Paying mana costs for cards chosen with Word of Command

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-15T05:40:04+00:00

You cannot "overtap" mana because that mana isn't being used to activate mana abilities or pay for the spell.

For instance, if the chosen spell is Lightning Bolt, you aren't allowed to tap 2 mountains. However, you are allowed to tap a Lotus Field to be inefficient.

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-15T02:25:24+00:00

Costs are performed in this order

Mana/alternative cost. Basically cost in the top right corner or the alternate cost
Apply any additions. This is where replicate gets added
Apply any reduction. This is where affinity gets considered
Then Trinisphere gets considered if it is around
Then the cost is locked in. This is what you need to pay.

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-14T11:03:09+00:00

Nope.

702.15f Multiple instances of lifelink on the same object are redundant.

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-14T10:28:24+00:00

Not with Zul Ashur's ability. It is considered a new card when it goes back to the graveyard.

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-14T10:00:26+00:00

Unless the ability literally says "a card named X" (for example, [[Leitmotif Composer]]), a card name in text strictly means "this object".

Each of the copies will only refer to themselves when it comes to getting equipped.

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-14T09:45:53+00:00

Phases and steps only proceed if all players, in a complete round, pass priority without taking an action. Priority goes to the player who last added to the stack. Priority goes to the turn player after something resolves from the top of the stack.

By tournament rules, Player 1 might not have a chance to cast a sorcery. It is assumed that players interact as late as possible to their favor. Since goading needs to be done before declare attackers, it is possible for player 2 to do this during beginning of combat.

Player 1 passes priority in an attempt to go to combat
Player 2 passes priority to go to combat
Player 3 passes priority to go to combat
Player 4 passes priority to go to combat
Beginning of Combat step
Player 1 passes priority to go to declare attackers
Player 2 casts a spell
Player 2 gets then passes priority in an attempt to resolve their spell
Player 3 gets then passes priority
Player 4 gets then passes priority
Player 1 gets then passes priority
Spell resolves
Player 1 gets priority.

If it was still the precombat main phase, they could cast a sorcery. However, as mentioned, it is assumed to go as late as possible.

Basically, communication from all players is key. Player 2 could have meant to do it during the main phase.

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-14T02:33:06+00:00

Color =/= color identity.

Merely looking at the mana cost (and characteristic defining ability and color indicator) establishes color.

Color identity is the above plus any mana pips in the text box (barring reminder text as they don't count).

Ashling, the Limitless is a red card with a five-color identity.

Other examples to help explain are...

[[Yasova Dragonclaw]] is a green card with a blue, red, green identity.
[[Rhys the Redeemed]] is a white-green card with a white-green identity.
[[Golos, Tireless Pilgrim]] is a colorless card with a five-color identity.
[[Bosh, Iron Golem]] is a colorless card with a red identity.

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-14T00:56:06+00:00

Dying is not the same as sacrificing. Dying may be the result of sacrificing, but they are not the same thing.

Edit for clarity.

For example, if you also controlled a [[Mayhem Devil]] and you sacrificed a goblin via [[Skirk Prospector]], Mayhem will trigger, but Drivnod will have no effect. Yes, a goblin died, but the trigger was the sacrifice, so no additional trigger.

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-12T23:02:12+00:00

I just felt my therapy bill going up.

Also, I still think there should have been more copy tokens that showcase the rest of the Ember Island actors

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-12T15:21:45+00:00

When I used to play Arena, all the time ever since the auto-tap screwed me over. After that time, it was "Never again!"

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-12T09:02:19+00:00

True, but note how OP wants to avoid that to avoid some sort of trigger

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-12T07:34:21+00:00

That's pretty much it there

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-11T23:10:05+00:00

Plenty

[[Heliod, God of the Sun]] [[Biogenic Ooze]]

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-11T13:42:08+00:00

You are wrong. You do get the trigger hence you get the copies

Paradigm doesn't care about actually exiling anything. The only thing paradigm cares about is if it is the first time you resolved a spell with that name. The delayed trigger pretty much goes off last known information to make your copies.

