Level up

Level up is a keyword ability used in Rise of the Eldrazi on Leveler cards and in Modern Horizons. 
==Description==
The ability can only be activated anytime the player could cast a sorcery. When the ability resolves a level counter is put on the creature, and its level is considered to be the number of level counters on the card. When leveler cards enter the battlefield, they have no level counters and are therefore Level 0.
When the creature reaches a certain level, its power and toughness changes and the creature may gain additional abilities. For example, <c>Knight of Cliffhaven</c> starts out as a 2/2 creature for . When leveled up at least once for , it becomes a 2/3 creature with flying. If it was leveled up at least four times, it becomes a 4/4 creature with flying and vigilance.
Creatures with level up have a different card frame in a similar manner as Flip cards and planeswalkers were printed with a different card face. The textbox is separated into the strips with the top strip showing the Level up ability with a P/T-box on the right showing the base power/toughness. On the stripes below it are arrow-like boxes on the left showing the levels a change in the creature occurs with P/T-boxes on the right. In between the box designating the level and the P/T-box is space for additional abilities if the creature gains any.
For example <c>Knight of Cliffhaven</c> gains Flying when it becomes level 1. Also, its power/toughness change from 2/2 to 2/3 when it becomes level 1. Not all creatures with Level up gain abilities and not all creatures' power/toughness change. <c>Enclave Cryptologist</c> is an example of a creature with Level up that does not have a power/toughness change.
Level up doesn't interact with the levels on Class cards.
==History==
The mechanic was inspired by <c>Figure of Destiny</c> in Eventide, a single-card design by Rise of the Eldrazi lead Brian Tinsman. That card itself was the product of a top-down design process (much like Tinsman's famous ), inspired by the leveling system of Dungeons & Dragons and other role playing games. In order to reduce complexity and power level, the variable costs were removed and sorcery speed was added for Level up.
Level up was received with mixed reactions, including dislike for the card frame and confusion about starting at level 0 rather than 1. It has not been reprinted in any Standard-legal sets. After Level up was discontinued, the original template based on creature types was later reused, with unique twists each time: <c>Warden of the First Tree</c> (off-color hybrid mana) <c>Ascendant Spirit</c> (snow), (monocolor; noncombat third ability payoff), <c>Frodo, Sauron's Bane</c> (hybrid cost into off-color cost), and <c>Tenth District Hero</c> (collect evidence). uses a variant based on having defender or being a color. cannot level itself up, but follows a similar pattern based on the number of Auras attached to it.
Class enchantments were introduced in Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, bringing the Level up concept full circle by directly representing the Dungeons & Dragons concept that inspired Level up originally, with a similar implementation on cards. This mechanic addressed players' feedback about Level up, using a simpler card frame due to the lack of power and toughness on enchantments (and using a frame layout similar to the popular Sagas), and starting at level 1 rather than 0.
==Rules==
Level up rules have an inherent interdependence with the rules for Leveler cards:
==Examples==
==Trivia==
* Level up was featured as rules card 1 of 5 in the Rise of the Eldrazi set.
* Level up was received with mixed reactions. The layout confused a lot of players. For example, on some leveler cards such as , the first time their abilities change is at Level 2, leaving some players to mistakenly believe the card enters the battlefield beginning at Level 1.
==External links==
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==References==