I do apologize if this is a question that has been asked and answered before but I am a 61 year old female who just started to learn this game this year and this term is something that confuses me.

Question: What is "static ability"?

a "Static Ability" is an effect printed on a card that doesn't have either an F, E, or R before it. It is neither a Form, and Enhance, nor a Response/React ability that is played.

Instead, it is a constant ability that is in-effect the moment it hits the cardpool, or staging area.

Actually the technical term is "Continuous Ability". Static is the same thing in Magic: The Gathering.

Everyone says "static ability" because continuous is a pain to spell. Or they're more familiar w/ M:TG and so use it's terminology.

Continuous abilities are generally in effect the moment they enter play. However often they aren't. Or are in effect while still in your hand. Or sometimes discard or RFG.

From the advanced rules document:

2.10 Continuous Abilities
Abilities that are not preceded by a bold face term and colon are continuous abilities. Continuous abilities are always active.
2.10.1 Continuous abilities are found in a card’s text box.
2.10.2 In the case of the application of multiple continuous abilities, the player whose turn it currently is applies theirs in any order they choose, and then their opponent applies theirs in any order they choose.
2.10.3 Continuous abilities may reference a specific game event. The ability will only begin resolving once that event takes place. (For example, if a continuous ability states “After your opponent plays an attack, draw 1 card.” The player will only draw 1 card due to this continuous ability after the event of their opponent playing an attack takes place.)

ChaosChild said:

**stamp**

An example of this would be the card destiny which has the text:

"After your opponent gives one of your control checks a penalty, cancel that ability's effect."

There are no r's or anything like that, as soon as your opponent attempts to play an ability to give your control check a negative, it is cancelled.

RockStar said:

When it hits the cardpool? Does this mean Fight for the Future's ability is useable if you play it as your first card, then continue to play attacks for the rest of the turn?

No. Continuous abilities on foundations and assets only become active once the card hits the staging area, unless there is something specific on the card to indicate some other timing consideration.

e.g. Flaming Mid-Section Club Cruncher reads "Before this turn's End Phase begins, if this card was played as a block, you may add it to your staging area". This ability obviously has to be active while the card in in the card pool in order for the timing to work.

1sanik said:

Sorry, i see the confusion in what i said...Chaos Child has the right of it. There are instances where a Static Text's ability is 'On' once it hits the card pool: "...While this card is in your cardpool..." is a typcial specifc, like Terry's Power Charged Elbow attack. Or, Heel Snipe is another good one.

What happens if continuous abilities are forgotten about. Example

Its my opponents turn, he is on 5 vitality and has an Altered Mind and Body in his staging area.

He ends his turn forgetting the continuous ability that will allow him to gain 1 life

In my turn my first attack is a throw which i pump to 10 damage (Assume i have no other attacks in hand).

He then suddenly remembers about AMB, what happens?

babelfish666 said:

Up to the scout/tournament organizers/players. In that exact case, the wording is not "at the end of your turn, you may gain one life" but it is more to the effect of "you do gain one life" so i would say he gets the vitality.

Forgetting a window triggered is a lot different than forgetting an effect had trigger IMO, as far as rules go at least.

Unwritten law (in actuallity this stuff pertains to tournament rules, NOT game rules) would say the players came to a reasonable conclusion 9/10 times, and when they can't call over a judge and explain the situation. You may or may not agree with the ruling they make, but at the point you would have to take it.

I'd say if you missed a window such as "at the end of your turn, you may draw 2 cards" then live and learn, but if you missed an effect like AMB you get the vitality. Technically you DID get the vitality, you just forgot you got it (as opposed to forgeting to play an ability to gain vitality)

Also, if he was dead, shook your hand, and THEN said owait i have 1 life...it may be too late at that point.