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Rules Answers › Counters, Triggers & Replacement

Does Eidolon of the Great Revel trigger when you cast a spell with converted mana cost 3 or less that has an X in its cost?

Short answer
Yes, if the total converted mana cost (mana value) is 3 or less at the time of casting, including the value chosen for X.

Eidolon of the Great Revel triggers whenever a player casts a spell with converted mana cost (now officially called "mana value") 3 or less. The key question for spells with {X} in their cost is: what is the mana value of the spell on the stack?

According to CR 202.3, while a spell with {X} in its mana cost is on the stack, X is equal to the value chosen for it. So the mana value is calculated using that chosen value. For example, if you cast Fireball with X=1 (paying {1}{R}, total 2 mana), its mana value on the stack is 2 — which is 3 or less, so Eidolon triggers.

However, if you cast the same Fireball with X=5 (paying {5}{R}, total 6 mana), its mana value on the stack is 6 — which is greater than 3, so Eidolon does NOT trigger. The outcome depends entirely on the value chosen for X.

Concrete example: You cast Chord of Calling with X=2 by paying {G}{G}{G}{2}. Its mana value on the stack is 2+3=5, so Eidolon does not trigger. But if you cast it with X=0 paying {G}{G}{G}, its mana value is 3, and Eidolon does trigger.

In contrast, in all zones other than the stack, X is treated as 0 for mana value calculations (CR 202.3b), but that does not matter here since Eidolon checks at cast time, when the spell is on the stack.

HIGH confidence CR 202.3 CR 202.3b CR 603.1
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