Sundering Archaic — ruling 1

If a spell with a converge ability is copied, no mana was spent to cast the copy, so the number of colors of mana spent to cast the spell will be zero. The number of colors spent to cast the original spell is not copied.

Sundering Archaic — ruling 2

Unless a spell or ability allows you to, you can't choose to pay more mana for a spell with a converge ability just to spend more colors of mana. Likewise, if a spell or ability reduces the amount of mana it costs you to cast a spell with converge, you can't ignore that cost reduction in order to spend more colors of mana.

Sundering Archaic — ruling 3

If there are any alternative or additional costs to cast a spell with a converge ability, the colors of mana spent to pay those costs will count.

Sundering Archaic — ruling 4

If you cast a spell with converge without spending any mana to cast it (perhaps because an effect allowed you to cast it without paying its mana cost), then the number of colors spent to cast it will be zero.

Sundering Archaic — ruling 5

The maximum number of colors of mana you can spend to cast a spell is five. Colorless is not a color. Note that the cost of a spell with converge may limit how many colors of mana you can spend.

Sundering Archaic : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Sundering Archaic 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

Converge — When this creature enters, exile target nonland permanent an opponent controls with mana value less than or equal to the number of colors of mana spent to cast this creature. : Put target card from a graveyard on the bottom of its owner's library.

Complete guide

Sundering Archaic is a versatile colorless Avatar that rewards players for diversifying the colors of mana used to cast it. By utilizing the Converge mechanic, it provides immediate board interaction followed by consistent graveyard control.

Understanding Converge

When Sundering Archaic enters the battlefield, its Converge ability triggers. You check how many different colors of mana (White, Blue, Black, Red, or Green) were spent to cast it. You then choose a target nonland permanent an opponent controls with a mana value less than or equal to that number. Because Sundering Archaic costs six mana, you can spend up to five colors, allowing you to exile permanents with a mana value of 5 or less.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, cast Sundering Archaic by paying its six mana cost; the game tracks the specific colors used. Once it resolves and enters the battlefield, the Converge ability goes on the stack. You must choose a legal target at this time based on the mana spent. If the target is still legal when the ability resolves, that permanent is exiled. Finally, while it is on the battlefield, you may pay two colorless mana at any time to move a card from a graveyard to the bottom of its owner's library.

Common Mistakes

A common misconception is that colorless mana counts as a color; however, 'colorless' is not a color in Magic. If you cast this using only colorless mana, the value for Converge is zero. Additionally, if you cast Sundering Archaic 'without paying its mana cost,' zero colors were spent, and the ability will not be able to target anything with a mana value of 1 or higher.

When to Play It

Play Sundering Archaic when you need to remove a problematic nonland permanent permanently, as exiling is often better than destroying. Its second ability is particularly useful against decks that rely on graveyard recursion or 'reanimation' strategies, allowing you to tuck key pieces away at instant speed.

Interaction examples

Exiling Cheap Threats

Psychosis Crawler

Suppose you cast Sundering Archaic using mana from a Plains, an Island, a Swamp, a Mountain, and two Wastes (four colors total). When it enters, you can target Psychosis Crawler. Since Psychosis Crawler has a mana value of 5 and you spent four colors, the target is invalid if you spent only four. You would need to spend five colors of mana to successfully exile the Crawler.

Comparison with Destruction

Meteor Golem

While Meteor Golem destroys any nonland permanent regardless of mana spent, Sundering Archaic exiles the target, preventing 'death triggers' or graveyard recursion. If you spend three colors to cast the Archaic, it can exile any nonland permanent with mana value 3 or less. After this, you can use the Archaic's activated ability to put a card from an opponent's graveyard—perhaps a card destroyed earlier by a Meteor Golem—on the bottom of their library.

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

How it works : Sundering Archaic

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
If a spell with a converge ability is copied, no mana was spent to cast the copy, so the number of colors of mana spent to cast the spell will be zero. The number of colors spent to cast the original spell is not copied.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
Unless a spell or ability allows you to, you can't choose to pay more mana for a spell with a converge ability just to spend more colors of mana. Likewise, if a spell or ability reduces the amount of mana it costs you to cast a spell with converge, you can't ignore that cost reduction in order to spend more colors of mana.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
If there are any alternative or additional costs to cast a spell with a converge ability, the colors of mana spent to pay those costs will count.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
If you cast a spell with converge without spending any mana to cast it (perhaps because an effect allowed you to cast it without paying its mana cost), then the number of colors spent to cast it will be zero.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
The maximum number of colors of mana you can spend to cast a spell is five. Colorless is not a color. Note that the cost of a spell with converge may limit how many colors of mana you can spend.
No other card is named in this ruling.