Does Maelstrom Nexus Count Itself?
Maelstrom Nexus is a powerful card in Magic: The Gathering that has the ability to trigger cascade multiple times. But one of the most important questions about this card is whether it counts itself as a spell when triggering cascade. In this article, we’ll dive into the details of Maelstrom Nexus and explore the answer to this question.
The Basics of Maelstrom Nexus
Before we dive into the specifics of Maelstrom Nexus, let’s take a look at the card’s abilities. Maelstrom Nexus has the following abilities:
- Cascade: When you cast Maelstrom Nexus, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card that costs less than or equal to the total converted mana cost of the spells you’ve cast this turn. You may cast that card without paying its mana cost.
- Trample: Maelstrom Nexus has trample.
Does Maelstrom Nexus Count Itself?
Now that we’ve covered the basics of Maelstrom Nexus, let’s get to the question at hand: does Maelstrom Nexus count itself as a spell when triggering cascade? The answer is no, Maelstrom Nexus does not count itself as a spell when triggering cascade.
Why Doesn’t Maelstrom Nexus Count Itself?
There are a few reasons why Maelstrom Nexus doesn’t count itself as a spell when triggering cascade. First, the text of the card specifically states that it triggers cascade "when you cast" a spell, not "when you cast a spell, including itself." This implies that Maelstrom Nexus is not intended to trigger cascade on itself.
Second, if Maelstrom Nexus did count itself as a spell when triggering cascade, it would create a recursive loop where the card would continue to trigger cascade indefinitely. This would likely lead to unintended consequences and would not be in line with the game’s design.
How Does Maelstrom Nexus Trigger Cascade?
So, if Maelstrom Nexus doesn’t count itself as a spell when triggering cascade, how does it trigger cascade at all? When you cast Maelstrom Nexus, you exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card that costs less than or equal to the total converted mana cost of the spells you’ve cast this turn. This can include spells that you’ve cast earlier in the turn, as well as spells that you’ve cast earlier in the game.
For example, let’s say you’ve cast a 2-mana spell earlier in the turn, and you’ve cast a 3-mana spell earlier in the game. When you cast Maelstrom Nexus, you would exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card that costs 2 or less. This could include the 2-mana spell you cast earlier in the turn, or it could include a 1-mana spell that you cast earlier in the game.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Maelstrom Nexus does not count itself as a spell when triggering cascade. This is because the card’s text specifically states that it triggers cascade "when you cast" a spell, not "when you cast a spell, including itself." Additionally, if Maelstrom Nexus did count itself as a spell when triggering cascade, it would create a recursive loop that would likely lead to unintended consequences.
By understanding how Maelstrom Nexus triggers cascade, you can use this card to create powerful and complex combos in your Magic: The Gathering decks. Remember to always read the card’s text carefully and to think carefully about how the card will interact with other cards in your deck.