On any card already in the battlefield that has a ability with a cost, for example in stampede driver, once that ability or effect is paid, are you casting a spell? Or a sorcery/instant card that has multiple choices like in Collective Effort, are each of those considered a spell? Thank you!
On any card already in the battlefield that has a ability with a cost, for example in stampede driver, once that ability or effect is paid, are you casting a spell?
No, you are activating an ability.
Or a sorcery/instant card that has multiple choices like in Collective Effort, are each of those considered a spell? Thank you!
No, Collective Effort is a single spell. Each choice is called a mode.
---
From the Comprehensive Rules glossary:
* Ability: 1. Text on an object that explains what that object does or can do. 2. An activated or triggered ability on the stack. This kind of ability is an object. See rule 112, "Abilities," and section 6, "Spells, Abilities, and Effects."
* Spell: A card on the stack. Also a copy (of either a card or another spell) on the stack. See rule 111, "Spells."
* Effect: Something that happens in the game as a result of a spell or ability. See rule 609, "Effects."
So:
When you play Stampede Driver or Collective Effort from your hand, you're casting it as a spell.
Stampede Driver's text define its one ability (first definition). This ability has an activation cost, so it is an activated ability.
When you activate this ability (paying its cost), you create an object on the stack that is also called an ability (second definition).
Collective Effort also has abilities (first definition). The first, Escalate, is just a static ability that defines an additional cost and applies as you cast Effort. The others, the modes, are all spell abilities because they simply happen as an instant or sorcery spell resolves.
Finally, effect is simply what those spells and abilities do. The effect of Driver's ability is giving +1/+1 and trample to your creatures; this is a continuous effect with a duration of "until end of turn".
Collective Effort's modes all have one-shot effects: they just happen at once and that's it. The first two just destroy the target, and the second place the counter, and they're done. No duration.
No, you are activating an ability.
No, Collective Effort is a single spell. Each choice is called a mode.
---
From the Comprehensive Rules glossary:
* Ability: 1. Text on an object that explains what that object does or can do. 2. An activated or triggered ability on the stack. This kind of ability is an object. See rule 112, "Abilities," and section 6, "Spells, Abilities, and Effects."
* Spell: A card on the stack. Also a copy (of either a card or another spell) on the stack. See rule 111, "Spells."
* Effect: Something that happens in the game as a result of a spell or ability. See rule 609, "Effects."
So:
When you play Stampede Driver or Collective Effort from your hand, you're casting it as a spell.
Stampede Driver's text define its one ability (first definition). This ability has an activation cost, so it is an activated ability.
When you activate this ability (paying its cost), you create an object on the stack that is also called an ability (second definition).
Collective Effort also has abilities (first definition). The first, Escalate, is just a static ability that defines an additional cost and applies as you cast Effort. The others, the modes, are all spell abilities because they simply happen as an instant or sorcery spell resolves.
Finally, effect is simply what those spells and abilities do. The effect of Driver's ability is giving +1/+1 and trample to your creatures; this is a continuous effect with a duration of "until end of turn".
Collective Effort's modes all have one-shot effects: they just happen at once and that's it. The first two just destroy the target, and the second place the counter, and they're done. No duration.