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Rules AnswersMana, Costs & Casting

Does Phyrexian mana count toward a spell's colored mana cost for devotion?

Short answer
No. Phyrexian mana symbols in a cost do count as colored mana symbols for devotion, but only if paid with mana, not life.

Devotion counts the number of colored mana symbols in the mana costs of permanents you control (CR 700.5). A Phyrexian mana symbol (e.g., {W/P}) is a colored mana symbol — specifically a Phyrexian white symbol — and therefore it does contribute to devotion on a permanent you control, regardless of how you paid for it (CR 107.4f).

The key point: devotion looks at the printed mana cost symbols on the card, not at how the spell was actually paid for. Whether you paid the {W/P} with {W} or with 2 life, the symbol still appears in the card's mana cost and still counts as one white mana symbol for devotion purposes.

So a card with {G/P}{G/P} in its mana cost contributes 2 to your green devotion even if you paid 4 life instead of any green mana. The symbol is there on the card; that's all devotion cares about.

Example: You control a Birthing Pod ({3}{G/P}) and a Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx. Birthing Pod has one green Phyrexian mana symbol in its cost, so it contributes 1 to your green devotion, regardless of whether you paid {G} or 2 life when you cast it.

Citations: CR 107.4f defines Phyrexian mana symbols as colored mana symbols; CR 700.5 defines devotion as counting colored mana symbols in mana costs of permanents you control.

HIGH confidence CR 107.4f CR 700.5
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