Forbidden LoreHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Forbidden Lore is an Aura with the Enchant land keyword. Once attached, it grants the enchanted land a new activated ability: "{T}: Target creature gets +2/+1 until end of turn." This turns a land into a repeatable combat trick that doesn't cost mana to activate, only the tap of the land itself.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, you cast Forbidden Lore by paying {2}{G} and targeting a land on the battlefield. Once it resolves, the enchantment attaches to that land. From that point on, you may activate the land's new ability during any window you have priority, such as during the declare attackers or declare blockers steps. You tap the land and choose a target creature; when the ability resolves, that creature's power and toughness increase by +2 and +1 respectively until the end of the current turn.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is thinking any player can use the land. Per official rulings, Forbidden Lore grants the ability to the land itself, meaning only the land's controller can activate it. Additionally, remember that once you tap the land for this bonus, it is no longer available to produce mana unless you have a way to untap it.

When to Play It

This card is best used in aggressive decks where pushing through damage is more important than having excess mana. It is particularly effective when you have multiple lands and need to make a small creature a significant threat that can survive combat or trade up against larger blockers.

Interaction examples

Pushing Through Damage

Garruk's Uprising

If you have Garruk's Uprising on the battlefield, your creatures have trample. By using Forbidden Lore to give a 2/2 creature +2/+1, it becomes a 4/3 with trample. This not only allows it to deal excess damage to your opponent, but if it was entering the battlefield, the power boost would trigger Garruk's Uprising's card draw ability if the timing is right.

Efficient Combat Math

Sylvan Library

While Sylvan Library helps you dig for your Forbidden Lore, the synergy lies in resource management. Since Forbidden Lore does not require mana to activate once it is on the field, you can use your mana to cast the extra cards you find with Sylvan Library while still using your land to buff your attackers for free during combat.