Clear, Fair MagicHow it works & interactions with other cards

Understanding Split Second

When you cast Clear, Fair Magic, the split second keyword takes effect immediately. As long as this spell is on the stack, players are prohibited from casting other spells or activating non-mana abilities. This means your opponents cannot respond with counterspells or protective spells to save their target. Only mana abilities can be activated, and triggered abilities can still trigger and go on the stack above it.

Targets and Resolution

Upon casting, you choose a legal target from the extensive list provided in the text. This includes standard permanents like artifacts, enchantments, and tokens, but also extends to game states and non-permanents like emblems, the monarch status, the initiative, or even active dungeons and planes. Once the spell resolves, the target is destroyed. If the target is an emblem or a game tracker like the city's blessing, that status or object is removed from the game.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is forgetting that split second does not prevent static abilities or triggered abilities from affecting the spell. For example, if a creature has 'Ward,' the ward ability will still trigger when Clear, Fair Magic targets it, and you must still pay the cost or the spell will be countered. Additionally, remember that it cannot target objects with Hexproof or Shroud that were already on the battlefield.

Strategic Timing

Use Clear, Fair Magic when an opponent has established a powerful non-creature advantage that is otherwise untouchable, such as a Planeswalker's emblem or the city's blessing. Because of split second, the best time to play it is when you need to guarantee a removal effect without the risk of a counter-war or the opponent activating the target's ability one last time in response.

Interaction examples

Bypassing Protection

Heroic Intervention

If your opponent controls an artifact and you cast Clear, Fair Magic targeting it, they cannot cast Heroic Intervention in response to give it indestructible. The split second keyword prevents them from casting any spells while Clear, Fair Magic is on the stack, ensuring the artifact is destroyed.

Removing Tokens

Beast Within

Suppose your opponent used Beast Within to turn your land into a 3/3 Beast creature token. On your turn, you can cast Clear, Fair Magic targeting that Beast token. Since 'token' is a valid target category for Clear, Fair Magic, the creature is destroyed, and the split second ability ensures no one can interfere with the process.