Is there a difference between 'cast' and 'play'?

Asked by Bovine073 9 years ago

I notice that one printing of Rift Bolt says 'cast', where the other printing (Time Spiral) Rift Bolt says 'play'.

Was this a keyword changed to another word? Sort of like Slippery Bogle vs. Gladecover Scout? Or something completely different?

Denial048 says... #1

It is to do with a big words change, but I personally don't know much about it as I wasn't playing MtG til afterwards.

But always use the gatherer for Oracle text on cards; in this case, it will use cast.

April 20, 2016 3:07 p.m.

Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #2

"Play" used to be used generically.

In current templating, "cast" applies only to cards that could be cast as spells (i.e., everything but lands). "Play" means "cast if it's a nonland or play as a special action if it's a land."

April 20, 2016 3:08 p.m.