Vivid

Keywords · intermediate

Vivid is an ability word. It has no rules meaning of its own (CR 207.2c) — every vivid ability counts the number of colors among the permanents you control and scales its effect to that number.

How it works

• Every vivid ability keys off the number of distinct colors among all the permanents you currently control, then uses that number (X) to size an effect.
• Most vivid creatures trigger as they enter the battlefield, using X to set how many tokens they create, how many cards they draw, or how much life you drain from an opponent.
• One vivid ability triggers on resolution instead of ETB — a sorcery that creates X tokens, then separately gains life equal to your total creature count.
• One vivid ability applies the color count as a cost reduction, making the spell cost {1} less for each color among your permanents.

Rules notes

• "Colors among permanents you control" counts distinct colors present, not the number of permanents — five permanents in five different colors and five permanents in only two colors give very different X values.
• The cost-reduction vivid ability checks your board state as you cast the spell; the trigger-based vivid abilities check it when their trigger resolves.
• One vivid ability uses two different numbers in the same effect — the token count comes from your color count, but the life gained afterward is based on your creature count instead.

Rule reference

[207.2c]