How to read a Magic card: card anatomy explained
Last updated: August 28, 2026
A Magic: The Gathering card packs a lot of information into a small space. Once you know where everything lives, any card becomes easy to read. Here's the map, top to bottom.
Name and mana cost
The top line is the card's name; the symbols in the top-right corner are its mana cost — what you pay to cast it. Numbers are generic mana (any colour), and coloured pips are specific colours. A cost of 2 plus one blue pip means "three total mana, at least one of it blue."
The type line
The middle line tells you what the card is: Creature, Instant, Sorcery, Artifact, Enchantment, Planeswalker, or Land — plus subtypes like "Human Wizard" or "Equipment." Type determines when you can play it and which rules apply.
Rules text (and flavour text)
The text box holds the card's abilities — what it actually does. Below the rules, sometimes in italics, is flavour text: story colour with no game effect. Keywords like "Flying" or "Trample" are shorthand for longer rules you'll learn quickly.
Power and toughness
Creatures have two numbers in the bottom-right, like 3/4: power (damage it deals) over toughness (damage it can take before dying). Only creatures have these.
Rarity and the set symbol
The symbol on the right of the type line shows the set the card is from, and its colour shows rarity: black for common, silver for uncommon, gold for rare, and orange for mythic rare. Our rarity guide goes deeper on what that means for price.
The small print: collector number
Along the bottom you'll find the collector number and set code — the exact fingerprint of the printing, which matters when a card has multiple versions. Our printing guide explains how to use it. Now that you can read a card, browse the catalog or learn the formats you can play.