Chroma

Keywords · intermediate

Chroma is an ability word. It has no rules meaning of its own; it marks cards that count colored mana symbols to size an effect.

How it works

• A chroma effect counts how many mana symbols of one color appear in the mana costs of a specific group of cards: permanents you control, the top cards of your library, cards in your graveyard, or a single card being sacrificed, depending on the card.
• That count directly sizes the effect: a stat bonus, tokens created, cards milled, power and toughness, or damage dealt.
• Both the color counted and the group of cards checked are printed on the individual card; there's no default that applies across every chroma card.

Rules notes

• Because chroma isn't a keyword ability, there's no independent rule beyond 207.2c to look up — only the printed text on each card determines what it does.
• The count looks at mana symbols printed in a card's mana cost, not the color of mana actually spent to cast anything.

Rule reference

[207.2c]