Baral's Expertise — ruling 1

The mana value of a split card is determined by the combined mana cost of its two halves. If an expertise spell allows you to cast a split card, you may cast either half or, if that split card has fuse, both halves.

Baral's Expertise — ruling 2

If the card has {X} in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost.

Baral's Expertise — ruling 3

The card that you cast may be an artifact or creature that was returned to your hand by this spell.

Baral's Expertise — ruling 4

If the Expertise spell you cast has any targets, and those targets become illegal before the spell resolves, the spell doesn't resolve and none of its effects happen. You won't get to cast a free spell.

Baral's Expertise — ruling 5

Effects that allow you to "cast" a card don't allow you to play a land card.

Baral's Expertise — ruling 6

If you cast a card "without paying its mana cost," you can't choose to cast it for any alternative costs, such as emerge costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, such as that of Cathartic Reunion, you must pay those to cast the card.

Baral's Expertise — ruling 7

While you're casting your free spell, the Expertise spell is still on the stack. It will be put into its owner's graveyard after the free spell is cast. The free spell can't target the Expertise card in your graveyard. It can target the Expertise spell on the stack, but the Expertise spell will become an illegal target before the free spell resolves.

Baral's Expertise — ruling 8

Any triggered abilities that trigger while performing the Expertise spell's first effect won't be put onto the stack until after you're done casting your free spell. They're put onto the stack at the same time as any abilities that triggered while casting that spell regardless of the order in which those abilities triggered.

Baral's Expertise : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Baral's Expertise 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

Return up to three target artifacts and/or creatures to their owners' hands. You may cast a spell with mana value 4 or less from your hand without paying its mana cost.

Complete guide

Baral's Expertise is a high-impact blue sorcery that can completely shift the momentum of a game by clearing the board and advancing your own strategy simultaneously. It combines powerful tempo disruption with a free casting effect that lets you maintain your lead or recover from a disadvantage. Understanding how to sequence this spell is key to mastering the Artificer's tactical prowess.

Total Board Control

Baral's Expertise allows you to target up to three artifacts and/or creatures. These targets are chosen as you cast the spell. When the spell resolves, these permanents are returned to their owners' hands. Crucially, if you choose zero targets, the spell still resolves, and you still get to cast a free spell from your hand. However, if you choose targets and all of them become illegal (for example, if they are sacrificed in response), the entire spell fizzles and you do not get to cast your free card.

The Free Casting Mechanic

After the targets are returned to their hands, you may cast a spell with mana value 4 or less from your hand without paying its mana cost. The mana value is determined solely by the symbols in the upper right corner of the card. You cannot play lands this way, and if you choose a spell with {X} in the cost, X must be zero. The free spell is cast while Baral's Expertise is still on the stack; the Expertise spell only moves to the graveyard after you finish the process of casting the free spell.

Common Pitfalls

One common mistake is trying to pay alternative costs like Emerge for the free spell; you cannot do this, though you must pay mandatory additional costs like discarding cards. Another frequent error involves triggered abilities. If a creature being bounced has a 'leaves the battlefield' trigger, that ability doesn't go on the stack until after you have finished casting your free spell. Both the bounce triggers and any triggers from casting your free spell will be placed on the stack at the same time once the process is complete.

When to Cast It

Baral's Expertise is best used when you can maximize the 'bounce' effect to remove blockers or disrupt a combo, then immediately follow up with a permanent or card-draw spell to solidify your position. Because the free spell can be one of the cards you just returned to your own hand, it can also be used to reset 'enters the battlefield' effects on your own creatures or artifacts.

Interaction examples

Bouncing and Recasting

Distant Melody

You cast Baral's Expertise targeting three of your opponent's creatures. As the spell resolves, the creatures return to their hands. You then use the second part of the effect to cast Distant Melody for free. Because you control a board of Elves, you choose Elf and draw four cards, all while your opponent's board is empty.

Mass Removal Setup

Raise the Palisade

You cast Baral's Expertise targeting three artifacts your opponent controls. After they return to hand, you choose to cast Raise the Palisade as your free spell. You choose 'Human' for your creature type. All non-Human creatures are returned to hands, resulting in a massive tempo swing where your opponent's artifacts and most of their creatures are gone, while your Humans remain.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Baral's Expertise

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1April 18, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
The mana value of a split card is determined by the combined mana cost of its two halves. If an expertise spell allows you to cast a split card, you may cast either half or, if that split card has fuse, both halves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2February 9, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
If the card 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.
#3February 9, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
The card that you cast may be an artifact or creature that was returned to your hand by this spell.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4February 9, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
If the Expertise spell you cast has any targets, and those targets become illegal before the spell resolves, the spell doesn't resolve and none of its effects happen. You won't get to cast a free spell.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5February 9, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
Effects that allow you to "cast" a card don't allow you to play a land card.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6February 9, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
If you cast a card "without paying its mana cost," you can't choose to cast it for any alternative costs, such as emerge costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, such as that of Cathartic Reunion, you must pay those to cast the card.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7February 9, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
While you're casting your free spell, the Expertise spell is still on the stack. It will be put into its owner's graveyard after the free spell is cast. The free spell can't target the Expertise card in your graveyard. It can target the Expertise spell on the stack, but the Expertise spell will become an illegal target before the free spell resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8February 9, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
Any triggered abilities that trigger while performing the Expertise spell's first effect won't be put onto the stack until after you're done casting your free spell. They're put onto the stack at the same time as any abilities that triggered while casting that spell regardless of the order in which those abilities triggered.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#9February 9, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
A card's mana value is determined solely by the mana symbols printed in its upper right corner. The mana value is the total amount of mana in that cost, regardless of color. For example, a card with mana cost has mana value 3. Ignore any alternative costs, additional costs, cost increases, or cost reductions that could apply to it. A card with no mana cost has a mana value of 0.
No other card is named in this ruling.