Index	Table of Contents	Terms
	Terms - B

Banned card
A card that is not allowed in a particular format.
As of October 1, 2001, no cards are banned in the Standard or Invasion Block Constructed formats.

Basic land
There are five types of basic lands in Magic:
   Plains make .
   Islands make .
   Swamps make .
   Mountains make .
   Forests make .
Lands other than these five are called nonbasic lands.
   Even though a basic land has only a big mana symbol in its text box, it has an activated ability that makes one mana of the appropriate color just because of its land type. For example, if a land somehow becomes a swamp, you could tap it to make .
   See also Land, Nonbasic land, Subtype.

Beginning of combat step
The first step of the combat phase. Usually nothing happens during this step, but players can play instants and activated abilities if they want to.
   See also Combat phase.

Beginning phase
The first phase of each turn. The beginning phase contains the untap step, the upkeep step, and the draw step.

Block (noun)
A large expansion and its two following expansions are referred to as a block. For example, the Invasion block includes the Invasion, Planeshift, and Apocalypse sets.

Block (verb)
To stop attacking creatures from damaging you by intercepting them with creatures you control.
   When your opponent attacks you, each of your untapped creatures can block one attacking creature. You can have two or more of your untapped creatures gang up and block a single attacking creature.
   If an attacker is blocked, it will deal its damage to the creature blocking it instead of to you.
   See also Blocking creature, Combat damage.

Block Constructed
A Constructed play format which uses only cards from one block. For example, Invasion Block Constructed tournaments use only cards from the Invasion, Planeshift, and Apocalypse expansions.
   See also Constructed.

Block user
To prevent another player from sending you private chat messages, challenges, or trade requests. To block a user, right-click on that person's name in the list of players on the bottom right of your screen.
   See Block User for more information.

Blocked creature
An attacking creature blocked by at least one creature.
   Once a creature is blocked, it stays blocked for the rest of the combat phase. It remains a blocked creature even if all the creatures blocking it leave play. In other words, once a creature is blocked, there's no way for it to deal damage to the defending player (unless the attacking creature has trample).
   See also Attacking creature, Combat damage, Trample.

Blocking creature
A creature assigned to block an attacking creature.
   When a creature blocks an attacker, the attacker deals its damage to the blocker instead of to the defending player. Once a creature blocks, it stays a blocking creature for the rest of combat. Blocking creatures don't exist outside of the combat phase.
   The word "Blocking" appears in yellow text on each blocking creature in the Magic Online game.
   See also Combat damage, Declare blockers step.

Booster, booster pack
A pack of fifteen randomly assorted Magic cards. Each Seventh Edition booster contains at least one basic land card.
   When you purchase Magic Online booster packs, they're shown on the Collection screen. From this screen, you can open your boosters and add the cards to your collection. Boosters can be traded just like cards in your collection.

Booster Draft
In this Draft format, a group of up to eight players starts with three booster packs apiece. Each player opens a booster pack, selects a card, and then passes the pack to the player on his or her left. Players select and pass until all those cards have been drafted. Then each player opens another pack, passing to the right this time. The third pack is passed to the left.
   Players can't see the cards other players are drafting or have drafted.
   See Booster Draft for more information.

Buddy list
A way to keep track of Magic Online players you know. Your buddy list tells you if your friends are logged on to Magic Online and keeps track of their ratings.
   See My Buddies for more information.