Snapcaster Mage is a wonderful card, but not nearly as wonderful as you guys think it is. Here are a few questions that have come up a lot, plus one that might:
Q: If I target a card like ancestral vision or hypergenesis with his trigger, can I flash it back for 0? What about the suspend cost?
A: Sorry, but Snapcaster Mage does not add a cost to the card because it doesn't see one in the top right corner. You can't flash it back.
Q: What about a card like force of will that has an alternate cost? Can I cast it by exiling a blue card from my hand and paying 1 life?
A: Again, no. The mage looks nowhere other than the top right corner of the card to find a mana cost. You'll be able to flash force of will back, but for the hefty price of 3UU.
Q: What happens if I flash him in on my opponent's turn and choose a sorcery as his trigger's target? Can I cast until end of turn because the effect will go away at the end of it?
A: Nope. Snapcaster mage will give the card flashback, but it won't give you any more permission to cast it when it's not your turn than flashback normally does - which is none.
I hope this was helpful! I'll try to add any other questions you guys have to the first post.
EDIT: already got one.
Q: Can I pay for the X in the cost of cards like fireball?
A: Yes! This one you can. Because you pay the X when you pay to flash it back, it sees that value and takes it. Devil's Play (link won't work, but it's in the spoiler) is an example of a card that takes advantage of this.
Q: Can I flash dismember back for 1 and 4 life? Or do I have to play the full 1BB?
A: The flashback cost is 1(P/B)(P/B), so you can pay 2 life for any and all of the (P/B)s.
Q: Can I pay the kicker cost of burst lightning et al if I flash it back?
A: You can. Any mandatory additional costs such as from sphere of resistance or gaze of justice must still be paid, so optional ones should be able too as well.
Q: If I want to flash artillerize back? Do I have to sacrifice a creature or artifact?
A: You do. If you look at the gatherer rulings for gaze of justice, you'll see that you still have to pay its additional cost, so artillerize shouldn't be any different.
Q: If I flash tendrils of agony back, do I get the storm copies? What about replicating gigadrowse?
A: Yup! Because both of those abilities trigger upon the casting of the spell, they'll trigger when flashback instructs you to cast them.
Q: What if I just want to save mana on my firebolt? Will he give it a second cost?
A: Yup! In that case, it will have flashback for R AND for 4R, so you can choose which you want to pay. (Hint: It's probably the cheaper one!)
I suppose the flashbacking an X-spell question and the hypergenesis one are related. Hypergenesis acts like (or is) a spell with cmc 0. Fireball's x isn't included in cmc. But this new card doesn't ask for -converted- mana cost. Mildly tricky, I could see this being misplayed a few times.
I suppose the flashbacking an X-spell question and the hypergenesis one are related. Hypergenesis acts like (or is) a spell with cmc 0. Fireball's x isn't included in cmc. But this new card doesn't ask for -converted- mana cost. Mildly tricky, I could see this being misplayed a few times.
Exactly. And converted mana cost, as a number rather than mana symbols, wouldn't actually be a legal cost for a flashback spell. Look at the top right corner.
Madding: Thanks, I didn't think of that. I'll add it.
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L-1 Judge
It's kind of another moment when we throw our hands up and go "DAMMIT universe, why you gotta always make me look bad in front of everyone?".
This card is BETTER than everyone is saying. I don't know about standard - never did like that format - but in Legacy and Vintage he's stone-cold nuts. There is a big reason why Dark Confidant competes for the highest echelon of draw spells and you never see, say, Phyrexian Arena in serious Vintage. Getting a relevant effect AND two power is incredible. This little bear is 1UU to recast your ancestral and get a 2/1, 2UU to recast your time walk and get a 2/1, 2UUU to recast your mana drain and get a 2/1.... you get the idea.
He's probably a 2 or 3 of in that format, since he's not great right out of the gates, but when you're through the early game and slogging through the midgame, replaying your most powerful cards AND getting board presence is phenomenal. Look for this guy to do some serious, serious damage.
