Do copied spells have a CMC?

Do Copied Spells Have a CMC?

One of the most common and fundamental concepts in Magic: The Gathering is the Mana Cost, or CMC, of a spell. It represents the amount of mana a player needs to pay when casting a spell. When a spell is copied, does it still have a CMC, or is the information carried over? This article aims to answer that question and delve deeper into the intricacies of spell copying.

Direct Answer: Yes, Copied Spells Have a CMC

The converted mana cost of a copied spell is the same as the CMC of the original spell. This applies to copies created by copying spells with mana costs, such as creature spells or spellcasters. Copied tokens, on the other hand, may not necessarily have the same CMC.

Mana Cost Copying vs. Token Creation

In Magic, two distinct phenomena occur when creating copies:

1. Mana Cost Copying: When copying a spell, the copier takes on the characteristics of the original spell, including its CMC.
2. Token Creation: When a token is created, such as when a creature or spell copies another permanent, the resulting token inherits its characteristics but may not maintain the CMC of the original permanent.

Understanding the Exceptions

Not all tokens copy the CMC of their original permanents. However, some special cases, such as creating a token copy of an artifact permanent, can be tricky.

• Tokens: Generally, tokens inherit the types, colors, and any other relevant attributes from the original permanent.
• Copied Artifact Permanent Tokens: In certain situations, a token may inherit the CMC of the original artifact permanent.
• Copied Permanent Tokens without CMC: Tokens that are copies of non-permanent permanents, like creatures or instants, do not automatically inherit their CMC. The rules for token creation apply independently of the CMC of the original.

Counter Examples

For clarification, let’s look at two counterexamples to demonstrate that copied spells always have a CMC.

• Example 1: Cursed Scroll reads, "This spell gets +1/-1 when you control exactly 15 life." Copies of this spell maintain this bonus despite not having their own separate CMC. The same applies to creature tokens without CMCs.
• Example 2: Ethersworn Canonist reads, "Each tapped creature that would be tapped for another cost gets in addition cost equal to 1 more than the original cost you paid." Even when an opponent creates a token of this creature using a token-generating ability, it still inherits this additional cost based on its CMC.

Real-World Implications and Interactions

Understanding that copied spells have a CMC carries significant implications and interactions on the battlefield:

• Mana Curve Calculations: When evaluating an opponent’s mana curve and planning to disrupt their tempo, players must consider both the individual CMC of spells and the potential benefits or costs of copying or token-creating.

• Strategy and Playable Interactions: Recognizing that CMC is transmitted through spell copying and token creation affects the overall flow of play. This could influence player decisions on:

  • When and how to copy specific spells, considering their interactions with individual CMC values.
  • Strategic board development, when choosing tokens to create based on CMC.

Conclusion: Do copied spells have a CMC? The answer is, yes, with some nuance. Spells that copy other spells and permanents inherit their characteristics, including CMC, while some tokens do not. Remembering these complexities is vital for making strategic decisions at the table, managing the CMC-based impact on play, and responding effectively to your opponent’s moves.

Table Comparison of Spell Copying vs. Token Creation