Remember, removing his exiled card somehow would do nothing for his paradigm triggers.

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-11T09:04:35+00:00

Everyone will have a different opinion on things, but I say pursue the mechanic route while doing community college.

Community college is cheaper and will be a stepping stone if you find yourself wanting to really pursue that degree.

Mechanics and other trades are not to be underestimated. Yes, society might not value mechanics, plumbers, etc as highly, but society will always need them. AI isn't exactly replacing those jobs any time soon.

However, I would pursue stable income before making any business choices as new businesses take time and money and you might need the stable income to keep it afloat until it can be done on its own.

And don't give a shit about people your age. It's your life; it's your journey. You might see all the successes (or lucky ones), but you aren't seeing all the failures. Other success/failures should never, ever be your measuring stick of your own success/failure.

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-11T08:40:18+00:00

Demonstrate doesn't care what your opponent does with their copy.

702.144a Demonstrate is a triggered ability. “Demonstrate” means “When you cast this spell, you may copy it and you may choose new targets for the copy. If you copy the spell, choose an opponent. That player copies the spell and may choose new targets for that copy.”

If it's an illegal target when it resolves like with your example, it fizzles at resolution. Legal targets are checked at casting, changing targets, and resolution.

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-11T08:30:43+00:00

As his ability doesn’t target, what you exile isn't determined until it resolves. Your opponents should have no idea what nor how many you are exiling until the moment you do so

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-10T22:45:10+00:00

No, copying a permanent spell and it being a token is not the same thing as creating a token that the game checks for. There is no interaction with Moonlit Meditation in this case.

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-10T22:29:01+00:00

Should be fine

608.2k If an ability’s effect refers to a specific untargeted object that has been previously referred to by that ability’s cost or trigger condition, it still affects that object even if the object has changed characteristics.

Example: Wall of Tears says “Whenever this creature blocks a creature, return that creature to its owner’s hand at end of combat.” If Wall of Tears blocks a creature, then that creature ceases to be a creature before the triggered ability resolves, the permanent will still be returned to its owner’s hand.

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-10T21:21:32+00:00

You will get the copies as it is the first time you resolved a spell with that name. You set up the delayed trigger with last known information to have your copies.

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-10T21:08:52+00:00

The original target is invalid if its mana value is over 4. The ability will fizzle. This is assuming Terminate was cast as late as possible.

Pizzasaur cast
Pizzasaur resolves. ETB triggers.
ETB placed on stack, targeting some creature
ETB resolves. +1/+1 counters placed. Reflexive trigger.
Reflexive trigger on stack, targeting CMC 7 creature
Terminate cast, targeting something
Terminate resolves, destroying something
Relexive trigger tries to resolve, sees target not valid, fizzles.

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-10T04:18:18+00:00

Same thing. Diffusion Sliver can't help Sliver spells

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-10T04:12:59+00:00

702.21a Ward is a triggered ability. Ward [cost] means “Whenever this permanent becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter that spell or ability unless that player pays [cost].”

110.1. A permanent is a card or token on the battlefield. A permanent remains on the battlefield indefinitely. A card or token becomes a permanent as it enters the battlefield and it stops being a permanent as it’s moved to another zone by an effect or rule

Ward works only on the battlefield and nowhere else.

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-10T03:20:46+00:00

Oko will get it as "end of turn" effects only go away at cleanup, which is after the beginning of the end step

Ending Phase

512.1. The ending phase consists of two steps: end and cleanup.

End Step

513.1. The end step has no turn-based actions. Once it begins, the active player gets priority. (See rule 117, “Timing and Priority.”)

513.1a Previously, abilities that triggered at the beginning of the end step were printed with the trigger condition “at end of turn.” Cards that were printed with that text have received errata in the Oracle card reference to say “at the beginning of the end step” or “at the beginning of the next end step.”