Moriarty, your post insinuates that people are dismissing this card when it's possibly the most hyped card of the year. I don't disagree with you at all, but that's the point... very few do.
Moriarty, your post insinuates that people are dismissing this card when it's possibly the most hyped card of the year. I don't disagree with you at all, but that's the point... very few do.
Mental Misstep wins most hyped card of the millenium
This card is definitely a badass tho.
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Standard:
Bident Layers B Devotion RG Devotion UW Control Modern:
Jund
UW Control
Combo Pod Legacy: DeathBlade RUG Delver BUG Control
you mentioned the FLASH part that would allow you to cast him on your opponent's turn, and thus the sorcery you choose cant be cast.
There is no drawback here - b/c you can clearly choose INSTANT and that is why he has FLASH....
to look at a scenario that you wouldn't do as a potential drawback is sort of silly.
~just saying.
IN ADDITION: This card is the best card I have seen in the modern area (other than stupid jace) If you for any reason think that there is a false hype about this card. I recommend changing your attitude. before scg and other sites put them to $9.99 - I bought out the entire internet inventory on pre-order. Yes, all of them... so of coarse an hour later more stock was available & it was all of a sudden more expensive.
this card is amazing - i dont need specific card name scenarios - but still, here is why
-it has flash - keep this in mind, makes the rest of the list even better
-it's only 1 blue in a 2cc creature - totally splashable
-a 2/1 for 2 is always efficient..hence why bob is so playable as a 4 of.
-it makes a countless amount of great cards - even better. (look at any card that is agreed to be constructed worthy that is a sor. or inst. and ask yourself "why doesnt this card have flashback" and i f it doesnt the answer is because - that would make the card too good!)
-the metagame built into the control aspect with a 2drop creature that makes your opponent worry about every spell that you have already cast (your hand size just got big) is a serious environment changer. BLUE CREATURE THAT IS REALLY GOOD FOR ALMOST ANY DECK. NOT JUST ONE SCRIPT OF 60 CARDS!
(- in every format we have lands that can make blue with little to no drawback)
THIS CARD WILL REACH $30 in value within 1 month of release.
SCG has sold over 100 in a couple hours...95% of mtg players dont even know this exist yet. ebay listings are going over $20 from $0.99 in about 30 seconds.. it's a lot of hype - but IMO it is warranted. RED BLUE will be awesome in both standard and modern (knucklevee anybody?)
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Nothing beats surprise ~ 'cept rock.
sell me your cards! seriously, i will buy them...probably.
Perhaps you should just send WOTC a resume and tell them why you're better at Magic than one of their employees instead of complaining here, where nobody really has any authority on the matter.
you mentioned the FLASH part that would allow you to cast him on your opponent's turn, and thus the sorcery you choose cant be cast.
There is no drawback here - b/c you can clearly choose INSTANT and that is why he has FLASH....
to look at a scenario that you wouldn't do as a potential drawback is sort of silly.
~just saying.
You are correct, but I am too. I'm not looking at that as a drawback; this is supposed to be an objective rules clarification, and I have seen this question. I'm going to plug the threads where you can discuss the card in the OP.
Does flashback permit kicker costs? It isn't in the top right corner but the spell says you can pay it as an additional cost.
I believe you can pay kicker costs. Gaze of justice says in its gathering rulings that you must pay the additional cost, so I'm not sure why optional additional costs would be different. I'll add this to the OP, but if I'm wrong I'd like someone to correct me.
as far as I know. If kicker works these should to because flashback does allow you to pay "additional cost" just not alternate cost of spells which is why it doesn't work with Force Of Will. Phyrexian mana is different because it is still paying mana.
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Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity.
If I target a spell that already has flashback will this give it another flashback cost equal to its converted mana cost. In other words could I target a Firebolt and than flashback it for R instead of 4R
Using Sedris, the Traitor King as a basis substituting unearth for Flashback. A normal flashback spell would get 2 instances of the ability with different costs and you may chose which ability you wish to use when casting the spell.
