K.20.1- The "play cost" for a spell or ability is what you actually have to pay to play the spell or ability. The cost may include mana and non-mana aspects. [D'Angelo 1998/02/03]
K.20.2- The "play cost" for a spell is the "mana cost" (see Rule K.18) plus any additional cost increases or decreases that are applied. The "play cost" for an ability is the "activation cost" (see Rule G.1) plus any additional cost increases or decreases that are applied. [D'Angelo 1997/11/19]
K.20.3- If a card's text includes "At the time you play
K.20.4- To figure out the total play cost: a) Start with the mana cost (see Rule K.18). b) Apply cost increases from the card itself (such as from Buyback, see Rule A.10) and cost increases from other effects (such as from Gloom). c) Apply cost reductions from the card itself (such as with the alternate cost spells, see Rule E.1) or from other cards (such as Helm of Awakening or Pearl Medallion). [WotC Rules Team 1998/02/01]
K.20.5- Mana that is generated with a restriction on how it is spent may be spent on any play cost that meets the restriction. This means that it can be applied to increases due to Kicker, etc. For example, mana from Food Chain, which is limited to only being used for creature spells, may be used to pay the Kicker cost on a creature spell. [Rules Team 2001/05/01]
K.20.Ruling.1- Using the Buyback (see Rule A.10) ability is part of the play cost of a spell, and is added in before you apply cost decreases. See Rule A.10.Ruling.1. [D'Angelo 1998/02/03] Kicker is also part of the play cost. See Rule A.24.Ruling.4. [D'Angelo 2001/01/16]
K.20.Ruling.2- The result of Rule K.20.4 is that the Medallions and other cost decreasers can be applied to any part of the play cost, and not just the mana cost. [D'Angelo 1998/02/03]
K.20.Ruling.3- Once a spell is announced (see Rule T.4), there is no way to retroactively change the play cost. It has already been paid. For example, if you use a Sleight of Mind to change Gloom so it affects green spells, it will not make an already announced green spell cost more. [bethmo 1994/11/01]
K.20.Ruling.4- Some older cards used the text "
Note- See "Activation Cost", Rule G.1, for more information.
Note- See "Converted Mana Cost", Rule K.8, for more information.
Note- See "Mana Cost", Rule K.18, for more information.