Verrak, Warped Sengir — ruling 1

Activated abilities contain a colon. They’re generally written “[Cost]: [Effect].” Some keyword abilities (such as equip) are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text. An activated mana ability is one that produces mana as it resolves, not one that costs mana to activate.

Verrak, Warped Sengir — ruling 2

Verrak’s triggered ability creates another instance of that activated ability on the stack. It doesn’t cause any object to gain an ability.

Verrak, Warped Sengir — ruling 3

The source of the copy is the same as the source of the original ability.

Verrak, Warped Sengir — ruling 4

If the ability is modal (that is, if it says, “Choose one —” or similar), the mode is copied and can’t be changed.

Verrak, Warped Sengir — ruling 5

If the ability divides damage or distributes counters among a number of targets, the division and number of targets can’t be changed. If you choose new targets, you must choose the same number of targets.

Verrak, Warped Sengir — ruling 6

If the activated ability’s cost contains a choice, such as a creature to sacrifice or a number of counters to remove, the copy uses that same information. You can’t pay the cost again, even if you want to.

Verrak, Warped Sengir — ruling 7

Any choices made when the ability resolves won’t have been made yet when it’s copied. Any such choices will be made separately when the copy resolves.

Verrak, Warped Sengir — ruling 8

If an ability is linked to a second ability, copies of that ability are also linked to that second ability. If the second ability refers to “the exiled card,” it refers to all cards exiled by the ability and the copy. For example, if Tidehollow Sculler’s enters-the-battlefield ability is copied and two cards are exiled, they both return when Tidehollow Sculler leaves the battlefield.

Verrak, Warped Sengir : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Verrak, Warped Sengir 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

Flying, deathtouch, lifelink Whenever you activate an ability that isn't a mana ability, if life was paid to activate it, you may pay that much life again. If you do, copy that ability. You may choose new targets for the copy.

How it works : Verrak, Warped Sengir

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1September 9, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
Activated abilities contain a colon. They’re generally written “[Cost]: [Effect].” Some keyword abilities (such as equip) are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text. An activated mana ability is one that produces mana as it resolves, not one that costs mana to activate.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2September 9, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
Verrak’s triggered ability creates another instance of that activated ability on the stack. It doesn’t cause any object to gain an ability.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3September 9, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
The source of the copy is the same as the source of the original ability.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4September 9, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
If the ability is modal (that is, if it says, “Choose one —” or similar), the mode is copied and can’t be changed.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5September 9, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
If the ability divides damage or distributes counters among a number of targets, the division and number of targets can’t be changed. If you choose new targets, you must choose the same number of targets.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6September 9, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
If the activated ability’s cost contains a choice, such as a creature to sacrifice or a number of counters to remove, the copy uses that same information. You can’t pay the cost again, even if you want to.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7September 9, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
Any choices made when the ability resolves won’t have been made yet when it’s copied. Any such choices will be made separately when the copy resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8September 9, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
If an ability is linked to a second ability, copies of that ability are also linked to that second ability. If the second ability refers to “the exiled card,” it refers to all cards exiled by the ability and the copy. For example, if Tidehollow Sculler’s enters-the-battlefield ability is copied and two cards are exiled, they both return when Tidehollow Sculler leaves the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#9September 9, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
In some cases involving linked abilities, an ability requires information about “the exiled card.” When this happens, the ability gets multiple answers. If these answers are being used to determine the value of a variable, the sum is used. If an ability attempts to create a token that is a copy of “the exiled card,” it creates a token for each card exiled this way that is a copy of that card.
No other card is named in this ruling.