Last Updated: 2026-07-16

206. Effects that need to determine a card's cost for any purpose always use its printed or copied cost, even if that cost is increased, decreased, or ignored as the card is played. Example: Sky Splitter is a spell that costs [8] and says in part "This spell's Energy cost is reduced by the highest Might among units you control." Lux, Illuminated is a unit that says "When you play a spell that costs 5 or more, give me +3 [M] this turn." If a player who controls Lux plays Sky Splitter, Lux's ability will trigger, regardless of how much was actually paid for Sky Splitter. Example: Defy is a spell which reads "Counter a spell that costs no more than [4] and no more than [A]." Rocket Barrage is a spell that costs [4][C] and has a Repeat cost of [4][C]. Rocket Barrage is a legal target for Defy even if Rocket Barrage's Repeat cost is paid, because Defy only checks the printed or copied cost of its target. Example: Atakhan is a unit that reads in part "You may kill a friendly unit as an additional cost to play me. If you do, I cost [1] less for each Energy it costs and [Y] less for each Power it costs." If a player plays Atakhan and chooses to kill a Reflection token that is currently a copy of Noxus Hopeful, Atakhan will cost [4] less.

206.1. Effects that need to determine an ability's cost for any purpose use its base cost, ignoring any alterations to that base cost unless otherwise specified. Example: A card reads "When you play an activated ability with Energy cost [7] or more, you may exhaust me to ready up to 2 runes." A gear has an activated ability that reads "[12], Banish this: Choose an opponent. Banish all units they control. This ability costs [1] less for each point the chosen opponent has." The ability of the first card will trigger when the activated ability is played, even if the chosen opponent has 6 or more points. Example: An equipment has an ability that reads "Equip [4][A]. This ability costs [1] less for each occupied enemy battlefield." If its controller plays a unit with Weaponmaster, the Weaponmaster trigger will refer to the cost including the alterations. This is because Weaponmaster specifies that it includes modifications to the cost.