607.1.
An object may have two abilities printed on it such that one of them causes actions to be taken or
objects to be affected and the other one directly refers to those actions or objects. If so, these two
abilities are linked: the second refers only to actions that were taken or objects that were affected by
the first, and not by any other ability.
607.1a
An ability printed on an object within another ability that grants that ability to that object is
still considered to be «printed on» that object for these purposes.
607.1b
An ability printed on an object that fulfills both criteria described in rule 607.1 is linked to
itself.
607.2.
There are different kinds of linked abilities.
607.2a
If an object has an activated or triggered ability printed on it that instructs a player to exile
one or more cards and an ability printed on it that refers either to «the exiled cards» or to cards
«exiled with [this object],» these abilities are linked. The second ability refers only to cards in
the exile zone that were put there as a result of an instruction to exile them in the first ability.
607.2b
If an object has an ability printed on it that generates a replacement effect which causes one
or more cards to be exiled and an ability printed on it that refers either to «the exiled cards» or to
cards «exiled with [this object],» these abilities are linked. The second ability refers only to
cards in the exile zone that were put there as a direct result of a replacement event caused by the
first ability. See rule 614, «Replacement Effects.»
607.2c
If an object has an activated or triggered ability printed on it that puts one or more objects
onto the battlefield and an ability printed on it that refers to objects «put onto the battlefield with
[this object],» those abilities are linked. The second can refer only to objects put onto the
battlefield as a result of the first.
607.2d
If an object has an ability printed on it that causes a player to «choose a [value]» or «name a
card» and an ability printed on it that refers to «the chosen [value],» «the last chosen [value],» or
«the named card,» those abilities are linked. The second ability refers only to a choice made as a
result of the first ability.
607.2e
If an object has an ability printed on it that causes a player to choose from between two or
more words that otherwise have no rules meaning and an ability printed on it that refers to a
choice involving one or more of those words, those abilities are linked. The second can refer
only to a choice made as a result of the first ability.
607.2f
If an object has an ability printed on it that causes a player to pay a cost as it enters the
battlefield and an ability printed on it that refers to the cost paid «as [this object] entered the
battlefield,» these abilities are linked. The second ability refers only to a cost paid as a result of
the first ability.
607.2g
If an object has both a static ability and a triggered ability printed on it in the same
paragraph, those abilities are linked. The triggered ability refers only to actions taken as a result
of the static ability. See rule 603.10.
607.2h
If an object has a kicker ability printed on it and an ability printed on it that refers to whether
that object was kicked, those abilities are linked. The second refers only to whether the intent to
pay the kicker cost listed in the first was declared as the object was cast as a spell. If a kicker
ability lists multiple costs, it will have multiple abilities linked to it. Each of those abilities will
specify which kicker cost it refers to. See rule 702.31, «Kicker.»
607.2i
If an object has an ability printed on it that causes a player to pay a variable additional cost as
it‘s cast and an ability printed on it that refers to the cost paid «as [this object] was cast,» these
abilities are linked. The second refers only to the value chosen for the cost listed in the first as
the object was cast as a spell. See rule 601.2b.
607.2j
The two abilities represented by the champion keyword are linked abilities. See rule 702.70,
«Champion.»
607.3.
An ability may be part of more than one pair of linked abilities.
Example: Paradise Plume has the following three abilities: “As Paradise Plume enters the
battlefield, choose a color,” “Whenever a player casts a spell of the chosen color, you may
gain 1 life,” and “
: Add one mana of the chosen color to your mana pool.” The first and
second abilities are linked. The first and third abilities are linked.
607.4.
If an object acquires a pair of linked abilities as part of the same effect, the abilities will be
similarly linked to one another on that object even though they weren‘t printed on that object. They
can‘t be linked to any other ability, regardless of what other abilities the object may currently have
or may have had in the past.
Example: Arc-Slogger has the ability “
, Exile the top ten cards of your library: Arc-
Slogger deals 2 damage to target creature or player.” Sisters of Stone Death has the ability
“
: Exile target creature blocking or blocked by Sisters of Stone Death” and the
ability “
: Put a creature card exiled with Sisters of Stone Death onto the battlefield
under your control.” Quicksilver Elemental has the ability “
: Quicksilver Elemental
gains all activated abilities of target creature until end of turn.” If a player has Quicksilver
Elemental gain Arc-Slogger?s ability, activates it, then has Quicksilver Elemental gain
Sisters of Stone Death?s abilities, activates the exile ability, and then activates the return-tothe-
battlefield ability, only the creature card Quicksilver Elemental exiled with Sisters of
Stone Death?s ability can be returned to the battlefield. Creature cards Quicksilver
Elemental exiled with Arc-Slogger?s ability can?t be returned.