Do Copied Spells Cascade?
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Copied spells do not cascade, as cascade is a cast trigger that only occurs when a spell is cast, not when it is copied. The copy of a spell is itself a spell, but it is not considered cast, and therefore does not trigger cascade or other cast triggers.
Understanding Copied Spells
To understand why copied spells do not cascade, it’s essential to grasp the concept of copying in Magic: The Gathering. When a spell is copied, a new instance of that spell is created, but it is not cast. This distinction is crucial, as many triggers and abilities depend on a spell being cast to function.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What happens when you copy a spell?
A copy of a spell is controlled by the player under whose control it was put on the stack. The copy is itself a spell, even though it has no spell card associated with it.
2. Do copied spells go on the stack?
Rule 707.10 states that to copy a spell, you put a copy of it onto the stack. This means the copy of the spell is put onto the stack as part of the original resolving.
3. Does copying a spell count as casting a spell?
Copies of spells are not typically cast. They won’t trigger things like cascade or enchantments like Swarm Intelligence.
4. Do copied spells trigger cascade?
Cascade won’t trigger if you put a copy of a spell with cascade on the stack. This is because you didn’t cast the copy.
5. Can you kick copied spells?
Kicker costs don’t change a spell’s mana cost or mana value. If a kicked spell is copied, the copy is also kicked.
6. Do copied spells trigger heroic?
Heroic abilities won’t trigger when a copy of a spell is created on the stack or when a spell’s targets are changed to include a creature with a heroic ability.
7. Can you overload a copied spell?
Yes, you can overload a copied spell. When you copy a spell, you copy many of its properties, including any alternative casting costs.
8. Does Rule of Law stop copied spells?
You can still copy your spells. Note that if a card specifically says to copy cards and then cast them, you can’t use them in addition to other spells because they cast the spell.
9. Do copied spells have a mana value?
The copy will also copy the mana cost of the original. For example, if you use Osgir, the Reconstructor to create two copies of Triplicate Titan, then both of the copies will still have a mana value of 9.
10. What are the rules for cascade in Magic?
Cascade is a keyword ability that allows you to exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card that costs less. You may cast it without paying its mana cost.
11. Do copied spells trigger Orvar?
If a spell/ability says to copy a spell, it doesn’t interact with Orvar as the copies aren’t considered “cast” for the purpose of any triggers that care.
12. Does Aetherflux Reservoir count copied spells?
A copy of a Spell is not cast. A Spell-Copy will neither trigger, nor count toward the triggers of Aetherflux Reservoir.
13. Do copies have CMC?
Mana cost is a copiable value, so anything that enters as a copy, becomes a copy, or creates a token that’s a copy of something copies that thing’s mana cost.
14. Can you pay kicker cost with copied spells?
No, you cannot pay that extra cost. It will enter as the ordinary unkicked version of the creature.
15. Do copied spells trigger Guttersnipe?
Guttersnipe is concerned with spells on the stack, not the actual card, so any copies will trigger its ability as well.