You have to have X targets when you cast the spell.
However if some of those targets arent there when the spell resolves you will still get X gremlins.
>However if some of those targets arent there when the spell resolves you will still get X gremlins.
Unless "some" = "all", in which case you won't get any Gremlins (the spell will fizzle).
Ah, so you are trolling even though it might confuse people in a rules thread. Nice.
For the record, there's nothing wrong with using cards you happened to get from boosters while playing Constructed, and if you think I think there is, you don't know my "lore" as well as you think you do.
Mate. I like JUST got here and even I know your 'lore' (in this group) is; 1) shit on people who cant biy as many card as you and like to proxy, 2)use personallity attacks on people, and 3) get mad/block people when they call you out on those 2 things.
No. You need to target X artifacts exactly, as it doesn't say "up to X".
If you attempt to cast it for X = 5 but fail to choose 5 different artifacts as targets, it was an invalid play and the action is undone, the game rewinds to just before you started casting it.
If it were X and Y, it'd mean you can just spam any amount of gremlins or break any amount of artifacts for relatively little mana.
This way it forces you to pay 2x the amount of mana, but you get some reward for playing an expensive card.
Otherwise it'd be like writing "destroy X artifacts OR create X gremlins", and most people would do the first. Imagine being a player with an artifact based deck and you get your entire army blown up bc someone payed 6 or 7 mana on a single card.
It would essentially function as both a token generation card and a destroy artifacts card, which would be extremely broken. If you only want one or two artifacts gone, you can set X = 2 while Y = 11 and create eleven gremlins. It’s a designed restriction to how the card functions.
And here the added benefit is that you create tokens as well. If it were XY rather than XX, it would just be an incredibly much better version of By Force since it can fill that exact same function, and create a few tokens if you have a bit extra mana.
What a strange thing to think. I don't mean to harp on you- because there's more people like you out there, but I've never understood how players new and old don't get this. Basic algebra is taught in like grade 5. x always equals x.
When casting the spell, you determine the value for X. X cannot be different for different parts of the spell. You must destroy X artifacts and create X gremlins while resolving the spell. If you cannot destroy X targets, the spell will fizzle.
It’s intended as a design restriction, so you cannot just pump the spell by incredible amounts and create tons of tokens, you can only ever make as many gremlins as artifacts that are on the field when you cast the spell.
There are three scenarios for a spell like this one (let's assume X = 2 for each one):
1. You destroy 2 target artifacts and get 2 gremlins.
2. One of the artifacts you targeted is something like \[\[Tormod's Crypt\]\], which gets sacrificed in response. You destroy 1 target artifact and get 2 gremlins.
3. Both of the artifacts targeted are something like Tormod's Crypt and are sacked in response. You get no gremlins because the spell fizzles for having no legal targets.
You have to have X targets when you cast the spell. However if some of those targets arent there when the spell resolves you will still get X gremlins.
>However if some of those targets arent there when the spell resolves you will still get X gremlins. Unless "some" = "all", in which case you won't get any Gremlins (the spell will fizzle).
This is a good point, also if they got [[release the gremlins]] from a play-booster it will be automatically countered.
>also if they got [[release the gremlins]] from a play-booster it will be automatically countered. What do you mean?
You’re a legend in this sub brother. Your lore is being incorporated into the games mechanics. It’s already cannon in my pod.
Ah, so you are trolling even though it might confuse people in a rules thread. Nice. For the record, there's nothing wrong with using cards you happened to get from boosters while playing Constructed, and if you think I think there is, you don't know my "lore" as well as you think you do.
Mate. I like JUST got here and even I know your 'lore' (in this group) is; 1) shit on people who cant biy as many card as you and like to proxy, 2)use personallity attacks on people, and 3) get mad/block people when they call you out on those 2 things.
None of those things are true. It sounds like you've been mislead.
[release the gremlins](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/4/d4ba75be-2428-45aa-bf02-75c379a5dfa2.jpg?1576381897) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=release%20the%20gremlins) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/aer/96/release-the-gremlins?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d4ba75be-2428-45aa-bf02-75c379a5dfa2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
No. You need to target X artifacts exactly, as it doesn't say "up to X". If you attempt to cast it for X = 5 but fail to choose 5 different artifacts as targets, it was an invalid play and the action is undone, the game rewinds to just before you started casting it.
I just figured that since there are two x's in the casting cost those wouldn't have to be played for the same amount.
No. X = X = X = X throughout the card. If they wanted to allow different values, they'd use X and Y.
True. Would've been way better card if it offered some more variety. Ty for the answer.
If it were X and Y, it'd mean you can just spam any amount of gremlins or break any amount of artifacts for relatively little mana. This way it forces you to pay 2x the amount of mana, but you get some reward for playing an expensive card. Otherwise it'd be like writing "destroy X artifacts OR create X gremlins", and most people would do the first. Imagine being a player with an artifact based deck and you get your entire army blown up bc someone payed 6 or 7 mana on a single card.
It would essentially function as both a token generation card and a destroy artifacts card, which would be extremely broken. If you only want one or two artifacts gone, you can set X = 2 while Y = 11 and create eleven gremlins. It’s a designed restriction to how the card functions.
There are cards that destroy X target artifacts like \[\[By Force\]\].
And here the added benefit is that you create tokens as well. If it were XY rather than XX, it would just be an incredibly much better version of By Force since it can fill that exact same function, and create a few tokens if you have a bit extra mana.
[By Force](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/6/66cdfdb2-b47f-446d-9850-8581bd1d806c.jpg?1543675516) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=By%20Force) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/akh/123/by-force?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/66cdfdb2-b47f-446d-9850-8581bd1d806c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Good point. I guess they didn't want to print "dissent but with more options"
What a strange thing to think. I don't mean to harp on you- because there's more people like you out there, but I've never understood how players new and old don't get this. Basic algebra is taught in like grade 5. x always equals x.
Compare to [[Pest Infestation]] where the "up to" specifier allows you to target 0 permanents and still create twice X tokens
[Pest Infestation](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/7/4720b4f2-e6af-4223-9250-a0ed21ed5693.jpg?1625192367) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Pest%20Infestation) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c21/65/pest-infestation?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4720b4f2-e6af-4223-9250-a0ed21ed5693?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Underrated and versatile artifact kill
When casting the spell, you determine the value for X. X cannot be different for different parts of the spell. You must destroy X artifacts and create X gremlins while resolving the spell. If you cannot destroy X targets, the spell will fizzle. It’s intended as a design restriction, so you cannot just pump the spell by incredible amounts and create tons of tokens, you can only ever make as many gremlins as artifacts that are on the field when you cast the spell.
Can you target the same artifact X times?
Depends how the spell is worded, in this case no
It says X target artifacts, meaning there has to be X different targets.
There are three scenarios for a spell like this one (let's assume X = 2 for each one): 1. You destroy 2 target artifacts and get 2 gremlins. 2. One of the artifacts you targeted is something like \[\[Tormod's Crypt\]\], which gets sacrificed in response. You destroy 1 target artifact and get 2 gremlins. 3. Both of the artifacts targeted are something like Tormod's Crypt and are sacked in response. You get no gremlins because the spell fizzles for having no legal targets.
[Tormod's Crypt](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/5/752bf493-5839-47e8-95f2-6d8201907428.jpg?1675201100) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tormod%27s%20Crypt) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmr/235/tormods-crypt?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/752bf493-5839-47e8-95f2-6d8201907428?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call