difference between triggered and activated abilities magic the gathering

[Tim94]

whats the difference between triggered and activated abilities in magic?

[Kappu1]

A triggered ability is something that happens due to an action in the game (i.e. Landfall).

An activated ability is something you have to pay a cost for.

[Arix]

That's kind of misleading. You have to pay a cost for Punishing Fire's ability, for example, but it's not activated. And Darksteel Colossus getting shuffled back happens due to an action in the game, but it's not triggered.

There is a simple way to tell them apart. Activated abilities are always written in the form "COST: EFFECT". Look for the colon, that's the main identifier. If there's no colon, it's not an activated ability.

Triggered abilities start with "at", "when", or "whenever". They tend to be written in the form "At/when/whenever (trigger event), (sometimes there's an additional "if" clause), (effect)".

[Tim94]

so what are the darksteel collossus and punishing fire abilities called?

[Arix]

Punishing Fire's is a triggered ability (notice the "whenever"). Darksteel Colossus's's's is a replacement effect (replacing one event - it going to your graveyard - with another - it being shuffled back).

[KogaNinja89]

That's kind of misleading. You have to pay a cost for Punishing Fire's ability, for example, but it's not activated. And Darksteel Colossus getting shuffled back happens due to an action in the game, but it's not triggered.

There is a simple way to tell them apart. Activated abilities are always written in the form "COST: EFFECT". Look for the colon, that's the main identifier. If there's no colon, it's not an activated ability.

Triggered abilities start with "at", "when", or "whenever". They tend to be written in the form "At/when/whenever (trigger event), (sometimes there's an additional "if" clause), (effect)".

Keyword "may" and no/with cost to benefit/drawback ratio dictates whether or not you should/shouldn't use that ability - With a "Trigger" it happens whether you want it to or not... WOW that was confusing.