Believe in the CleaveHow it works & interactions with other cards

Cost Reduction and Casting

The first thing to note about Believe in the Cleave is its ability to reduce its own cost. While it normally costs four mana, the generic mana cost is reduced by one for each attacking creature you control. If you attack with three or more creatures, you only need to pay a single red mana to cast it. This cost is locked in the moment you cast the spell; adding or removing attackers later will not change what you have already paid.

Resolving the Buffs

When the spell resolves, the target creature receives three distinct benefits: a +1/+1 power and toughness boost, double strike, and trample. Double strike allows the creature to deal damage in both the first-strike and normal combat damage steps. Combined with trample, any damage exceeding the blocker's toughness in either step will carry over to the defending player or planeswalker.

Timing and Strategy

Because this is an instant, the most effective time to cast it is after blockers have been declared. This ensures your opponent cannot change their blocking decisions based on the new keywords. However, you must cast it during the 'Declare Blockers' step at the latest if you want the double strike to take effect during the first-strike damage step.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is forgetting that the creature must be a legal target both when the spell is cast and when it resolves. If the target is removed or made illegal in response, the entire spell fails and none of the effects happen. Also, remember that the cost reduction only counts 'attacking' creatures, meaning you must have already moved through the 'Declare Attackers' step for the discount to apply.

Interaction examples

Prowess and Redirection

Deflecting Swat

You cast Believe in the Cleave targeting your 2/2 creature. Your opponent responds by casting Deflecting Swat to change the target to their own blocker. Since Believe in the Cleave only has one target, Deflecting Swat successfully changes the target, meaning the opponent's creature will now receive the +1/+1, double strike, and trample instead of yours.

Removing the Threat

Chaos Warp

You target your creature with Believe in the Cleave. In response, your opponent casts Chaos Warp on that same creature. Chaos Warp resolves first, shuffling your creature into your library. When Believe in the Cleave tries to resolve, its only target is gone, so the spell is removed from the stack with no effect.

The Solo Strike

If you control no other attacking creatures, you can still cast Believe in the Cleave for its full cost of {3}{R}. The target creature will get the full benefits, but you won't receive any mana discount. This is often necessary if you only have one large creature and need to push through the final points of damage.