Does Mana Count Towards Devotion?
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Mana does not directly count towards devotion; instead, devotion only counts mana symbols in the mana costs of the permanents you control. This means that only the mana symbols in the upper right corner of a card, representing its mana cost, are considered when calculating devotion to a particular color.
Understanding Devotion
To understand how devotion works, it’s crucial to know that it’s a mechanic in Magic: The Gathering that looks at the mana costs of all permanents you control to determine your devotion to a color.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Do You Calculate Devotion?
To calculate your devotion to a color, you look at the mana costs of all the permanents you control and count every mana symbol of the appropriate color, with each symbol adding one to your devotion.
2. Do Gods Count Towards Their Own Devotion?
Yes, gods do count towards their own devotion because their mana symbols in their casting cost are counted as long as they are permanents on the battlefield.
3. Does Phyrexian Mana Count Towards Devotion?
Yes, Phyrexian mana does count towards devotion because it is considered a colored mana symbol.
4. Do Flipped Cards Count Towards Devotion?
Yes, flipped cards, such as those from the Kamigawa block, count towards devotion because they have the same mana cost regardless of their state.
5. Does Gray Merchant of Asphodel Count Itself?
Yes, Gray Merchant of Asphodel counts itself towards devotion because it “sees” itself enter the battlefield and its BB in the casting cost counts towards your total devotion.
6. Do Non-Basic Lands Count Towards Devotion?
No, non-basic lands do not count towards devotion unless they have a specific mana cost or color identity.
7. What Are the Nine Forms of Devotion?
In a broader context, particularly in religious or philosophical discussions, devotion can refer to acts of prayer, worship, or dedication to a higher power or cause, with various forms such as shravana, kirtana, smarana, pada-sevana, archana, vandana, dasya, sakhya, and atma-nivedana.
8. Does Mana Value Affect Devotion?
The mana value of an object, which is the total amount of mana in its mana cost, does not directly affect devotion; only the mana symbols themselves are counted.
9. How Did Jesus Practice Personal Devotion?
Jesus practiced personal devotion through prayer, often praying alone or with his disciples, demonstrating the importance of personal worship and connection with a higher power.
10. Is a Devotion a Prayer?
A devotion can include prayer but is more broadly a time for personal worship, reflection, or meditation on spiritual matters.
11. Do Black Tokens Count Towards Devotion?
Black tokens do not count towards devotion unless they are exact copies of cards with mana pips.
12. What is Devotion to Black?
Devotion to black refers to the count of black mana symbols in the mana costs of permanents you control, which can affect the power of certain cards like Gray Merchant of Asphodel.
13. Did Nissa Lose Her Spark?
Nissa, like some other planeswalkers, lost her planeswalker spark in certain storylines, affecting her abilities and role in the Magic: The Gathering universe.
14. How Did Karn Become Phyrexian?
Karn became Phyrexian by introducing Phyrexian oil to Mirrodin, leading to his transformation into the Father of Machines and leader of Phyrexia.
15. Who is the First Phyrexian?
The Phyrexians were created by Yawgmoth, a Thran eugenicist, making him the originator of the Phyrexian race and their plans for perfection through artificial means.