Channel

[BadLuckIrish]

Can someone explain {Channel} for my friend. He tried to do a turn 2 flying spaghetti monster {Emerakul, the Aeons Torn} by paying 15 life

[Jake, Fart Sculptor]

Then he used channel for an amazing turn 2 game finisher!

[BlackJester]

Would you like someone to explain {Channel} to you?😜

[BadLuckIrish]

um yea cause channel states if you were to use a mana ability

[Spikepit]

um yea cause channel states if you were to use a mana ability

Anywhere you could pay mana for something, you can use {Channel} instead. However, you cannot pay more life than you have. So turn 2 {Emrakul, the Aeons Torn} is valid (and a tactic I have emulated many a time).

[BadLuckIrish]

the oracle is so confusing

[Spikepit]

If it helps you understand it better read it this way:


Channel.                                 🍀🍀

Sorcery

As an additional cost to cast Channel, pay X life.

Add X to your mana pool, where X is equal to the amount of life paid this way.

[BadLuckIrish]

If it helps you understand it better read it this way:


Channel.                                 🍀🍀

Sorcery

As an additional cost to cast Channel, pay X life.

Add X to your mana pool, where X is equal to the amount of life paid this way.

ty spike

[BlackJester]

I think I see the problem. Mana abilities have different time restrictions than other abilities. It just means that {Channel} let's you add mana at those times. You don't actually need to USE another mana ability.

It's like when they say "only any time you could cast an instant".  it doesn't mean you need to cast one, only the timing.

[BlackJester]

Spike is right, and you can pay that life any time for the rest of the turn.