Soul of RavnicaHow it works & interactions with other cards

Harnessing the Spectrum

Soul of Ravnica features two activated abilities that count the number of colors among permanents you control. You can draw anywhere from zero to five cards depending on your board state. Because it checks for colors among permanents, it doesn't matter if one permanent has multiple colors or if you have many permanents of the same color; the game simply looks for the presence of White, Blue, Black, Red, and Green.

From the Battlefield to the Grave

The first ability is used while Soul of Ravnica is on the battlefield. The second ability is a 'soul' mechanic that functions only while the card is in your graveyard. Exiling the card is part of the activation cost for the graveyard ability. This means once you announce the ability and pay the mana, the card is moved to the exile zone immediately, and opponents cannot use graveyard removal to stop the ability from being put on the stack.

Timing and Resolution

When you activate either ability, the number of cards you draw is determined only when the ability resolves. If an opponent destroys one of your permanents in response to the activation, that permanent's colors will not be counted if it was your only source of that color. Conversely, if you gain control of a new colored permanent before resolution, it will be included in the count.

Common Pitfalls

Remember that Soul of Ravnica itself is blue, so it will count toward the draw total if it is on the battlefield when the first ability resolves. However, for the second ability, Soul of Ravnica is in exile by the time the ability resolves, so it won't count itself toward the color total. Also, colorless permanents like most artifacts and lands do not contribute to the count.

Interaction examples

Drawing with the Avatar

With Soul of Ravnica on the battlefield and no other permanents, you pay seven mana to activate its ability. When it resolves, the game checks your permanents and finds one color (Blue). You draw one card.

Synergizing with Psychosis Crawler

Psychosis Crawler

You control both creatures. Psychosis Crawler is colorless, but Soul of Ravnica is blue. When you activate the Avatar's ability, you draw one card. This triggers Psychosis Crawler, causing each opponent to lose 1 life and increasing the Crawler's power and toughness.

Protecting the Draw

Hullbreaker Horror

You have both Soul of Ravnica and Hullbreaker Horror on the battlefield. You activate Soul of Ravnica's ability. Because you control a blue permanent, the count is at least one. If an opponent tries to cast a spell to destroy your Avatar in response, you can cast a spell to trigger Hullbreaker Horror and return the opponent's threat to their hand, ensuring your board remains intact for a bigger card draw.