In a nutshell
- The converted mana cost of an object is determined by counting the total amount of mana in its mana cost, regardless of color.
- Special mana symbols: {W/U} adds 1, {2/W} adds 2, {W/P} adds 1.
- When calculating the converted mana cost of an object with an {X} in its mana cost, X is
- treated as 0 if the object is not on the stack, and X is treated as the number chosen for it if the object is on the stack.
- If an object doesn’t have a mana cost, or its mana cost is undefined, that object’s converted mana cost is 0.
- And that’s it. There is currently no way to change the converted mana cost of an object. In particular, the converted mana cost is not affected by alternative or additional costs, abilities that reduce or set costs, or anything else.
Special rules for split cards:
- A split card has two sets of characteristics (including mana costs) everywhere except the stack.
- On the stack, a split card has only the characteristics of the side that was cast. If it was cast fused, it has the combined characteristics of both halves.
- If something asks for the converted mana cost of a split card that’s not on the stack, it gets an answer based on the combined mana cost of both halves.
Q: What is the converted mana cost of…
- Mental Misstep? (1)
- Advice from the Fae? (6)
- Living End? (0)
- Boros Reckoner? (3)
- the token produced by Reach of Branches? (0 – because no mana cost is defined for it)
- the tokens produced by Pack Rat? (2 – being a copy of Pack Rat, the token copies Pack Rat’s mana cost)
- a Far (of Far // Away) that’s on the stack? (2)
- a Far // Away that’s being cast fused? (5)
- a Boon Satyr that’s being bestowed? (3)
- an overloaded Mizzium Mortars? (2)
- a Force of Will that was cast by paying 1 life and exiling a blue card? (5)
- a Fireball that’s being cast for X=6 with 2 extra targets? (7 – only the mana spent for the XR counts for the mana cost; the mana for the extra targets is an additional cost to cast the spell)
- an Orochi Hatchery with 3 counters on it? (0).