Fellow magicians, I need some help. My son and I are having a dispute over this card in the picture. To keep it completely unbiased, please tell me how you see this ability working in a game. Thank you!!!
Ability:
exile the top x number of cards from your library. Until end of next turn you may play these cards.
When Commune with Lava resolves, you exile the top X cards of your library. The spell (not: ability [compare C.R. 112.1 with C.R. 113.1]) then lets you play those cards "[u]ntil the end of your next turn". For example, if one of those cards is a land card, you may play that land card, and if it's a creature card you may cast that card.
In general, however, you can play a card this way only any time you could normally play a card of its type (C.R. 117.1a). For example, the only cards you can normally play outside your main phase are instant cards (C.R. 117.1a). Also, to play a card exiled this way, you must pay all its costs, including its mana cost if any (C.R. 601.2f, 601.2h; compare Commune with Lava with Mind's Desire). Finally, the effect of Commune with Lava lasts "[u]ntil the end of your next turn" (see also C.R. 514.2), and any cards you don't play when the effect ends will remain exiled and Commune with Lava won't let you play them anymore (compare Commune with Lava with Three Wishes).
Note that Commune with Lava doesn't have you play the cards you exile this way immediately after you do so (compare the second ability of Chandra, Pyromaster with her third ability, and see also this thread and this thread).
Here is an example:
Your main phase begins. You cast Commune with Lava, choosing an X of 2. Thus, the cost is 2RR, which you pay.
All players pass, then Commune with Lava resolves. You exile the top two cards of your library, which are a Mountain and a Lightning Bolt.
After Commune with Lava resolves, you get priority. Since it's your main phase and you haven't played a land yet, you play the Mountain card from exile thanks to Commune with Lava.
Now you have priority again. You cast Lightning Bolt from exile thanks to Commune with Lava. You target your opponent, tap the Mountain that just entered for R, then pay R.
All players pass, then Lightning Bolt resolves and deals 3 damage to your opponent.
EDIT: Corrections after comment 6 was posted.
EDIT (May 30): More corrections.
You didn't actually link a picture, but based on that text you seem to be asking about Commune with Lava. In that case:
When this spell resolves, you exile the top X cards of your library, where X is the value chosen when you cast the spell. For example, if you announced that X was 4 and you paid 4RR (4 generic mana and 2 red mana) for it, then when Commune with Lava resolves you exile the top 4 cards of your library. These 4 cards are placed in the exile zone face-up.
Now, until the end of your next turn, you may play those cards. To "play" a card means to play it if it's a land card, or cast it if it's a nonland card. As the spell doesn't say you can play without paying mana costs, you must still pay any mana costs to cast spells this way, as well as any additional costs the spells might have.
The spell also doesn't give you any special timing permission, so you can only cast the cards at the normal times you're allowed. For example, you can cast instants during your own turn or your opponent's turn, but sorceries/creatures/artifacts/enchantments/planeswalkers have to be cast during your own turn's main phase as normal. You can only play a land card exiled this way if you have land plays available. Under normal circumstances, this means you can only play one of the exiled lands during your turn, and only if yiou haven't played a land previously during the turn. Any cards played will go where they're normally supposed to go (sorceries and instants go to the graveyard, permanents go on the battleffield).
And finally, once you reach the end of your next turn, you no longer have the ability to play those exiled cards -- any cards exiled by Commune with Lava that you didn't play will remain in the exile zone, without you having a way to play them anymore. Hopefully this clears everything up for you; if not, let us know and we'll be glad to help with any further clarification you might need.
Wow thank you guys so much, that did help. Just so I am getting this correct, you follow the normal rules that apply to each turn. If you can play the card: I.e one lane card and any other cards you can pay for with u tapped mana, those cards do not get exiled after the next turn.
Wow thank you guys so much, that did help. Just so I am getting this correct, you follow the normal rules that apply to each turn. If you can play the card: I.e one lane card and any other cards you can pay for with u tapped mana, those cards do not get exiled after the next turn.
It is correct that any cards that you play thanks to Commune with Lava don't get exiled after your next turn, because Commune with Lava doesn't say that.
@peteroupc:
Check your example again, the numbers are off (X is 2 so the cost is 2RR, and Lightning Bolt deals 3 damage). We don't want to confuse later readers of the thread.
Ability:
exile the top x number of cards from your library. Until end of next turn you may play these cards.
In general, however, you can play a card this way only any time you could normally play a card of its type (C.R. 117.1a). For example, the only cards you can normally play outside your main phase are instant cards (C.R. 117.1a). Also, to play a card exiled this way, you must pay all its costs, including its mana cost if any (C.R. 601.2f, 601.2h; compare Commune with Lava with Mind's Desire). Finally, the effect of Commune with Lava lasts "[u]ntil the end of your next turn" (see also C.R. 514.2), and any cards you don't play when the effect ends will remain exiled and Commune with Lava won't let you play them anymore (compare Commune with Lava with Three Wishes).
Note that Commune with Lava doesn't have you play the cards you exile this way immediately after you do so (compare the second ability of Chandra, Pyromaster with her third ability, and see also this thread and this thread).
Here is an example:
EDIT: Corrections after comment 6 was posted.
EDIT (May 30): More corrections.
When this spell resolves, you exile the top X cards of your library, where X is the value chosen when you cast the spell. For example, if you announced that X was 4 and you paid 4RR (4 generic mana and 2 red mana) for it, then when Commune with Lava resolves you exile the top 4 cards of your library. These 4 cards are placed in the exile zone face-up.
Now, until the end of your next turn, you may play those cards. To "play" a card means to play it if it's a land card, or cast it if it's a nonland card. As the spell doesn't say you can play without paying mana costs, you must still pay any mana costs to cast spells this way, as well as any additional costs the spells might have.
The spell also doesn't give you any special timing permission, so you can only cast the cards at the normal times you're allowed. For example, you can cast instants during your own turn or your opponent's turn, but sorceries/creatures/artifacts/enchantments/planeswalkers have to be cast during your own turn's main phase as normal. You can only play a land card exiled this way if you have land plays available. Under normal circumstances, this means you can only play one of the exiled lands during your turn, and only if yiou haven't played a land previously during the turn. Any cards played will go where they're normally supposed to go (sorceries and instants go to the graveyard, permanents go on the battleffield).
And finally, once you reach the end of your next turn, you no longer have the ability to play those exiled cards -- any cards exiled by Commune with Lava that you didn't play will remain in the exile zone, without you having a way to play them anymore. Hopefully this clears everything up for you; if not, let us know and we'll be glad to help with any further clarification you might need.
Commander/EDH Decks:
BRG The Blood of Jund - Kresh the Bloodbraided BRG
WR The Blades of Goldnight - Gisela, Blade of Goldnight WR
Check your example again, the numbers are off (X is 2 so the cost is 2RR, and Lightning Bolt deals 3 damage). We don't want to confuse later readers of the thread.
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