How does prowl work?
Asked by SandyDufresne 13 years ago
How exactly does "prowl" work? Do you pay the prowl cost "in addition to" or "instead of" the CMC? I assume based on reading the ability that it is "instead of" but I couldn't find the rule in the comprehensive rules so I would like to have the actual rule. Thank you.
BrightGreenLine says... Accepted answer #1
Prowl is an alternate cost for cards that can be paid if the condition is met. You pay the Prowl cost instead of the normal cost, as a way of getting spells cheaper. Here is the rule for Prowl:
702.74a. Prowl is a static ability that functions on the stack. "Prowl [cost]" means "You may pay [cost] rather than pay this spell's mana cost if a player was dealt combat damage this turn by a source that, at the time it dealt that damage, was under your control and had any of this spell's creature types." Paying a spell's prowl cost follows the rules for paying alternative costs in rules 601.2b and 601.2e-g.
So you announce that you're casting a spell, and then you announce that you are using that spell's Prowl ability to alter its cost. You will still have to follow any timing restrictions on the spell and any other effects that may modify the spell's cost.
July 14, 2011 4:43 p.m.