211. Hand Modifier

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In short

Hand modifier: only on Vanguard cards (casual variant, rule 902) — changes the maximum hand size. Irrelevant for regular play.

Informal summary — the official English text below is authoritative.

211.1.Each vanguard card has a hand modifier printed in its lower left corner. This is a number preceded by a plus sign, a number preceded by a minus sign, or a zero. This modifier is applied as the starting hand size and the maximum hand size of the vanguard card’s owner are determined. See rule 103.5.

Source: Wizards of the Coast, Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules. Unofficial presentation under the Fan Content Policy. Rules effective as of Sep 25, 2026