Does Copying Count as Casting? The Definitive MTG Guide
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In the intricate world of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), understanding the nuances of card interactions is crucial for strategic gameplay. One question that frequently arises among players of all skill levels is: Does copying a spell or permanent count as casting it? The short answer is: Generally, no. Copying a spell or permanent typically does not count as casting it, unless an effect explicitly states that you are casting the copy. This seemingly simple distinction has significant implications for triggering certain abilities and understanding the overall flow of a game. Let’s delve deeper into the specifics.
Understanding the Core Principle: Casting vs. Copying
The key difference lies in the method by which a spell or permanent comes into existence. Casting involves taking a card (usually from your hand), placing it on the stack, paying its costs, and ultimately resolving it to create its effect. Copying, on the other hand, is the result of another spell or ability that creates a duplicate of an existing spell or permanent.
Since the copy is created by an effect and not directly cast from your hand, it doesn’t inherently fulfill the conditions for “casting.” Therefore, abilities that trigger “when you cast a spell” typically will not trigger when a copy is created. This principle is the foundation for understanding how copying interacts with various other mechanics in MTG.
Key Considerations and Exceptions
While the general rule is that copying is not casting, there are exceptions and specific card interactions that can modify this behavior. These exceptions often involve cards that explicitly state that a copy is being “cast.”
For example, the card Isochron Scepter imprints an instant card and allows you to create a copy of that card, which the Oracle text on Isochron Scepter specifically states that the copy is cast. In these cases, the act of copying does count as casting, triggering abilities that rely on that action. It is important to always refer to the most current wording of a card, found in Oracle text, to be certain of its function.
It’s also important to note the difference between copying a spell on the stack and copying a permanent on the battlefield. Copying a permanent usually results in a token copy entering the battlefield, while copying a spell results in a copy being placed on the stack. It is very important to know whether or not the permanent copy is a token or a non-token card.
Impacts on Gameplay
Understanding the difference between casting and copying is crucial for strategic deck building and gameplay decisions. For instance, if you rely on the ability to trigger cascade by casting spells, copying a spell will not trigger cascade. This distinction affects everything from mana management to combo execution. The Games Learning Society emphasizes the importance of understanding these rules and how they impact strategic thinking and problem-solving in game-based learning environments. For more on that subject check out GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions that delve deeper into the nuances of copying and casting in MTG:
1. Do storm copies count as casting?
No. Storm creates copies of a spell for each spell cast before it that turn. However, these copies are created as the result of the storm ability, not by you casting them directly. Thus, the copies created by storm do not count as casting. The only spell being cast when you use storm is the card with storm on it.
2. Does cascade count as casting from exile?
Yes. The rules text for cascade specifically say that you may cast it without paying its mana cost. The spell you cast with cascade is cast from exile. This is because the ability exiles cards from the top of your library until a nonland card that costs less is exiled.
3. Does casting a spell through an item count as casting a spell?
Yes and no, depending on the item. If you are casting the spell through the item, it counts as you casting the spell. However, if the item itself is casting the spell (e.g., it says, “Cast a spell from it”), then you are not the one casting the spell.
4. Does copying an exiled card count as casting from exile?
No. Copying a card that was exiled does not constitute casting it from exile, as you are casting the copy, not the original. Since the copy isn’t cast, it can’t “have been cast from exile”.
5. Do copies have mana value?
Yes, under most circumstances. If the mana cost of the original object can be copied, the mana value is also copied. If the mana cost cannot be copied (such as with a token that’s a copy of a land), the mana value of the copy defaults to 0.
6. Does creating a copy trigger enter-the-battlefield abilities?
Yes. When a copy of a creature enters the battlefield, any enter-the-battlefield (ETB) abilities of that creature will trigger. This is because the game sees a new permanent entering the battlefield. Creating is the new shorthand for putting a token onto the field.
7. Can you copy a creature with Hexproof?
Yes. Copy effects, like those found on Clone cards, do not target. Therefore, they bypass hexproof, protection, or shroud.
8. What happens when you copy a spell with modal options?
When copying a spell with modal options, you choose the same modes as the original spell. You can’t choose different modes for the copy.
9. If a card instructs you to “cast a copy” is that considered casting?
Yes. If an effect explicitly states that you are casting a copy, it is considered casting. Effects that instruct a player to cast a copy of an object follow the rules for casting spells.
10. Does Escape count as casting?
Yes. Escape allows you to cast a card from your graveyard by paying an alternative cost. Since you are casting the spell, it counts as casting for any relevant triggers.
11. Are copies always tokens?
No. It’s a Copy of a Card. A Token can only exist on the Battlefield. And, a Copy of an Instant or Sorcery Card cannot enter the Battlefield. Also, copies of permanents can be tokens or non-token copies, depending on the effect creating the copy.
12. Do token copies count for devotion?
Tokens don’t count towards devotion unless the token is an exact copy of something with mana pips. It’s all about whether or not the permanent has a mana cost, which can vary depending on how the token was created.
13. Does Isochron Scepter count as casting?
It counts toward Storm because Isochron Scepter explicitly says the copy is cast. The Oracle text on Isochron Scepter does state that the copy is cast.
14. Does Arcane Bombardment count as casting from exile?
Arcane Bombardment exiles spells then creates copies that can be casted. Do those copies count as being played from exile or are they already on the stack? Yes, the exiled cards are copied, then the copies are cast from exile.
15. Can you keep casting Cantrips?
There is no reason to keep a player from doing so, but that said, there’s no reason doing so won’t have consequences. Taking ten minutes to spam the same spell a hundred times or casting a spell on the same thing over and over might have consequences- too much fire as listed above is a good example.
Conclusion
While the principle of “copying is not casting” holds true in most cases, the exceptions and card-specific interactions highlight the complexity of MTG. By understanding these nuances, players can make more informed decisions and gain a competitive edge in their gameplay. Always consult the Oracle text for the most accurate and up-to-date rulings on card interactions.