Do cards the reduce instant/sorcery costs affect alternative costs?
Asked by Chadarnook 12 years ago
Say I have Arcane Melee on the field and want to overload Electrickery . Can I overload it for just one red mana then?
NobodyPicksBulbasaur says... Accepted answer #2
Anytime you cast an Instant or Sorcery spell while Arcane Melee is on the field, you will be able to pay (2) less to cast it. This includes alternative costs like Overload and/or Flashback.
The same trick works using Goblin Electromancer
October 12, 2012 12:33 p.m.
I believe landgrafb is correct, alternative costs are still reduced by effects such as this.
October 12, 2012 12:45 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #4
When calculating the total casting cost of a spell, you use the following equation:
Mana cost OR alt. cost + additional costs - cost reductions = total casting cost
If you cast a spell for an alternate cost, any cost reduction effects that reduce the total casting cost of that spell will still apply.
In this case, your overloaded Electrickery will cost RR. Note that Arcane Melee only reduces the colorless mana required to cast a spell. It DOES NOT reduce the amount of colored mana that must be paid.
October 12, 2012 12:59 p.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #5
I'm sure Epochalyptik meant to say "will cost R", but yes. Effects like Arcane Melee do exactly what they say they do, reducing the total cost to cast a spell. If you're using an alternate cost instead of the mana cost while casting it, you use that alternate cost in your calculations when figuring out how much to pay.
October 12, 2012 1:04 p.m.
This does hold true for Flashback and Overload but not for paying Kicker/Multikicker costs.
October 12, 2012 4 p.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #8
You will include any additional costs like Kicker and Multikicker in your calculation as well. A kicked Kavu Titan with a Planar Gate on the battlefield will cost a total of 1GG.
Saion says... #1
I'm pretty sure no, because Overload is an alternative cost to cast, not the actual casting cost. I'm sure Epochalyptik or Rhadamanthus will be able to answer better than I can, but more than likely no since Arcane Melee refers to CMC.
October 12, 2012 12:23 p.m.