If you have a spell that reduces costs of spells by 1 (ie cloud key, that new izzet goblin coming out) and I play a spell that has a XX cost (entreat the angels, bonfire, etc) is it only reduced by 1 or 2?
Asked by blazinpsycho 12 years ago
I know it says on the cards, they cost 1 less to cast but since XX means both X's have to be the same, doesn't it mean i have to change 1 of the X's to make them the same?
Or am I thinking too hard...
Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #2
The total cost of the spell is the final mana cost plus any additional costs and minus any cost reducers.
In this case, the value of each X has to be the same. That doesn't mean that value is what you must pay for each X, since cost reductions will lead to differing payments. Cost reductions only apply once.
Let's take an example case: You cast Bonfire of the Damned normally and declare X=3. therefore, the mana cost of the spell is 6R. Goblin Electromancer (or whatever else you have in play) will reduce this to 5R, and that will be the total casting cost for this spell. You only pay 5R even though X is 3.
September 16, 2012 11:33 p.m.
In order to figure this out clearly, first you need to understand the basics of casting a spell:
Declare the spell and put it on the stack
Choose modes/targets
Determine casting cost. If there is an X in the casting cost, declare what X will be. In this example, let's say Entreat the Angels is cast with X = 2.
Therefore, the total cost for casting Entreat the Angels is 3 White and 4 Any Color.
From there, you apply any reduction or addition, and in this case, you reduce the cost by 1, thus, leading it to cost 3 White and 3 Any Color to cast and you will get 2 4/4 Angel tokens.
September 16, 2012 11:38 p.m.
Epoch is correct. Thats just one reason why Goblin Electromancer is really awesome. Cheaper Bonfires, just what we needed!
Talashar says... #1
It works a bit differently than you think. Calculating the mana you have to pay works like this:
Mana Cost (Or alternate cost ala Overload) + Cost Increases - Cost Decreases (And then you factor in Trinisphere if it is in play)
So, Say you had a cloud key (Naming the appropriate type) in play and wanted to Street Spasm for 2. You would need to originally pay RR4 But Cloud key says, Hold on! Have a free mana! So you have to pay RR3
September 16, 2012 11:33 p.m.