Does casting a copy count as playing?
Asked by ElJanitorFrank 1 year ago
I'm looking at building an Ink-Treader Nephilim secret commander EDH deck, and one card I am eyeing is Stolen Identity.
For the cipher mechanic, it claims you 'cast a copy' of the encoded spell, while Ink-Treader requires you to 'play' an instant or sorcery.
It doesn't seem clear what constitutes 'playing', and in this instance the copied spell is not just copied but also cast.
The most relevant rule I can find that might answer it is under the "Play" section for the rules which state, "701.14b To play a card means to play that card as a land or to cast that card as a spell, whichever is appropriate."
So would casting a copy of a spell count as 'playing it' on Ink-Treader, resulting in Ink-Treader's ability triggering, or do I need to physically produce the card for it to be considered 'playing'? The MTG wiki explains it layman-wise that 'casting' is just how you 'play' a spell, which is where my confusion comes from. It basically explains it as 'casting' being a subset of 'playing' i.e. playing isn't always casting but casting is always playing, though the rules always specify 'playing a card' and in this instance it is a copy.
I understand that simply copying a spell doesn't count as casting - I wouldn't be confused if it weren't for the fact that you "cast a copy" with cipher - but the rule for playing seems a little unclear on if 'casting' is enough or if you must have the physical card to be used.
Gidgetimer says... Accepted answer #2
You have all the necessary pieces, you are just overthinking it a bit. The MtG comp rules are always interpreted exactly literally. To play an object means to put a land into play as a special effect, or to cast a spell. Some copy effects, such as Cipher or Isochron Scepter, make a copy in a zone besides the stack and then instruct you to cast it. You are casting the spell, so it is played.
As noted previously Ink-Treader Nephilim (as well as every other trigger condition I can think of that used to say "play") has been eratta-ed to say "cast". "Play" is only currently used in effects that allow you to play cards that you otherwise would not be able to (like Abbot of Keral Keep or Fight Rigging. Though even that templating for "play" seems to be going away because things like Sen Triplets and Bolas's Citadel say "play lands and cast spells" in their oracle text.
October 23, 2023 11:59 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #3
*special action
Where I was saying "To play an object means to put a land into play as a special effect, or to cast a spell" it should say "To play an object means to put a land into play as a special action".
Not upgraded, so can't edit.
pinecone2k3 says... #1
Okay, so, to help you out a little, here, if you look at the updated Oracle rules text for Ink-Treader Nephilim on Gatherer, the official wording was, in fact, changed to "Whenever a player casts an instant or sorcery spell".
October 23, 2023 9:27 p.m.