Is flashbacking {faithless looting} affected by {locket of yesterday's}
117.9d If an alternative cost is being paid to cast a spell, any additional costs, cost increases, and cost reductions that affect that spell are applied to that alternative cost. (See rule 601.2e.)
From the Comprehensive Rules (Khans of Tarkir)
702.33. Flashback
702.33a Flashback appears on some instants and sorceries. It represents two static abilities: one that functions while the card is in a player's graveyard and the other that functions while the card is on the stack. "Flashback [cost]" means "You may cast this card from your graveyard by paying [cost] rather than paying its mana cost" and "If the flashback cost was paid, exile this card instead of putting it anywhere else any time it would leave the stack." Casting a spell using its flashback ability follows the rules for paying alternative costs in rules 601.2b and 601.2e-g.
If you have multiple {faithless looting}s in your yard the flashback cost will be reduced. If you are asking if one by itself will make it reduced that is a different deeper question that I need to research further.
Edit: http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/magic-fundamentals/magic-rulings/magic-rulings-archives/264791-flashback-locket-of-yesterdays
Further research shows one looting by itself will not get the cost reduction as its on the stack already.
Thanks so much, so for each faithless in the yard, minus the one being flash backed, will give the flashbacked one a cost reduction.
The key point here is that you move the card to the stack before calculating and paying costs. By the time you decide how much you have to pay, your Faithless Looting isn't even in the graveyard for Locket to see.
Now I was under the impression that costs are paid and targets are chosen before it is even considered cast. Is that wrong, or is this just different with flashback?
Quote from: Oldschoolmtgnoob on April 07, 2015, 07:49:46 PM
Now I was under the impression that costs are paid and targets are chosen before it is even considered cast. Is that wrong, or is this just different with flashback?
These are the steps to casting a spell:
1. Announcement - This is when you announce that you're casting it and move it from where it is (In Exile, Graveyard, Library, Hand, etc) and move it to the stack
2. Choosing targets
3. Calculating Costs - This is done after the choosing of targets because those targets may affect the cost of the spell (like {Elderwood Scion})
4. Paying costs
Then the spell is actually considered cast and will trigger abilities (like {Counterbalance}) and be on the stack until it resolves or is removed due to being countered, etc.
Beautiful explanation. Thank you!