Kurkesh, Onakke Ancient has an ability that states "Whenever you activate an ability of an artifact, if it isn't a mana ability, you may pay 1 red. If you do, copy that ability. You may choose new targets for the copy". Moltensteel Dragon has an ability that can be paid with either 1 fire or 2 life. My question is this: does it still count as a mana ability if you choose to pay life? So if I had Kurkesh out and wanted to use Moltensteel Dragon's ability, could I copy that ability if I chose to pay life rather than mana? Moltensteel Dragon's ability isn't a target ability but just affects itself. But the concept still applies for other artifacts that may have a pay life ability.
A mana ability is one that produces mana, not one that costs mana.
605. Mana Abilities
605.1. Some activated abilities and some triggered abilities are mana abilities, which are subject to special rules. Only abilities that meet either of the following two sets of criteria are mana abilities, regardless of what other effects they may generate or what timing restrictions (such as "Activate this ability only any time you could cast an instant") they may have.
605.1a. An activated ability is a mana ability if it meets all of the following criteria: it doesn't have a target, it could put mana into a player's mana pool when it resolves, and it's not a loyalty ability. (See rule 606, "Loyalty Abilities.")
Kurkesh can copy Moltensteel Dragon's ability fine no matter how its cost is paid (for what it's worth. You could also just activate the Dragon's ability another time paying red mana, Kurkesh doesn't really accomplish anything here ).
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I'm a former judge (lapsed), who keeps up to date on rules and policy. Keep in mind that judges' answers aren't necessarily more valid than those of people who aren't judges; what matters is we can quote the rules to back up our answers. When in doubt, ask for such quotes.
I think it's an important distinction to make, since you could technically get double the activations out of a Molten Steel Dragon if you paid 2 life and dedicated all your red mana to copying the ability. Assuming you have a whole lotta life at any rate.
I think it's an important distinction to make, since you could technically get double the activations out of a Molten Steel Dragon if you paid 2 life and dedicated all your red mana to copying the ability. Assuming you have a whole lotta life at any rate.
You could also dedicate all your red mana to activating the ability more times, which accomplishes the same thing, that's what my point was.
I'm a former judge (lapsed), who keeps up to date on rules and policy. Keep in mind that judges' answers aren't necessarily more valid than those of people who aren't judges; what matters is we can quote the rules to back up our answers. When in doubt, ask for such quotes.
Kurkwsh, Onakke Ancient + Moltensteel Dragon