Does the spell strength add magic trait to a check?

[Tracker1]

Fighting a shadow. Can i play this spell to add the magic trait to the combat check if I'm using my strength/melee die?

[Myriade]

If I follow the logic of what I've seen on other threads, I would say yes becaude the Strenght card has the magic trait, and the rules say that a card gives its trait to the check it is applied too.

[karat]

Myriade wrote:

If I follow the logic of what I've seen on other threads, I would say yes becaude the Strenght card has the magic trait, and the rules say that a card gives its trait to the check it is applied too.

Do the rules say that, or is this just from the author? (I've looked for it in the rules, but I couldn't find it myself.)

[zumbie nelson 635]

This isn't official but from what I've seen on the boards, as long as you have the trait/s to use the card the card will then lend its traits to the check.

Ex; Say the card requires you to use the strength or combat trait to use it which you have. Now the card also has the magic trait on it, this will add the magic trait to your attack.

[Dave Riley]

The ruling is that only cards that say "for your combat check" add their traits to the check, so spells like Strength and Guidance don't add Magic to combat checks.

[zeroth_hour]

Once again, the FAQ comes to the rescue:

The FAQ sez wrote:

Determine which die you’re using. Cards that require a check specify the skill or skills you can use to attempt the check. Each check to defeat or acquire a card lists one or more skills; you may choose any of the listed skills for your check. For example, if a check lists Dexterity, Disable, Strength, and Melee, you may use any one of those skills to attempt your check.

Most monsters and some barriers call for a combat check. Weapons and many other cards that can be used during combat generally tell you what skill to use when you attempt a combat check; if you don’t play such a card, use your Strength or Melee skill. (A few items that can be used in combat don’t use any of your skills; they instead specify the exact dice you need to roll or the result of your die roll.)
Some cards may allow you to replace the required skill for a check with a different one; as part of this action, you may play only 1 card or use only 1 power that changes the skill you are going to use. When you play a card that does this, add that card’s traits to the check; for example, revealing the weapon Longsword +1 for your combat check adds the Sword, Melee, Slashing, and Magic traits to the check. (This isn’t the same as giving you a skill; for example, the spell Holy Light adds the Divine trait to your check, but it does not give you the Divine skill.) Even if your character doesn’t have any of the skills listed for a check, you can still attempt the check (unless you’re trying to recharge a card; see Recharge on page 15), but your die is a d4.

This is the only time you're allowed to add traits to a check to defeat, unless the card/ability explicitly says you can add a trait to a check (eg Sajan's Dexterity Fist when you add the first feat to it).

Strength does not replace your required skill for a check, so it doesn't add the Magic trait to a check.