Fireblast and Defense Grid question

Asked by Poptart50100 14 years ago

If I have a Defense Grid in play and it is my turn and my opponent uses Fireblast during my turn by sacrificing 2 mountains instead of paying for its cost. Would the cost of fireblast be sac 2 mountains and pay 3, or since it says instead of pay its cost he can bypass defense grid ?

MagnorCriol says... Accepted answer #1

Your opponent will still have to pay an extra 3.

117.9d If an alternative cost is being paid to cast a spell, any additional costs, cost increases, and cost reductions that affect that spell are applied to that alternative cost. (See rule 601.2e.)601.2e The player determines the total cost of the spell...Some spells have additional or alternative costs. Some effects may increase or reduce the cost to pay, or may provide other alternative costs...The total cost is the mana cost or alternative cost, plus all additional costs and cost increases, and minus all cost reductions.

Think of Fireblast 's "discard two mountains" clause as, well, a literal alternative cost. As far as the card is concerned, the top corner of the card could just read "4RR or sacrifice two mountains". You choose one of the two costs to pay, but you're still paying a cost for the spell, and Defense Grid 's ability just adds 3 onto whatever cost is paid for a spell.

April 22, 2011 2:38 a.m.