Ward — what does it mean?
Whenever an opponent targets this, they must pay the ward cost first or the spell or ability is countered.
Ward appears on 210 cards.
How does Ward work?
Ward is a triggered ability. Whenever a permanent with ward becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, ward triggers. That trigger goes on the stack above the spell or ability. When it resolves, the player who targeted can pay the ward cost. If they don't, or can't, the spell or ability is countered. Mana they already spent is gone.
So you pay when the ward trigger resolves, not when you cast. Ward costs are often mana, but they can be life or something else. You can only pay life if you have at least that much. If the cost has an X, it's determined when the trigger resolves. Countered means the whole spell: if your removal spell also targets other things, it does nothing to them either.
Ward only cares about targeting. Untargeted effects, like destroy all creatures or each opponent sacrifices a creature, don't trigger it. Your own spells on your own creature don't either: ward only looks at opponents. A spell that can't be countered isn't stopped by ward. And ward isn't hexproof: you're allowed to target the creature, it just costs extra.
An example at the table
Your opponent has a 4/4 with ward 2. You have 4 untapped lands and cast a 2-mana removal spell targeting the 4/4. Ward triggers and goes on the stack above your spell. When the trigger resolves, you pay your remaining 2 mana, and then your removal resolves normally. If you'd only had 3 lands, you couldn't have paid after casting. Your spell would have been countered and the 2 mana lost.
Cards with Ward
Roaming ThroneIllustration: Cristi Balanescu
Hexing SquelcherIllustration: Matt Stewart
Kappa CannoneerIllustration: Jesper Ejsing
Valgavoth, Terror EaterIllustration: Antonio José Manzanedo
Adrix and Nev, TwincastersIllustration: Andrew MarCommon mistakes
- Thinking you pay the ward cost as you cast. You pay when the ward trigger resolves.
- Thinking ward works against your own spells. Only spells and abilities controlled by opponents trigger it.
- Thinking ward protects against board wipes. Untargeted effects don't trigger ward.
- Thinking only the ward target is skipped. If you don't pay, the entire spell or ability is countered, including for its other targets.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the difference between ward and hexproof?
- With hexproof, opponents can't target the creature at all. With ward they can, but they have to pay extra or the spell or ability is countered.
- Does ward trigger on an Aura?
- Yes, if an opponent casts it targeting your permanent. An Aura spell targets, so ward triggers.
- Does ward stop a spell that can't be countered?
- No. Ward tries to counter the spell, and that fails if the spell can't be countered.
- Can I respond to a ward trigger?
- Yes. The trigger uses the stack, so both players can respond before it resolves.
Official rule: Comprehensive Rules 702.21. More on where this rulebook comes from under Sources.
Often seen with
FlyingTrampleVigilanceMenaceTransform
Which cards with Ward do you own? →
Last updated: 26 October 2026