Hellcarver Demon

[Maveric78f]

Hellcarver Demon

Let's say I reveal Trinisphere, Kozilek, Butcher of Truth, Kozilek, Butcher of Truth, land, land, land.

Can I play land, land, land, Kozilek, wait to see if it resolves, play trinisphere, and play Kozilek#2 (with the 3 manas generated from the lands) if Kozilek#1 has been counterspelled?

[Nightmare]

Hellcarver Demon says you may play NON LAND cards.

[luma]

Also, you only get one chance to cast any of the cards when the ability is resolving. You can't wait to see if your opponent will counter some spell and then cast more of them. When the Demon's ability resolves, you choose which of the cards you will cast, then cast those cards in any order. Then the cards you didn't cast will stay exiled, the spells you cast will be on the stack and players get to respond to them.

[Maveric78f]

Can I float 2 manas to play chalice@1 off demon?

[luma]

You can't. Because Hellcarver Demon lets you cast the cards without paying their mana costs, the only possible choice for X is 0.


107.3b If a player is casting a spell that has an {X} in its mana cost, the value of X isn’t defined by the text of that spell, and an effect lets that player cast that spell while paying neither its mana cost nor an alternative cost that includes X, then the only legal choice for X is 0.

[cdr]

Can I float 2 manas to play chalice@1 off demon?

You are playing the cards without paying their mana cost, which is an alternate cost. You cannot play them for their normal cost, or any other cost.

[jrsthethird]

You're allowed to float mana to kick Everflowing Chalice, right?

[cdr]

You're allowed to float mana to kick Everflowing Chalice, right?

You can always pay additional costs.

[Malchar]

Note that you don't necessarily have to float mana ahead of time when paying alternate costs. When you cast a spell, you are given an opportunity to activate mana abilities. However in this case, it is unlikely that you will have any land in play.