Etherium Sculptor and "x"

[Versus]

I checked SCG, I didn't see any rulings on this card yet. It's probably obvious, but I thought I'd ask just to be sure.

Will Etherium Sculptor reduce the cost of artifacts with "X" in their casting cost?

In otherwords can I drop a Chrome Mox>Ancient Tomb>Etherium Sculptor> then use the last colorless mana to play a Chalice on 1 for instance?

[Nihil Credo]

Yes.

[Versus]

Cool, thanks.

What about something like Sigil of Distinction (http://sales.starcitygames.com//carddisplay.php?product=53093)? If I only pay :1: with a Sculptor out, would I get two charge counters?

[Nihil Credo]

Yes.

[cdr]

For questions like this, it's important to understand rule 409.1 at least a little, the steps for playing a spell or ability.

You announce the value of X in step b, and determine the total cost you pay in step f. The value of X is seperate from what you actually pay.


409.1f. The player determines the total cost of the spell or ability. Usually this is just the mana cost (for spells) or activation cost (for abilities). Some cards list additional or alternative costs in their text. ... The total cost is the mana cost, activation cost, or alternative cost (as determined in rule 409.1b), plus all additional costs and cost increases, and minus all cost reductions.

[Versus]

Gotcha. So I would have to announce that I was playing Sigil on two then pay the reduced cost. Otherwise I could get called on it for say just tapping a single mana and slapping on two counters? That makes sense.

Thanks guys. I appreciate it.

[cdr]

You should explicity say what X is, yes. "Just slapping on two counters" shouldn't happen, because your opponent still has a chance to respond to it before it enters play and gets counters.

[Versus]

Cool. Thanks for clearing that up.