MTG card search: advanced search options

Author: David Chambers
Published: 23 November 2008 at 12:35 pm
Short URL: http://blog.mtg-apps.com/1/
Markdown: http://blog.mtg-apps.com/1/m/

This site's mtg card search makes use of several advanced search options that are similar to those offered by Google:

multi-word phrases
negation
attribute selectors

Multi-word phrases

When you submit a search containing several words, the query will return cards that contain all these words among the selected search fields. It is possible to wrap two or more words in double quotes to specify that they must appear together as a phrase. For example, comes into play will return all cards that have the words "comes", "into", and "play" among the selected search fields, while "comes into play" will provide only those cards which feature the phrase "comes into play". This behaviour will be familiar to most Google users.

Negation

Negation is another concept that will be familiar to many. To negate a search term, simply precede it with a minus sign (well, a hyphen to be precise, but the behaviour is very much like that of the mathematical operator). For example, damage -player will display cards which feature the word "damage" but not the word "player".

Negation may also be used in conjunction with any of the advanced search options; -manacost:GG and -"without flying" are examples of this.

Attribute selectors

Several attributes can be targeted:

supertype and subtype
mana cost
converted mana cost
power and toughness
loyalty
rarity
gatherer id

Results can be narrowed by requiring certain values or value ranges for the card attributes listed above. The syntax required to make use of these attribute selectors is similar to Google's site: and filetype: selectors.

Supertype and subtype

supertype:

subtype:

These selectors provide a greater degree of flexibility than the basic supertype and subtype checkboxes. For example, supertype:"artifact creature" subtype:bird will return artifact creatures which are also Birds.

Mana cost

manacost:

This selector must be followed by a valid mana cost. Coloured mana symbols are represented by the letters W, U, B, R, and G for white, blue, black, red, and green mana respectively. For example, manacost:3U will ensure that only cards with a mana cost of [3] [U] are displayed.

Converted mana cost

cmc:

This selector must be followed either by a numeric value or a value range. For example, cmc:5 will catch cards with a converted mana cost of 5, while cmc:0-2 will return cards with a converted mana cost of 0, 1, or 2.

Update — 13 January 2009

It is now also possible to include a plus sign after the value to catch all cards with converted mana cost greater than or equal to the value. While cmc:6+ returns the same results as -cmc:0-5, negating a range is not at all obvious so this simpler alternative should prove helpful.

Power and toughness

power:

toughness:

These selectors work in the same way. Both accept a numeric value, which may be followed by a plus sign. For example, power:2 will find creatures with 2 power, while toughness:6+ will return creatures with at least 6 power.

Update — 5 August 2009

It is now possible to use the shorthand p/t in the place of power:p toughness:t. For example, 6/1 is equivalent to power:6 toughness:1. Note that wrapping p/t in double quotes will ensure that it is interpreted literally. Therefore, 6/1 will find Ball Lightning (but not Genju of the Spires) whereas "6/1" will find Genju of the Spires (but not Ball Lightning).

Loyalty

loyalty:

This selector accepts a numeric value, which may be followed by a plus sign. For example, loyalty:4+ will return planeswalkers with loyalty 4 or greater.

Rarity

rarity:

There are six different rarities: common, uncommon, rare, mythic, (basic) land, and special (for Time Spiral's "Timeshifted" cards). These may be written in full; alternatively the first letter can be used for briefness. For example, rarity:land will limit the search to basic lands, while rarity:c will return commons only.

Gatherer id

gid:

Occasionally one may find it useful to search for a specific gatherer id. This selector does the trick.

Comments

Random thought: Due to Reveillark, you might sometimes want to search for creatures with 2 power or less.

Good point, Glenn. I would suggest using -power:3+ for this purpose.