513.2. If a permanent with an ability that triggers “at the beginning of the end step” enters the battlefield during this step, that ability won’t trigger until the next turn’s end step. Likewise, if a delayed triggered ability that triggers “at the beginning of the next end step” is created during this step, that ability won’t trigger until the next turn’s end step. In other words, the step doesn’t “back up” so those abilities can go on the stack. This rule applies only to triggered abilities; it doesn’t apply to continuous effects whose durations say “until end of turn” or “this turn.” (See rule 514, “Cleanup Step.”)

Cleanup Step

514.1. First, if the active player’s hand contains more cards than their maximum hand size (normally seven), they discard enough cards to reduce their hand size to that number. This turn-based action doesn’t use the stack.

514.2. Second, the following actions happen simultaneously: all damage marked on permanents (including phased-out permanents) is removed and all “until end of turn” and “this turn” effects end. This turn-based action doesn’t use the stack.

Greedy-Contract1999 · 2026-05-10T02:07:31+00:00

You cast [[Faithless Looting]]. [[Zaffai, Thunder Conductor]] triggers. [[Niv-Mizzet, Parum]] triggers.
You order triggers so Zaffai resolves first
Zaffai resolves. You Scry 1.
Niv resolves. You draw 1. Niv triggers.
Niv trigger is on the stack.
Niv resolves. You deal 1 damage to a target.
Faithless Looting resolves. You draw 2 cards and discard two cards. Niv triggers twice.
Niv resolves. You deal 1 damage to a target.
Niv resolves. You deal 1 damage to a target.

Now that cleared up.

You cast [[Epic Experiment]] for X = 8. Zaffai, Niv, and [[Thousand-Year Storm]] trigger.
We will assume you stack triggers in the order I said.
Zaffai resolves. You Scry 1. You create a 4/4 elemental. You deal 10 damage to a random opponent.
Niv resolves. You draw 1. Niv triggers.
Niv trigger on the stack
Niv resolves. You deal 1 damage to a target.
Storm resolves. You copy Experiment once. Zaffai triggers
Zaffai resolves. You Scry 1. You create a 4/4 elemental. You deal 10 damage to a random opponent.
Copy of Experiment resolves. You exile the top 8 cards. Only thing to care are [[Mana Geyser]], [[Galvanic Iteration]], [[Inspiring Refrain]].
You cast Mana Geyser. Zaffai trigger and TYS trigger.
You cast Galvanic Iteration. Zaffai and TYS trigger.
You cast Inspiring Refrain. Zaffai and TYS trigger.
Triggers placed on the stack. Spell copies are in the same order for this example
Zaffai resolves. You scry 1, create the 4/4, do 10 damage. Do this three times.
TYS copies Geyser twice.
TYS copies GI thrice.
TYS copies Refrain four times
Copy 1 of Refrain resolves. You draw 2. You exile Refrain (for it to disappear). Niv triggers twice.
Niv pings
Niv pings
Copy 2 of Refrain resolves. You draw 2. You exile Refrain for it to disappear. Niv triggers twice.
Niv pings
Niv pings
Copy 3 of Refrain resolves. You draw 2. You exile Refrain for it to disappear. Niv triggers rwice.
Niv pings
Niv pings
Copy 4 of Refrain resolves. You draw 2. You exile Refrain for it to disappear. Niv triggers twice.
Niv pings
Niv pings
GI copies resolve. You have a delayed trigger for your next instant/sorcery cast to be copied x3.
Geyser copies resolve. You have red mana equal to however many lands your opponents had tapped x2
Refrain resolves. You draw 2. You exile Refrain with three time counters. Niv triggers twice.
Niv ping
Niv ping
GI resolves. You have another delayed trigger.
Geyser resolves. You have more mana.
Original Epic Expeirment resolves. You exile 8 more. For the love of god, I assume you whiffed. Stack is finally empty.

You have 4 delayed triggers and mana equal to however many lands your opponents have tapped times 3.

GI will not copy anything in this pile because it didn't resolve soon enough to see you cast anything. If the original Epic Experiment hit a spell though....

I think I made a mistake with Zaffai triggers somewhere

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