What defines casting?

Asked by Scotty4u 14 years ago

What defines 'casting a spell'? For example if you were to cast Giant Growth and somehow you copy that spell with another spell would that count as casting 3 spells?

Strange situation, I know :D

Kalani says... #1

hm toughie... i am looking for the answer too. Is a copied spell considered casted? Strange.

October 29, 2010 2:53 p.m.

Kalani says... #2

i'm pretty sure casting means you use mana from your mana pool to pay the casting cost of the spell... I don't think copied spells are cast, just as cards entering the battlefield from your graveyard are not cast.

October 29, 2010 3:03 p.m.

xeratheenigma says... #3

"casting" a card normally means to play a card from your hand (sometimes the card will be "cast" from somwhere else i.e. library or graveyard an example of this is card:Yawgmoth's Will)

and for your example you cast monstrous growth then you cast Twincast copying monstrous growth. in this setup you have cast 2 spells (Monstrous growth and twincast) and one copied spell (monstrous growth #2)

October 29, 2010 3:22 p.m.

Scotty4u says... #4

Okay let me revise my question :D

If you were to copy a spell, would the 'copy' be counted as 'casting a spell'?

October 29, 2010 6:56 p.m.

Scotty4u says... #5

Also...here is some stuff that I found but aren't really helping me out :D It's just confusing me more. So I'll just post it here with the links for proof :D


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/magic:_the_gathering_rules

The stack: This is the place for cards that have been cast, but have not yet resolved


What I think based off this, but I could be wrong :D

Since the copied spell would be placed in the stack....wouldn't it count as being casted?


http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?p=5741748

601.1. 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.

601.1a Some effects still refer to "playing" a card. "Playing a card" means playing that card as a land or casting that card as a spell, whichever is appropriate.

601.2. To cast a spell is to take it from where it is (usually the hand), put it on the stack, and pay its costs, so that it will eventually resolve and have its effect. Casting a spell follows the steps listed below, in order. If, at any point during the casting of a spell, a player is unable to comply with any of the steps listed below, the casting of the spell is illegal; the game returns to the moment before that spell started to be cast (see rule 715, "Handling Illegal Actions"). Announcements and payments can't be altered after they've been made.


Hope this helps in solving the question :D

October 29, 2010 7:01 p.m.

sporkife says... Accepted answer #6

copies put onto the stack (by card:Mind's Desire, say) are not counted as spells cast, otherwise storm would be an infinite loop. Other than rare cases like card:Yawgmoth's Will, Haakon, Stromgald Scourge , and rebound, you don't cast spells from anywhere other than your hand. if you Giant Growth something, then while it's on the stack Fork it and get a Giant Growth copy, you've only cast 2 spells. If for some reason the copy is returned to your hand while it's on the stack Venser, Shaper Savant , it disappears entirely.

October 29, 2010 7:47 p.m.

brianguymtg says... #7

You didn't actually place the copy of the spell on the stack, it was placed by a spell. I think that would not count as casting, but as "placed on the stack", just as casting a creature from your hand, and "place it onto the battlefield" are different, ie. Sneak Attack , Elvish Piper . Hope this is what you wanted!

October 29, 2010 7:51 p.m.

Scotty4u says... #8

Thank you sporkfire :D

You just cleared up my head :D

October 29, 2010 7:52 p.m.

Scotty4u says... #9

And of course thanks to everyone else as well :D Don't wanna leave anyone out :p

October 29, 2010 7:54 p.m.

xeratheenigma says... #10

copying a spell is not casting a spell

October 29, 2010 7:54 p.m.

cardcoin says... #11

Using a spell (like Reverberate ) to copy a spell is considered as casting. Using an ability (Echo Mage ) to copy a spell is not considered casting a spell.

Once these spells or abilities resolve they place a copy of the spell on the stack which in itself isn't considered 'casting'.

So if copying Giant Growth then copying by casting Reverberate is considered as casting 2 spells, using Echo Mage is only considered as casting 1 spell in total. Hope this helps clarify things moreso.

October 31, 2010 3:35 p.m.

This discussion has been closed