's Primer for Scars of Mirrodin: Imprint
  5. Template:NewRef
  6. Template:NewRef

External links

Template:Keywords and abilities

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