The document outlines the process and rules for casting spells in a game, detailing the nine steps involved from announcing and moving a spell to the stack to paying its costs. It includes explanations of additional and alternative costs, legality checks, and the importance of correct mana usage. Additionally, it notes common gameplay errors that may occur during the casting process.

1. Casting spells

2. Casting Spell
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.

4. 9 steps to cast a spell
1. Announce & move to stack
2. Announce modes, options
3. Announce targets
4. Divide or distribute
5. Legality check
6. Determine total cost
7. Mana abilities
8. Pay cost in any order
9. Done, the spell is cast!

5. 2. Announce modes, options

6. Cost!
● Additional costs
● Kicker
● Replicate
● Buyback
● 'as an additional cost'
● Etc...
AS MANY AS YOU WANT
● Alternative costs
● Flashback
● Overload
● 'without paying its mana cost'
● Morph
● Etc... ONLY 1
“You may [action] rather than pay [this object’s] mana cost,” or “You may cast
[this object] without paying its mana cost.” Note that some alternative
costs are listed in keywords;
 Modality. This is where we decide which two things exactly will Cryptic Command do.
 Splice. This is where we inform our opponent about what we are eager to splice onto what and reveal the cards from
our hand. To refresh your knowledge on this subject,
 Additional, alternative and special costs. Here is where we confess our desire to pay for Overload or Bestow, or cast a
spell by paying a cost other than with mana.
 X. This is where you determine the enigmatic X. As well as any other variable values a spell might have.
 “Hybrid mana”. If the cost of the spell contains hybrid mana symbols, the player announces which equivalent cost he
or she is about to pay.
(601.2b) A player can’t apply two alternative methods of casting or two alternative costs to a single spell

7. 3. Announce targets

8. 4. Divide or distribute
vs

9. 5. Legality check ?
1
2

10. 6. Determine total cost
Total Cost
=
Mana cost or alternative cost
+
Additional costs
+
Cost increases
–
Cost reductions
Cost seting effects
Adition/substraction/setting
The total cost is the mana cost or alternative cost (as determined in rule 601.2b), plus all
additional costs and cost increases, and minus all cost reductions.

11. 7. Mana abilities

12. 8. Pay cost in any order

13. 9. Done, the spell is cast!
At this moment, the triggers saying “whenever a player casts a spell.” go off
ALL – anounce (the stack)
CRAZY – choose (models)
TEENS - target
HAVE – how (to divide)
????????????????
TRY – total (cost)
MAGIC – mana (activation)
PILLS – pay (the cost)

14. Game play error — Game rule violation
Such an error is committed, among other cases, when a spell is played incorrectly:
•paid mana wasn't enough to pay for the spell (Thalia, Guardian of Thraben sends greetings);
•paid mana is of wrong color(s);
•the target chosen while casting was illegal;
•the cost wasn't paid in full (for instance, a Merfolk wasn't revealed while casting Silvergill
Adept after choosing this option of an additional cost) etc.
To backup
or
not to backup
the question is now ?

15. ➢ Announce & move
to stack
➢ Announce modes,
options
Max. 1 alternative
Any number
additional
➢ Announce targets
➢ Divide or distribute
➢ Legality Check
➢ Determine total cost
➢ Mana abilities
➢ Pay cost in any
order
➢ Done!
+

16. ➢ Announce & move
to stack
➢ Announce modes,
options
Max. 1 alternative
Any number
additional
➢ Announce targets
➢ Divide or distribute
➢ Legality Check
➢ Determine total cost
➢ Mana abilities
➢ Pay cost in any
order
➢ Done!

17. ➢ Announce & move
to stack
➢ Announce modes,
options
Max. 1 alternative
Any number
additional
➢ Announce targets
➢ Divide or distribute
➢ Legality Check
➢ Determine total cost
➢ Mana abilities
➢ Pay cost in any
order
➢ Done!
+

18. ➢ Announce & move
to stack
➢ Announce modes,
options
Max. 1 alternative
Any number
additional
➢ Announce targets
➢ Divide or distribute
➢ Legality Check
➢ Determine total cost
➢ Mana abilities
➢ Pay cost in any
order
➢ Done!

19. ➢ Announce & move to
stack
➢ Announce modes,
options
Max. 1 alternative
Any number additional
➢ Announce targets
➢ Divide or distribute
➢ Legality check
➢ Determine total cost
➢ Mana abilities
➢ Pay cost in any order
➢ Done!
+

20. ➢ Announce & move
to stack
➢ Announce modes,
options
Max. 1 alternative
Any number
additional
➢ Announce targets
➢ Divide or distribute
➢ Legality check
➢ Determine total cost
➢ Mana abilities
➢ Pay cost in any
order
➢ Done!

21. ➢ Announce & move to stack
➢ Announce modes, options
Max. 1 alternative
Any number additional
➢ Announce targets
➢ Divide or distribute
➢ Legality Check
➢ Determine total cost
➢ Mana abilities
➢ Pay cost in any order
➢ Done!

22. ➢ Announce & move to stack
➢ Announce modes, options
Max. 1 alternative
Any number additional
➢ Announce targets
➢ Divide or distribute
➢ Legality Check
➢ Determine total cost
➢ Mana abilities
➢ Pay cost in any order
➢ Done!

23. Max. 1 alternative
cost
Any number of
additonal costs
Convoke
➢ Announce & move
to stack
➢ Announce modes,
options
➢ Announce targets
➢ Divide or distribute
➢ Legality Check
➢ Determine total cost
➢ Mana abilities
➢ Pay cost in any
order
➢ Done!
Morph and Suspend
Mana / alternative cost
(as modified by
options) + additional
costs + increase –
decrease, then
Trinisphere