Let's say there are 4 cards in the graveyard and four swamps in play.
You cast Empty the Pits w/ the 4 swamps in play and exile 4 cards from your graveyard. How many tokens will you get:
A) 2 (because 2 cards for one "x" and 2 cards for the other "x")
[or]
B) 4 (because the four cards count for both X's, just like if one to have Arcane Melee out and cast Bonfire of the Damned [regular casting, not Miracle casting] for 1 red for 2 damage)
I am leaning to "A"... why, not a clue, but it feels like the logical solution, right?
It's the first one. You choose the value of X=2, then determine that the cost is 4BBBB. In order to pay that cost with only BBBB in your mana pool, you need to exile 4 cards with delve.
Also, for the same reason, the basis of the second possibility is false. With a single Arcane Melee out, Bonfire of the Damned with X=2 has a mana cost of 4R, so you'd need to pay 2R, not just R.
Let's say there are 4 cards in the graveyard and four swamps in play.
You cast Empty the Pits w/ the 4 swamps in play and exile 4 cards from your graveyard. How many tokens will you get:
A) 2 (because 2 cards for one "x" and 2 cards for the other "x")
[or]
B) 4 (because the four cards count for both X's, just like if one to have Arcane Melee out and cast Bonfire of the Damned [regular casting, not Miracle casting] for 1 red for 2 damage)
I am leaning to "A"... why, not a clue, but it feels like the logical solution, right?
Also, for the same reason, the basis of the second possibility is false. With a single Arcane Melee out, Bonfire of the Damned with X=2 has a mana cost of 4R, so you'd need to pay 2R, not just R.