Can you use AEther Vial to cast face down Cards?
Asked by doodkyle 4 years ago
If I've played Aether Vial and choose not to put a charge counter on it during my next upkeep, can I use it's ability to play a morph or megamorph card face down? For example Hidden Dragonslayer or Zoetic Cavern ?
I understand the cards mana cost isn't changed, but the ruling says face down cards have a 0 converted mana cost. Is there an explanation why that doesn't matter? Is it because the 0 Mana cost only exists once it's in play?
June 23, 2019 12:11 a.m.
Raging_Squiggle says... Accepted answer #3
There is no interaction between Aether Vial and (mega)morph.
702.36a Morph is a static ability that functions in any zone from which you could play the card it’s on, and the morph effect works any time the card is face down. “Morph [cost]” means “You may cast this card as a 2/2 face-down creature with no text, no name, no subtypes, and no mana cost by paying {3} rather than paying its mana cost.” (See rule 707, “Face-Down Spells and Permanents.”)
02.36b Megamorph is a variant of the morph ability. “Megamorph [cost]” means “You may cast this card as a 2/2 face-down creature with no text, no name, no subtypes, and no mana cost by paying {3} rather than paying its mana cost” and “As this permanent is turned face up, put a +1/+1 counter on it if its megamorph cost was paid to turn it face up.” A megamorph cost is a morph cost.
702.36c To cast a card using its morph ability, turn it face down. It becomes a 2/2 face-down creature card with no text, no name, no subtypes, and no mana cost. Any effects or prohibitions that would apply to casting a card with these characteristics (and not the face-up card’s characteristics) are applied to casting this card. These values are the copiable values of that object’s characteristics...
Aether Vial does not cast/play the card. It simply puts it onto the battlefield. And since Aether Vial's ability does not mention anything about putting it on the battlefield face down, the creature will enter face-up.
110.6b Permanents enter the battlefield untapped, unflipped, face up, and phased in unless a spell or ability says otherwise.
Gidgetimer says... #1
No, morph is an ability that allows you to play the card face down. It doesn't change the mana cost or typing of the card or add an additional "face". Face down cards in play are simply defines as being 2/2s with no mana cost or type.
June 22, 2019 11:49 p.m.