Ballad of the Black Flag — ruling 1

A card, spell, or permanent is historic if it has the legendary supertype, the artifact card type, or the Saga subtype. Having two of those qualities doesn’t make an object more historic than another or provide an additional bonus—an object either is historic or it isn’t.

Ballad of the Black Flag — ruling 2

Some abilities trigger “whenever you cast a historic spell.” Such an ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered.

Ballad of the Black Flag — ruling 3

An ability that triggers “whenever you cast a historic spell” doesn’t trigger if a historic card is put onto the battlefield without being cast.

Ballad of the Black Flag — ruling 4

Lands are never cast, so abilities that trigger “whenever you cast a historic spell” won’t trigger if you play a legendary land. They also won’t trigger if a card on the battlefield transforms into a card with the legendary supertype, the artifact card type, or the Saga subtype.

Ballad of the Black Flag : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Ballad of the Black Flag is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after IV.) I, II, III — Mill three cards. You may put a historic card from among them into your hand. (Artifacts, legendaries, and Sagas are historic.) IV — Historic spells you cast this turn cost less to cast.

Complete guide

Set sail for value with Ballad of the Black Flag, a powerful Saga that fuels your graveyard and refills your hand with legendary treasures. This enchantment is a cornerstone for historic-themed decks, providing consistent card selection before culminating in a massive discount for your spells.

Digging for History

The first three chapters of Ballad of the Black Flag function identically. When a lore counter is added during chapters I, II, or III, you mill three cards from the top of your library. You then have the option to pick one historic card—an artifact, a legendary card, or another Saga—from those three specific cards and put it into your hand. If none of the milled cards are historic, or if you simply don't want them, they all stay in the graveyard.

The Grand Finale

When the fourth lore counter is added, the final chapter triggers. For the remainder of that turn, every historic spell you cast costs {2} less. This reduction applies to the generic mana portion of the spell's cost. Because the Saga is sacrificed only after the chapter IV ability has left the stack, you can enjoy this discount immediately during your main phase.

Common Misconceptions

It is important to remember that 'historic' is a binary status. A card that is both an artifact and legendary, like many powerful equipment or creatures, does not receive a double discount; it is simply historic. Additionally, playing a legendary land does not count as 'casting a spell,' so lands will never trigger or benefit from the chapter IV cost reduction.

Strategic Timing

Since the lore counters are added after your draw step, you will usually mill and find a card before you take any actions in your pre-combat main phase. To maximize the value of Chapter IV, save your high-cost artifacts or legendary creatures in your hand until the turn the fourth counter is placed.

Interaction examples

Navigating Taxing Effects

Rhystic Study

If an opponent controls Rhystic Study while your Ballad of the Black Flag is on Chapter IV, the cost reduction helps manage your mana. While the Saga reduces the casting cost of a legendary spell by {2}, your opponent's Rhystic Study still triggers whenever you cast that spell. You can use the mana you saved from the discount to pay the {1} required by the Study to prevent your opponent from drawing a card.

Developing Your Board

Propaganda

During Chapters I, II, or III, you mill three cards. If one of those cards is a legendary creature or an artifact creature, you may put it into your hand. While Propaganda protects you from attacks, Ballad of the Black Flag ensures you find the historic blockers or utility pieces needed to stabilize your board state until the big discount turn arrives.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Ballad of the Black Flag

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1July 5, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
A card, spell, or permanent is historic if it has the legendary supertype, the artifact card type, or the Saga subtype. Having two of those qualities doesn’t make an object more historic than another or provide an additional bonus—an object either is historic or it isn’t.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2July 5, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
Some abilities trigger “whenever you cast a historic spell.” Such an ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3July 5, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
An ability that triggers “whenever you cast a historic spell” doesn’t trigger if a historic card is put onto the battlefield without being cast.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4July 5, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
Lands are never cast, so abilities that trigger “whenever you cast a historic spell” won’t trigger if you play a legendary land. They also won’t trigger if a card on the battlefield transforms into a card with the legendary supertype, the artifact card type, or the Saga subtype.
No other card is named in this ruling.