Kicker

Kicker is an optional extra cost. When you cast a spell that has kicker, you may pay the additional mana shown — for example, Kicker {1} means paying {1} more as you cast it. If you pay, the spell is 'kicked,' and its other text may give you a bonus effect. If you do not pay, you still cast the spell normally with its base effect.

In play, kicker adds flexibility. You can cast the spell cheaply when mana is tight, or spend more later for a stronger result. That makes one card useful at different points in the game and forces opponents to consider both versions. It also rewards planning: holding back enough mana can turn a small play into a game-changing one.

• The catalog contains 230 unique cards with kicker, totaling 516 printings across 92 sets.
• Card types among them: 117 creatures, 61 instants, 46 sorceries, 4 artifacts, 4 enchantments, and 1 planeswalker.
• The main colors are blue, black, red, and green; rarities seen are common, uncommon, rare, mythic, and special.
• The oldest printed card in the catalog dates to 2000 (Invasion), and the newest set represented is Star Trek.
• Most-printed names include Rite of Replication, Into the Roil, Urza's Rage, Burst Lightning, Breath of Darigaaz, Inscription of Abundance, Maddening Cacophony, Orim's Thunder, Thornscape Battlemage, Gatekeeper of Malakir, Josu Vess, Lich Knight, and Nullpriest of Oblivion.