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Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag and start slitting throats.
- H.L Mencken
I Became insane with long Intervals of horrible Sanity
All Religion, my friend is simply evolved out of fraud, fear, greed, imagination and poetry.
- Edgar Allan Poe
The difference being that they can react to the Snapcaster Mage triggered ability with a Surgical Extraction or the like, but not the original flashback (but only before the card is chosen).
If I target a spell that already has flashback will this give it another flashback cost equal to its converted mana cost. In other words could I target a Firebolt and than flashback it for R instead of 4R
What is the reason that u can't use the alternate cost?
Could u state the ruling that prohibits alternate costs?
For example FOW and Daze have stated that u can pay the aletnate cost. Ok? Now snapcaster lets u to play spell from GY as flashback for its CMC cost ... where is it stated that u cant pay the alternate cost?
Snapcaster Mage is a wonderful card, but not nearly as wonderful as you guys think it is. Here are a few questions that have come up a lot, plus one that might:
Q: If I target a card like ancestral vision or hypergenesis with his trigger, can I flash it back for 0? What about the suspend cost?
A: Sorry, but Snapcaster Mage does not add a cost to the card because it doesn't see one in the top right corner. You can't flash it back.
Q: What about a card like force of will that has an alternate cost? Can I cast it by exiling a blue card from my hand and paying 1 life?
A: Again, no. The mage looks nowhere other than the top right corner of the card to find a mana cost. You'll be able to flash force of will back, but for the hefty price of 3UU.
Q: What happens if I flash him in on my opponent's turn and choose a sorcery as his trigger's target? Can I cast until end of turn because the effect will go away at the end of it?
A: Nope. Snapcaster mage will give the card flashback, but it won't give you any more permission to cast it when it's not your turn than flashback normally does - which is none.
I hope this was helpful! I'll try to add any other questions you guys have to the first post.
EDIT: already got one.
Q: Can I pay for the X in the cost of cards like fireball?
A: Yes! This one you can. Because you pay the X when you pay to flash it back, it sees that value and takes it. Devil's Play (link won't work, but it's in the spoiler) is an example of a card that takes advantage of this.
Q: Can I flash dismember back for 1 and 4 life? Or do I have to play the full 1BB?
A: The flashback cost is 1(P/B)(P/B), so you can pay 2 life for any and all of the (P/B)s.
Q: Can I pay the kicker cost of burst lightning et al if I flash it back?
A: You can. Any mandatory additional costs such as from sphere of resistance or gaze of justice must still be paid, so optional ones should be able too as well.
Q: If I want to flash artillerize back? Do I have to sacrifice a creature or artifact?
A: You do. If you look at the gatherer rulings for gaze of justice, you'll see that you still have to pay its additional cost, so artillerize shouldn't be any different.
Q: If I flash tendrils of agony back, do I get the storm copies? What about replicating gigadrowse?
A: Yup! Because both of those abilities trigger upon the casting of the spell, they'll trigger when flashback instructs you to cast them.
Q: What if I just want to save mana on my firebolt? Will he give it a second cost?
A: Yup! In that case, it will have flashback for R AND for 4R, so you can choose which you want to pay. (Hint: It's probably the cheaper one!)
mine was specific though - perhaps a mod would kindly merge the two threads?
This is one reason why Mental Misstep will not be unbanned in Modern.
Exactly. And converted mana cost, as a number rather than mana symbols, wouldn't actually be a legal cost for a flashback spell. Look at the top right corner.
Madding: Thanks, I didn't think of that. I'll add it.
He's probably a 2 or 3 of in that format, since he's not great right out of the gates, but when you're through the early game and slogging through the midgame, replaying your most powerful cards AND getting board presence is phenomenal. Look for this guy to do some serious, serious damage.
Ponder, gitaxian probe, mental misstep, despise, dismember, beast within, mana leak and who knows what else.
