Kicking It Up a Notch: Can You Pay Kicker Costs with Copied Spells?
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The short answer is no, you cannot pay the kicker cost of a copied spell. When you copy a spell, you’re essentially replicating its state on the stack, including whether or not it was kicked. You don’t get a fresh opportunity to choose to pay the kicker cost.
Understanding Kicker and Copying Mechanics
To fully grasp why you can’t pay a kicker cost for a copied spell, it’s crucial to understand the mechanics of both kicker and spell copying in Magic: The Gathering.
Kicker: An Optional Upgrade
Kicker is an additional cost that you can choose to pay when you cast a spell. If you pay the kicker cost, the spell typically gains an additional effect. Think of it as an optional upgrade that makes your spell more powerful or versatile. For example, a spell might deal 3 damage, but if you pay the kicker cost, it deals 5 damage instead. The key point is that you decide whether or not to pay the kicker cost as you cast the spell.
Copying Spells: Replicating, Not Recasting
Copying a spell, on the other hand, doesn’t involve casting a new spell. Instead, you’re creating a duplicate of an existing spell on the stack. This copy inherits all the characteristics of the original spell, including its targets, modes, and whether or not any additional costs, like kicker, were paid. This is a critical distinction: the copy is simply a mirror image of the original, not a brand new spell being cast. Because the copy is not being cast, you are not prompted to pay any costs, and will not be able to activate kicker.
The Interaction That Doesn’t Exist
The rule that prevents you from paying kicker costs on copied spells stems directly from the nature of copying. When a spell is copied, it enters the stack with all the characteristics of the original. If the original was kicked, the copy is also kicked. If the original wasn’t kicked, the copy also isn’t kicked. There’s no opportunity to make a different choice when the copy is created.
Let’s illustrate this with an example:
You cast a hypothetical spell called “Lightning Bolt Plus.” Lightning Bolt Plus costs {R} and has kicker {1R}. If kicked, it deals 5 damage instead of 3. You choose to pay the kicker cost and cast it, dealing 5 damage.
Your opponent then uses a spell like “Twincast” to copy your Lightning Bolt Plus. The copy on the stack is already “kicked” because the original was. Your opponent doesn’t get to choose to pay the kicker cost again; the copy is simply a 5-damage spell.
Conversely, if you hadn’t kicked the original Lightning Bolt Plus, the copy would also be a 3-damage spell, and your opponent still wouldn’t have the option to pay the kicker cost on the copy.
Why This Makes Sense
This rule is in place for several reasons, primarily to maintain balance and prevent potentially broken interactions. Imagine if you could repeatedly pay kicker costs on copies; some cards would become incredibly overpowered, leading to undesirable gameplay experiences. By restricting the payment of kicker costs to the initial casting of the spell, the game maintains a more predictable and fair environment.
It’s also worth noting that this rule aligns with the fundamental principles of spell copying in Magic. Copying is meant to be a replication of an existing effect, not a fresh opportunity to manipulate or enhance it beyond its initial state.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the interaction between kicker and spell copying:
1. Kicker costs don’t change a spell’s mana cost or mana value. If a kicked spell is copied, the copy is also kicked.
True. The copy inherits the kicked status.
2. Does copying count as casting?
No. Copying a spell is not the same as casting a spell. Casting involves announcing and paying costs. Copying simply creates a duplicate.
3. Can you pay kicker cost with cascade?
You can use cascade to cast a spell with kicker, and you can pay the kicker cost. Cascade allows you to cast the spell without paying its mana cost, but kicker is an additional cost you can choose to pay.
4. Do you have to pay additional costs for copied spells?
No. You do not pay additional costs for the copy. The copy inherits whether or not those costs were paid on the original.
5. Can you cast a kicker without paying mana cost?
Yes, you can cast a card with kicker without paying its mana cost, but you can still choose to pay the kicker cost. If you are casting a card “without paying its mana cost,” you can still pay additional costs such as kicker costs.
6. Can you convoke a kicker cost?
Yes. You can use convoke to pay for the kicker cost or any other additional cost when casting a spell.
7. Can you pay additional costs without paying mana cost?
Mandatory additional costs must be paid even if the spell is cast without paying its mana cost. Optional additional costs, like kicker, may also be paid.
8. Can you kick copied spells?
No, you cannot. The copy inherits the kicked status from the original.
9. Do copied spells count as cast spells?
No. Copying a spell is not casting a spell.
10. When you copy a spell, do you pay the cost?
No. A copy is not cast. Costs are not paid again.
11. Can you use Powerstones to pay kicker?
Yes. Powerstones can pay for the kicker cost because the kicker cost is paid as part of casting the spell.
12. Can you pay kicker cost multiple times?
No, unless the card has multikicker. With multikicker, you can pay the kicker cost multiple times, each time granting an additional effect.
13. Can you pay kicker with Isochron Scepter?
Yes. Isochron Scepter lets you cast the spell without paying its mana cost, but you’re still able to pay additional costs (such as kicker).
14. Do copies have CMC?
Yes. The mana cost is a copiable value.
15. Do copied spells cascade?
No. Copies of spells are not cast, so they don’t trigger cascade.
The Final Word
While copying a spell is a powerful tool in Magic, it doesn’t give you the opportunity to re-evaluate and pay kicker costs. The copy simply reflects the state of the original spell on the stack, offering a potent replication of an existing effect rather than a brand new casting. Understanding this distinction is crucial for mastering the intricacies of the game and making informed decisions during gameplay.
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