Ethersworn Sphinx

06/18/2021

A spell's mana value is determined only by its mana cost. Ignore any alternative costs, additional costs, cost increases, or cost reductions.

06/18/2021

Affinity can reduce only the generic mana in a spell's total cost. It can't reduce colored mana requirements.

06/18/2021

Cascade triggers when you cast the spell, meaning that it resolves before that spell. If you end up casting the exiled card, it will go on the stack above the spell with cascade.

06/18/2021

Due to a 2021 rules change to cascade, not only do you stop exiling cards if you exile a nonland card with lesser mana value than the spell with cascade, but the resulting spell you cast must also have lesser mana value. Previously, in cases where a card's mana value differed from the resulting spell, such as with some modal double-faced cards or cards with an Adventure, you could cast a spell with a higher mana value than the exiled card.

06/18/2021

If a spell with cascade is countered, the cascade ability will still resolve normally.

06/18/2021

If the card has {X} in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost.

06/18/2021

If there are any additional costs or cost increases that would apply to Ethersworn Sphinx, apply those before applying any cost reductions.

06/18/2021

If you cast a card "without paying its mana cost," you can't choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those to cast the card.

06/18/2021

The cost reduction is set before you pay any of the spell's costs. Specifically, you could lock in a discount for an artifact you control and then sacrifice that artifact to activate a mana ability.

06/18/2021

The mana value of a split card is determined by the combined mana cost of its two halves. If cascade allows you to cast a split card, you may cast either half but not both halves.

06/18/2021

When the cascade ability resolves, you must exile cards. The only optional part of the ability is whether or not you cast the last card exiled.

06/18/2021

You exile the cards face up. All players will be able to see them.