WBG Karador GBW
R Daretti R
RG Omnath GR
WRG Modern Burn GRW
WB Modern Tokens BW
DCI Rules Advisor as of 5/18/2015
dredge t.e.s. loam
- Bryant Cook
Mental Misstep wins most hyped card of the millenium
This card is definitely a badass tho.
Bident Layers
B Devotion
RG Devotion
UW Control
Modern:
Jund
UW Control
Combo Pod
Legacy:
DeathBlade
RUG Delver
BUG Control
There is no drawback here - b/c you can clearly choose INSTANT and that is why he has FLASH....
to look at a scenario that you wouldn't do as a potential drawback is sort of silly.
~just saying.
IN ADDITION: This card is the best card I have seen in the modern area (other than stupid jace) If you for any reason think that there is a false hype about this card. I recommend changing your attitude. before scg and other sites put them to $9.99 - I bought out the entire internet inventory on pre-order. Yes, all of them... so of coarse an hour later more stock was available & it was all of a sudden more expensive.
this card is amazing - i dont need specific card name scenarios - but still, here is why
-it has flash - keep this in mind, makes the rest of the list even better
-it's only 1 blue in a 2cc creature - totally splashable
-a 2/1 for 2 is always efficient..hence why bob is so playable as a 4 of.
-it makes a countless amount of great cards - even better. (look at any card that is agreed to be constructed worthy that is a sor. or inst. and ask yourself "why doesnt this card have flashback" and i f it doesnt the answer is because - that would make the card too good!)
-the metagame built into the control aspect with a 2drop creature that makes your opponent worry about every spell that you have already cast (your hand size just got big) is a serious environment changer. BLUE CREATURE THAT IS REALLY GOOD FOR ALMOST ANY DECK. NOT JUST ONE SCRIPT OF 60 CARDS!
(- in every format we have lands that can make blue with little to no drawback)
THIS CARD WILL REACH $30 in value within 1 month of release.
SCG has sold over 100 in a couple hours...95% of mtg players dont even know this exist yet. ebay listings are going over $20 from $0.99 in about 30 seconds.. it's a lot of hype - but IMO it is warranted. RED BLUE will be awesome in both standard and modern (knucklevee anybody?)
sell me your cards! seriously, i will buy them...probably.
Instead I am saying "going to be extremely dominant in constructed decks"
and this card is now $12.49 for advanced sale on websites... it might be $19.99 by Tuesday!
sell me your cards! seriously, i will buy them...probably.
Does flashback permit kicker costs? It isn't in the top right corner but the spell says you can pay it as an additional cost.
You are correct, but I am too. I'm not looking at that as a drawback; this is supposed to be an objective rules clarification, and I have seen this question. I'm going to plug the threads where you can discuss the card in the OP.
I believe you can pay kicker costs. Gaze of justice says in its gathering rulings that you must pay the additional cost, so I'm not sure why optional additional costs would be different. I'll add this to the OP, but if I'm wrong I'd like someone to correct me.
Hoping for a cure, or at least an outbreak.
Level 1 Judge (yay)
as far as I know. If kicker works these should to because flashback does allow you to pay "additional cost" just not alternate cost of spells which is why it doesn't work with Force Of Will. Phyrexian mana is different because it is still paying mana.
Albert Einstein
Thomas Jefferson
Yes. They work because you are casting it, and storm and replicate trigger when the spell is cast.
- H.L Mencken
I Became insane with long Intervals of horrible Sanity
All Religion, my friend is simply evolved out of fraud, fear, greed, imagination and poetry.
- Edgar Allan Poe
The Crafters' Rules Guru
Updated OP with this one.
GWU Derevi, the Prison Queen UWG
How does it work?
What is the reason that u can't use the alternate cost?
Could u state the ruling that prohibits alternate costs?
For example FOW and Daze have stated that u can pay the aletnate cost. Ok? Now snapcaster lets u to play spell from GY as flashback for its CMC cost ... where is it stated that u cant pay the alternate cost?
Puzzling!
Been combing rules for that. Can't find anything.
Thx man!