4. Zones
Rules overview
A zone is a place where objects can be during a game. The seven zones (library, hand, battlefield, graveyard, stack, exile, command) each have their own rules about visibility, ownership, ordering, and what happens when a card moves in or out.
If you've ever wondered "is my graveyard ordered?" or "can I look through my exile pile?", section 4 has the answer.
What you'll find
- 400 General -- the list of zones, which are public and which are hidden, and which belong to each player.
- 401 Library -- ordered, hidden, no peeking.
- 402 Hand -- hidden from opponents, owner can see.
- 403 Battlefield -- the shared zone where permanents are.
- 404 Graveyard -- each player's own face-up pile; anyone can look through it, but its order normally can't be changed.
- 405 Stack -- where spells and abilities wait.
- 406 Exile -- once called the "removed-from-the-game zone"; cards are face up unless exiled face down.
- 407 Ante -- an optional way to play for keeps; basically dead.
- 408 Command -- where commanders, emblems, dungeons, and the special cards of casual variants are; nothing there is a permanent or can be destroyed.