Play/Cast?
Asked by Asiangamer4life 8 years ago
I'm trying to make a deck but I'm having trouble understanding what the difference between Play and Cast is. Can someone help me?
Do you have any specific examples of what you might mean? If the above doesn't help clarify that is...
November 12, 2016 11:16 p.m.
They're the same thing, actually. From 6th to M10, the word 'Play' was used in the rules, but before and after, it was and is 'cast'. From the Comprehensive Rules:
701.4. Cast
701.4a To cast a spell is to take it from the zone its in (usually the hand), put it on the stack, and pay its costs, so that it will eventually resolve and have its effect. A player may cast a spell if he or she has priority. See rule 601, Casting Spells.
701.4b To cast a card is to cast it as a spell.
vs.
701.12. Play
701.12a To play a land means to put it onto the battlefield from the zone its in (usually the hand). A player may play a land if he or she has priority, its the main phase of his or her turn, the stack is empty, and he or she hasnt played a land this turn. Playing a land is a special action (see rule 115), so it doesnt use the stack; it simply happens. Putting a land onto the battlefield as the result of a spell or ability isnt the same as playing a land. See rule 305, Lands.
701.12b To play a card means to play that card as a land or to cast that card as a spell, whichever is appropriate.
701.12c Some effects instruct a player to play with a certain aspect of the game changed, such as Play with the top card of your library revealed. Play in this sense means to play the Magic game.
701.12d Previously, the action of casting a spell, or casting a card as a spell, was referred to on cards as playing that spell or that card. Cards that were printed with that text have received errata in the Oracle card reference so they now refer to casting that spell or that card.
701.12e Previously, the action of using an activated ability was referred to on cards as playing that ability. Cards that were printed with that text have received errata in the Oracle card reference so they now refer to activating that ability.
November 12, 2016 11:18 p.m.
Asiangamer4life says... #4
ok does what you say still apply to Chandra, Pyromaster's 0 ability?
November 12, 2016 11:39 p.m.
If it is a land, you play it, provided you haven't yet played a land during the turn. If it is any other card, you have the option to play it by casting it at the appropriate time, once it's costs are paid.
Gatherer:
- The card exiled by the second ability is exiled face up. Playing it follows the normal rules for playing that card. You must pay its costs, and you must follow all applicable timing rules. For example, if its a creature card, you can cast it only during your main phase while the stack is empty.
- If you exile a land card using the second ability, you may play that land only if you have any available land plays. Normally, this means you can play the land only if you havent played a land yet that turn.
November 12, 2016 11:45 p.m.
Raging_Squiggle says... #7
For the purpose of casting a spell or triggers thereof, play/cast are the same. (see Angel's Feather and Angel's Feather)
For spells/abilities that allow you to either play/cast something, they are not the same. The difference is "playing" will allow you to play a land for the turn if you have not already done so. If it says "cast", you cannot do that. (See Grenzo, Havoc Raiser, and Act on Impulse).
November 13, 2016 2:47 a.m.
For slight distinctions on play vs cast:
Chandra, Pyromaster's 0 ability lets you play the exiled card, so you can cast it if it's a spell or play it if it's a land. From the Gather page:
7/18/2014: If you exile a land card using the second ability, you may play that land only if you have any available land plays. Normally, this means you can play the land only if you havent played a land yet that turn.
Chandra, Torch of Defiance's first +1 ability lets you cast the exiled card, so you cannot choose to play it if it's a land. From the Gather page:
9/20/2016: An effect that instructs you to cast a card doesn't allow you to play lands. If the card exiled with Chandras first ability is a land card, you cant play it and Chandra deals 2 damage to each opponent.
November 13, 2016 1:48 p.m.
I just remember "play" as if it were like an Enchantment OTB... "At the Beginning of your turn" "whenever a creature dies", Yadda Yadda Yadda...once it becomes a true statement, it just happens... "to Play a land", Must be your turn AND you have not land played yet... "To Play a Sorcery" must be your turn and the Stack is empty" You may now "Play..... it out"...but opponents can still react to a slow "Play" remember...
GearNoir says... #1
Next time you can put questions you might have like this in the Rules Q&A. :)
Play and cast basically mean the same thing for the most part. A lot of older cards might say play.
It does make a difference in the instance of things like land and non-land cards. Land cards are played and not cast (cast implies that what is being cast can be countered/disrupted), playing a card is something that is simply done.
November 12, 2016 11:15 p.m.