Card mechanics
General forum
Posted on Oct. 12, 2020, 1:21 a.m. by Paikuhan
If I have a card that says discard a card in order to use and that is the only card I have in my hand am I unable to play that card because I have no other card to discard or can I discard a card from the field?
EleshNornsFs says... #3
It depends on the card and its wording. If it says as an additional cost to cast this, then you cannot cast it without having a card in hand. However, if it does not say that, and it makes you discard as a result of the spell rather than a cost to cast it, then you may do so. I can't think of any specific examples though.
October 12, 2020 8:28 a.m.
VampDemigod says... #4
Basically, if a card says “as an additional cost to cast this spell...”, you have to pay the cost in order to play it.
Some relative terms: Sacrifice (put one of the permanent type listed into the graveyard from your battlefield), Discard (discard a card to your graveyard from your hand)
October 12, 2020 8:39 a.m.
VampDemigod says... #5
Good example Deino! Your hand can be 0 cards, but you can still discard it since it’s part of the effect!
October 12, 2020 9:18 a.m.
TriusMalarky says... #6
Dunno if it's relevant, but copying a card, say Thrill of Possibility, with some effect such as Reverberate, Swarm Intelligence or Kalamax, the Stormsire will copy the spell -- not the cost. So if you cast Thrill with Swarm out, you'll pay and discard a card to draw 4 cards at instant speed.
October 12, 2020 10:55 a.m.
FormOverFunction says... #7
For some reason I always come back to Goblin Grenade when it comes to spell costs. It helps me keep that colon ( “ : “ ) in mind. Gotta pay the cost to cast the spell. Everyone’s comments have been great, but I thought I’d throw in my $0.02. [note: not that I’m previewing the card, I guess they got rid of the colon. Sorry, I’m too old now, I guess.]
plakjekaas says... #2
You can't cast a Thrill of Possibility if it's the only card in your hand. To cast it, you need to pay its full price, both the mana cost and discarding a card. If you can't do both, you cannot play it, just like you can't cast the spell if you'd have insufficient mana to pay for it.
October 12, 2020 1:29 a.m.