Decoding the Multikicker Rule in Magic: The Gathering
The multikicker rule in Magic: The Gathering (MTG) introduces a fascinating layer of flexibility and power to spellcasting. In essence, multikicker is a variation of the kicker ability that allows a player to pay an additional cost multiple times while casting a spell. This contrasts with regular kicker, which limits you to paying the extra cost only once. With multikicker, each time you pay the additional cost, you often gain an additional benefit or effect from the spell. This mechanism allows players to adapt their spells to the current board state and resources, making multikicker a powerful tool for both offensive and defensive strategies.
Understanding the Core Mechanics
The fundamental rule for multikicker, as defined in the comprehensive rules for MTG (specifically rule 702.33c), is as follows: “Multikicker [cost]” means “You may pay an additional [cost] any number of times as you cast this spell.” It is important to note that a multikicker cost is classified as a kicker cost.
This definition highlights key aspects:
- Optional Cost: Paying the multikicker cost is always optional. You can cast a spell with multikicker without paying the additional cost at all, gaining the base effect of the spell.
- Multiple Payments: Unlike kicker, you are not limited to paying the multikicker cost once. You can choose to pay it one, two, three, or even more times, provided you have the mana available.
- Additional Benefits: Each time you pay the multikicker cost, you trigger the additional effect detailed on the card. This often means enhancing damage, creating more tokens, drawing extra cards, or other powerful bonuses that scale with the number of times the multikicker cost is paid.
How It Works in Practice
Let’s consider a hypothetical card that reads:
Spell Name {3}{U}
Sorcery
Multikicker {1}{U}
Draw a card. If this spell was kicked, draw an additional card for each time it was kicked.
Here’s how this spell would play out:
- Without Kicker: If you cast this spell for {3}{U} alone, you would draw one card.
- With One Kicker: If you pay {3}{U} + {1}{U}, you draw a total of two cards (one base + one additional from the kicker).
- With Two Kickers: If you pay {3}{U} + {1}{U} + {1}{U}, you draw a total of three cards (one base + two additional from the kicker).
- With Three Kickers: If you pay {3}{U} + {1}{U} + {1}{U} + {1}{U}, you draw a total of four cards (one base + three additional from the kicker).
This illustrates how multikicker provides variable levels of impact. Depending on your current needs and mana availability, you can modulate the effectiveness of the spell.
Key Distinctions
Understanding the differences between kicker and multikicker is critical. While both involve optional additional costs, their limitations are quite different:
- Kicker: Can be paid only once. If a card simply has the kicker ability, you can only pay the cost or not, it does not allow multiple payments.
- Multikicker: Can be paid any number of times as you cast the spell, providing scaling effects for each payment.
Additionally, it’s vital to note that multikicker is still considered a form of kicker. This means it shares characteristics and is affected by abilities that refer to kicker generally, unless the card specifically says it affects ‘kicker’ but not ‘multikicker’.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To further clarify the intricacies of the multikicker rule, here are 15 frequently asked questions:
What is the difference between kicker and multikicker MTG?
Kicker is an additional optional cost on a card that can only be paid once and grants extra abilities. Multikicker allows you to pay that additional cost as many times as you want, granting you the extra abilities each time.
Can you kick a card multiple times?
Yes, but only if the card has multikicker. Otherwise, the standard kicker ability can only be paid once.
Does multikicker count as kicker?
Yes, multikicker is a variation of kicker and shares the rules and characteristics associated with it.
Does Multikicker increase mana value?
No, kicker costs, including multikicker costs, do not change a spell’s converted mana cost (CMC) or mana value. The CMC of the spell is determined only by the mana symbols in its upper-right corner.
Is Multikicker an additional cost?
Yes, multikicker is an optional additional cost you can pay when casting a spell.
How does Everflowing Chalice interact with multikicker?
Everflowing Chalice enters the battlefield with a charge counter for each time it was kicked. This applies whether it’s standard kicker or multikicker. Therefore, if you multikick it three times, it will enter the battlefield with three charge counters, allowing it to tap for three mana.
If a spell is copied, is the copy also kicked?
If a kicked spell is copied, the copy will also have the same kick status as the original spell. If the original spell was multikicked once, the copy will also have the benefits of the original kicking.
Can you counter a kicked or multikicked spell?
Yes, you can counter a spell that has been kicked or multikicked. The kicker status doesn’t grant any special protection from counterspells.
What happens if a spell has both “kicker” and “multikicker” options?
This is a less common scenario and would need to be specifically described in the card text. A card could technically have both a standard kicker and a multikicker ability. Typically, the effect would be unique for each cost.
Are there any cards that can interact directly with kicker costs?
Yes, there are cards that specifically interact with kicker abilities. These cards might offer cost reductions, additional effects, or ways to trigger kick effects. These abilities would generally apply to multikicker as well, unless specifically stated otherwise.
Can you use kicker costs that are not mana?
Yes, if a card has a kicker cost that requires something other than mana payment (like sacrificing a creature), you are bound to that cost.
Can you counter a copy of a spell with multikicker?
Yes, a copy of a spell with multikicker can be countered just like any other spell on the stack.
Can you “overpay” or multikick past what the card offers?
No. If the card offers a benefit for each time it is kicked, you get only the benefit for how many times it was kicked. You can’t gain benefits from paying extra when there aren’t any written on the card.
If you copy a kicked or multikicked spell, is the copy also kicked?
Yes, any time a kicked or multikicked spell is copied, the copy is also kicked the same number of times.
Are kicker costs considered part of the casting cost?
Kicker costs, and by extension, multikicker costs, are additional optional costs that are paid during the process of casting the spell. They do not increase the converted mana cost of the spell, but they do contribute to the total cost you pay to cast it.
Conclusion
The multikicker rule is a dynamic and powerful mechanic in MTG that allows players to flexibly scale their spells. By understanding how multikicker interacts with casting, copying, and other mechanics, you can significantly improve your game strategy and make the most of these unique cards. With its blend of risk and reward, the multikicker ability has become a favorite amongst players, adding depth and strategy to the world of Magic: The Gathering.