Part 8 – Understanding Mana Pool and Mana Burn
by papercut (with editing by Secret Squirrel)
The Mana pool
is where mana goes when you use a "mana source" (Lands,
Artifacts, Creatures etc.) to produce mana.
Mana are not
lands. Mana is the product of lands. Imagine that Mana
is like money. Lands work to get some money so you can
spend it to play abilities or spells.
Forest actually
reads "Add G to your mana pool" Llanowar Elves, Chrome
Mox acts just as lands.
Mana Burn
occurs when you switch from a phase to another with mana
in your pool. For example, you play Dark Ritual
[Instant-B-add BBB to your mana pool] and play something
that cost BB in your main phase. Then you want to attack
and declare the attack step, however, since you still
have B in your mana pool you lose 1 life due to mana
burn.
You cannot just
get rid of mana because you don't want it; a spell or
ability has to use it.
Mana Burn is not
damage; you're just losing life, so you can't prevent
it.
