"Play" vs. "Cast"

Asked by insertcleverid 13 years ago

What is the difference between play and cast? For example, Wee Dragonauts and Kiln Fiend are very similar except for this choice of wording.

Also, does it have any significance for alternative forms of casting or playing? Specifically, when casting from your grave yard with flashback or whatnot, or copying spells, as with Twincast or Riku of Two Reflections.

Thanks

metalmagic says... #1

"Play" and "cast" mean the same thing. The wording for some things changes over the years, and this is one of them. Always look up the oracle text for cards you are not sure about, and it will give you the text for any card in the most recent terms to avoid any confusion. Here is the oracle text for Wee Dragonauts:

Flying

Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, Wee Dragonauts gets +2/+0 until end of turn.

April 26, 2012 1:36 a.m.

BrokenZygoma says... #2

Now mind you that casting/playing a creature doesn't trigger Riku's second ability until the creature spell resolves, and is actually on the battlefield. But the only things that can prevent you from casting a spell is if it has no legal targets at the time you pay mana to cast it. (i.e. You cast Doom Blade with all black creatures on the battlefield.) or if another spell or ability prevents you from casting spells at a certain time.

April 26, 2012 1:42 a.m.

BigBruce says... Accepted answer #3

As mentioned earlier here, Play and Cast mean the same thing. This is just a different wording over the years.

As for Flashback, it is considered cast

702.32a Flashback [cost]" means "You may cast this card from your graveyard by paying [cost] rather than paying its mana cost"

But copy of spells are not considered to be cast

706.10. To copy a spell or activated ability means to put a copy of it onto the stack; a copy of a spell isnt cast and a copy of an activated ability isnt activated.

April 26, 2012 8:01 a.m.

AradonTemplar says... #4

Play is a term that can actually still be used in modern terminology, however. When you 'play' a spell, you cast it. However, you do not 'cast' lands. Therefore, things like Oracle of Mul Daya let you 'play' land cards from the top of your library. Other effects that let you play a potentially unknown card (like Intet, the Dreamer) still say you may 'play' the card, since that allows for playing lands.

Basically, casting a spell is the correct modern terminology, and playing a land is currently correct. Older cards that say 'play X' mean whichever is appropriate. If it is a spell, the card means 'cast X', but if it's a land, then you play it.

Wee Dragonauts use Cast, Future Sight uses Play. They are essentially the same thing, though.

April 26, 2012 6:29 p.m.