Rule evolution

Rule 118.3c

Previously numbered 116.3c, 117.3c.

Earliest archived Rules release: 2010-02-01 · 4 wording revisions · 2 renumberings

  1. Added116.3cDetails
    Activating mana abilities is not mandatory, even if paying a cost is. Example: A player controls Thorn of Amethyst, which says "Noncreature spells cost {1} more to cast." Another player removes the last time counter from a suspended sorcery card. That player must cast that spell if able, but doing so costs {1}. The player is forced to spend {1} if enough mana is in his or her mana pool, but the player isn't forced to activate a mana ability to produce that {1}. If he or she doesn't, the card simply remains exiled.
  2. Renumbered116.3c → 117.3cDetails

    Previously
    1. Game Concepts
    116. Costs

    Then
    1. Game Concepts
    117. Costs

    Activating mana abilities is not mandatory, even if paying a cost is. Example: A player controls Thorn of Amethyst, which says "Noncreature spells cost {1} more to cast." Another player removes the last time counter from a suspended sorcery card. That player must cast that spell if able, but doing so costs {1}. The player is forced to spend {1} if enough mana is in his or her mana pool, but the player isn't forced to activate a mana ability to produce that {1}. If he or she doesn't, the card simply remains exiled.
  3. Wording changed117.3cDetails
    Activating mana abilities is not mandatory, even if paying a cost is. Example: A player controls ThornLodestone of AmethystGolem, which says "NoncreatureNonartifact spells cost {1} more to cast." Another player removes the last time counter from a suspended sorcery card. That player must cast that spell if able, but doing so costs {1}. The player is forced to spend {1} if enough mana is in his or her mana pool, but the player isn't forced to activate a mana ability to produce that {1}. If he or she doesn't, the card simply remains exiled.
  4. Wording changed117.3cDetails
    Activating mana abilities is not mandatory, even if paying a cost is. Example: A player controls Lodestone Golem, which says "Nonartifact spells cost {1} more to cast." Another player removes the last time counter from a suspended sorcery card. That player must cast that spell if able, but doing so costs {1}. The player is forced to spendpay {1}that cost if enough mana is in his or her mana pool, but the player isn't forced to activate a mana ability to produce that {1}mana. If he or she doesn't, the card simply remains exiled.
  5. Wording changed117.3cDetails
    Activating mana abilities is not mandatory, even if paying a cost is. Example: A player controls Lodestone Golem, which says "Nonartifact spells cost {1} more to cast." Another player removes the last time counter from a suspended sorcery card. That player must cast that spell if able, but doing so costs {1}. The player is forced to pay that cost if enough mana is in histheir or her mana pool, but the player isn't forced to activate a mana ability to produce that mana. If hethey or she doesndon't, the card simply remains exiled.
  6. Renumbered117.3c → 118.3cDetails

    Previously
    1. Game Concepts
    117. Costs

    Then
    1. Game Concepts
    118. Costs

    Activating mana abilities is not mandatory, even if paying a cost is. Example: A player controls Lodestone Golem, which says “Nonartifact spells cost {1} more to cast.” Another player removes the last time counter from a suspended sorcery card. That player must cast that spell if able, but doing so costs {1}. The player is forced to pay that cost if enough mana is in their mana pool, but the player isn’t forced to activate a mana ability to produce that mana. If they don’t, the card simply remains exiled.
  7. Wording changed118.3cDetails
    Activating mana abilities is not mandatory, even if paying a cost is. Example: A player controls Lodestone Golem, which says "Nonartifact spells cost {1} more to cast." Another player removes the last time counter from a suspended sorcery card. That player must cast that spell if able, but doing so costs {1}. The player is forced to pay that cost if enough mana is in their mana pool, but the player isn't forced to activate a mana ability to produce that mana. If they don't, the card simply remains exiled.

Current in the latest available Rules
Unchanged since 2026-08-07.