<p>"Scavenge {5}{G}{G}" is a keyword ability. A keyword ability is a shortcut that represents one or more other abilities. The parenthesized, italicized text is a reminder of the gist of the ability for which the keyword stands.</p>

<p>Specifically, the keyword ability "Scavenge [cost]" means "[Cost], Exile this card from your graveyard: Put a number of +1/+1 counters equal to this card's power on target creature. Scavenge only as a sorcery.".</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-14T18:25:00.440Z
2016-10-14T18:25:00.440Z
ikegami
<p>It's written like that because that's what the ability means; "Scavenge [cost]" means "[Cost], Exile this card from your graveyard: Put a number of +1/+1 counters equal to this card's power on target creature. Scavenge only as a sorcery.". The italic text in parentheses is called <em>reminder text</em>, and it's there in this case to tell you what scavenge does.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-09T04:57:11.663Z
Note that reminder text is not the actual definition of the term; that's in the comprehensive rules. In this case they're essentially the same, though, just a more explicit, correct phrasing in the full rules.
Cascabel
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-09T04:57:13.377Z
Ahhh there we go! Very well explained, thank you. The redundancy was confusing, but this makes perfect sense.
Colorblind Transformer
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-09T05:01:43.710Z
@Jefromi I'll work on my formatting, sorry!
Colorblind Transformer
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-09T04:43:35.683Z
2016-10-09T04:55:32.917Z
2016-10-09T04:55:32.917Z
KSFT
<p><a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bKorozda%20Monitor%5d">Korozda Monitor</a> reads:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Scavenge {5}{G}{G} <em>({5}{G}{G}, Exile this card from your graveyard: Put a number of +1/+1 counters equal to this card's power on target creature. Scavenge only as a sorcery.)</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>I would like to know why the 5(G)(G) is listed twice, outside of the parentheses and inside. I've seen this format on other cards too. </p>

<magic-the-gathering>
Why does this ability have its mana cost written twice?
Colorblind Transformer
# Why does this ability have its mana cost written twice?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-10-09)

[Korozda Monitor](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bKorozda%20Monitor%5d) reads:

> Scavenge {5}{G}{G} *({5}{G}{G}, Exile this card from your graveyard: Put a number of +1/+1 counters equal to this card's power on target creature. Scavenge only as a sorcery.)*

I would like to know why the 5(G)(G) is listed twice, outside of the parentheses and inside. I've seen this format on other cards too.

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-10-09. Score: 11 | Accepted answer

It's written like that because that's what the ability means; "Scavenge [cost]" means "[Cost], Exile this card from your graveyard: Put a number of +1/+1 counters equal to this card's power on target creature. Scavenge only as a sorcery.". The italic text in parentheses is called *reminder text*, and it's there in this case to tell you what scavenge does.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Note that reminder text is not the actual definition of the term; that's in the comprehensive rules. In this case they're essentially the same, though, just a more explicit, correct phrasing in the full rules.  
> **username_0**: Ahhh there we go! Very well explained, thank you. The redundancy was confusing, but this makes perfect sense.  
> **username_0**: @Jefromi I'll work on my formatting, sorry!  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2016-10-14. Score: 2

"Scavenge {5}{G}{G}" is a keyword ability. A keyword ability is a shortcut that represents one or more other abilities. The parenthesized, italicized text is a reminder of the gist of the ability for which the keyword stands.

Specifically, the keyword ability "Scavenge [cost]" means "[Cost], Exile this card from your graveyard: Put a number of +1/+1 counters equal to this card's power on target creature. Scavenge only as a sorcery.".


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