Hi magics new card urza's saga is throwing me for a curve ball also im calling into question my understanding of the word "gains...." for other cards.
In the case of urza's saga it says on each of the 3 stages gain a different ability but no time line of "end of turn". so for stage I does this card maintain the tap for mana ability in the first I, and keep that tap for mana ability throught out II and III? \
or does the tap for mana fall off when you move to II?
the way Urza's saga is using "gain....(ability)" is that implying it retains the ability for as long as the card remains on the battlefield regardless of changing turns?
has magic made any recent changes to the word "gains" in the sense that there is no ending wording such as "...until end of turn" that usually follows cards that start an ability or change of state with "gain"
Where the first and second chapter abilities say "Urza's Saga gains [ability]", it means Urza's Saga gains the stated ability for the rest of the game (which effectively means: for as long as Urza's Saga remains on the battlefield), since no duration is stated, such as "...for as long as Urza's Saga has exactly one lore counter on it" (C.R. 611.2a, 400.7). This is the same principle for effects of the form "Gain control of..." or "Change the text..." (e.g., Glamerdye).
More than 20 years ago, the Magic game started using the word "permanently" to indicate that an effect lasts for the rest of the game (e.g, Brass-Talon Chimera as printed in Visions). This has not been the case anymore, at least since Mercadian Masques (see, for example, Crag Saurian).
In the case of urza's saga it says on each of the 3 stages gain a different ability but no time line of "end of turn". so for stage I does this card maintain the tap for mana ability in the first I, and keep that tap for mana ability throught out II and III? \
or does the tap for mana fall off when you move to II?
the way Urza's saga is using "gain....(ability)" is that implying it retains the ability for as long as the card remains on the battlefield regardless of changing turns?
has magic made any recent changes to the word "gains" in the sense that there is no ending wording such as "...until end of turn" that usually follows cards that start an ability or change of state with "gain"
More than 20 years ago, the Magic game started using the word "permanently" to indicate that an effect lasts for the rest of the game (e.g, Brass-Talon Chimera as printed in Visions). This has not been the case anymore, at least since Mercadian Masques (see, for example, Crag Saurian).
EDIT (Jul. 19): Edit first sentence.