Adamant

***Adamant*** is an ability word introduced in *Throne of Eldraine* for spells of the five courts that make up "the Realm".

## Description

Spells with Adamant have additional or alternative effects if you cast the spell with three or more mana of one color. The text is different on each color of spell, as colored spells specify the spell's color whereas the two artifact spells outline that any color can be used. *Commander Masters* revealed an Adamant spell that uses colorless mana, which changes the definition to "type of mana" rather than "color"; while not a large expansion in definition, this would also include snow mana.

Adamant's Storm Scale rating is due to underexposure: it had no discernable Constructed presence, and while they reinforced the monocolor Limited theme of *Eldraine*, Adamant was not seen as one of the relevant pressures. The payoff for achieving monocolor with Adamant spells was deliberately weakened due to monocolor payoffs elsewhere in the set, and often the fallback case was not worth the risk for two-colored decks. Additionally, all Adamant spells required three mana at minimum, with costs above five often needing weaker payoffs as the Adamant cost became lower, putting a narrow range for costing as well. Mark Rosewater's conclusion is that the mechanic will return with a similar purpose when a set needs an incentive for monocolor drafting.

### History

There were three cycles of Adamant spells printed in *Throne of Eldraine* (a cycle of common Knights, one common and one uncommon cycle of instant or sorcery spells), plus two artifact creatures and one unworded super-Adamant spell (Sundering Stroke) that takes effect when paying seven red mana.

A new card with colorless-focused Adamant was featured in the *Commander Masters* Commander decks (Desecrate Reality).

The card Throne of Eldraine from the *Wilds of Eldraine* set obliquely references to Adamant with both its abilities.

## Examples

**Example**

Slaying Fire
Instant
Slaying Fire deal 3 damage to any target.
*Adamant* — If at least three red mana was spent to cast this spell, it deals 4 damage instead.

## Rulings

* If an instant or sorcery spell has an adamant ability, you perform the spell's instructions in order. You don't perform the adamant instruction before the spell resolves or before any other effects printed above it.
* If an effect allows you to cast a spell without paying its mana cost, you can't choose to cast it and pay unless another rule or effect allows you to cast that spell for a cost. Similarly, you can't waive a cost reduction unless that effect says you may.
* Adamant effects check what mana was actually spent to cast a spell. If an effect allows you to spend mana "as though it were mana" of any color or type, that allows you to spend mana you couldn't otherwise spend, but it doesn't change what mana you spent to cast the spell.
* If you copy a spell that has an adamant ability, no mana was spent to cast the copy at all, so that ability won't apply.

## References

1. ↑ ***a*** ***b*** Mark Rosewater (December 19, 2022). "Storm Scale: Throne of Eldraine through Strixhaven, Part 1". *magicthegathering.com*. Wizards of the Coast.
2. ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 16, 2019). "Singing in the Eldraine". *magicthegathering.com*. Wizards of the Coast.
3. ↑ Matt Tabak (September 4, 2019). "Throne of Eldraine Mechanics". *magicthegathering.com*. Wizards of the Coast.
4. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (September 20, 2019). "*Throne of Eldraine* Release Notes". *magicthegathering.com*. Wizards of the Coast.

## External links

* Mechanic Spotlight: Adamant (Video). YouTube.