Baral and Kari Zev is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
First strike, menace Whenever you cast your first instant or sorcery spell each turn, you may cast a spell with lesser mana value that shares a card type with it from your hand without paying its mana cost. If you don't, create First Mate Ragavan, a legendary 2/1 red Monkey Pirate creature token. It gains haste until end of turn.
Complete guide
Baral and Kari Zev represent an unlikely Kaladesh alliance that brings double the trouble to your opponents. By rewarding you for casting your first instant or sorcery each turn, this legendary duo ensures you either get a free spell or a legendary Monkey companion. This card is a powerhouse for players who love tempo and card advantage in Blue and Red.
Dual Rewards
The ability triggers only once each turn, specifically when you cast your very first instant or sorcery spell. When this happens, you have a choice: cast a cheaper spell of the same type from your hand for free, or create the legendary First Mate Ragavan token. Note that the spell you cast must have a strictly lesser mana value than the original spell that triggered the ability.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, you cast an instant or sorcery spell. The ability goes on the stack on top of that spell. As the ability resolves, you choose whether to cast a qualifying card from your hand. If you cast the free spell, it goes on the stack and will actually resolve before your original spell. If you choose not to cast anything, or if you don't have a valid card to cast, you create First Mate Ragavan with haste.
Timing and Costs
When casting a spell with this ability, you ignore normal timing restrictions; for example, you can cast a sorcery during an opponent's turn if the trigger was caused by an instant. However, if the free spell has {X} in its cost, X must be zero. While you cannot use alternative costs (like Overload), you must still pay mandatory additional costs, and you may choose to pay optional additional costs like Kicker.
Common Pitfalls
Baral and Kari Zev must be on the battlefield to 'see' your first spell. If you cast an instant and then play this creature later that same turn, the ability will not trigger for any subsequent spells because the 'first' spell has already passed. Additionally, remember that First Mate Ragavan is Legendary; if you already have one on the field, the new one will be put into the graveyard due to the legend rule.
Interaction examples
First Mate RagavanYou cast a 3-mana sorcery as your first spell of the turn. You have no other sorceries or instants in hand, so you decline the free cast. You immediately create First Mate Ragavan, a 2/1 Monkey Pirate with haste, who can attack immediately if it is your turn.
Roaming ThroneWith Roaming Throne on the battlefield naming 'Human', your Baral and Kari Zev triggers an additional time. When you cast your first instant, the first trigger resolves, allowing you to cast a free spell or make a monkey. Then, the second trigger resolves, potentially letting you cast another free spell or, if you already chose the monkey, you might make a second one (though one will be sacrificed to the legend rule).
Solemn SimulacrumIf you cast Solemn Simulacrum as your first spell of the turn, nothing happens. Because the creature is an Artifact Creature and not an Instant or Sorcery, it does not meet the requirements to trigger Baral and Kari Zev's ability.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Baral and Kari Zev
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If the spell has
in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Baral and Kari Zev will count any instant or sorcery spell you cast during a turn, even if it wasn’t on the battlefield at the time. This means if you cast an instant or sorcery spell, then Baral and Kari Zev comes under your control, its triggered ability won’t trigger that turn.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
The spell you cast from your hand without paying its mana cost is cast during the resolution of the triggered ability. Timing restrictions of that spell based on card type are ignored. It will resolve before the spell that caused the ability to trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If you cast a spell without paying its mana cost, you can’t choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay any additional costs. If the spell has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those.
No other card is named in this ruling.
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