Cheering FanaticHow it works & interactions with other cards

How the Ability Functions

When Cheering Fanatic is declared as an attacker, its triggered ability goes on the stack. Upon resolution, you choose the name of any card. For the remainder of the turn, every time you cast a spell with that specific name, its cost is reduced by {1} generic mana. This reduction applies to every instance of the spell you cast that turn, not just the first one.

Step-by-Step Resolution

1. Declare Cheering Fanatic as an attacker during your Declare Attackers step. 2. The triggered ability is put on the stack. 3. Players may respond with spells or abilities. 4. As the ability resolves, you name a card. 5. A continuous effect is created that lasts until the end of the turn, reducing the cost of spells with that name by {1}.

Cost Reduction Limitations

It is important to remember that Cheering Fanatic only reduces generic mana requirements. It cannot reduce colored mana symbols ({R}, {U}, etc.) or colorless mana symbols ({C}). If you name a card that only costs one colored mana, its cost will remain unchanged. Furthermore, you can name any card, even if you do not have it in hand or if it is a land like Mountain that isn't cast as a spell.

Strategic Timing

Since the ability triggers during the combat phase, the reduction is most often used during your second main phase. However, if you have ways to cast spells at instant speed, you can benefit from the reduction immediately after the ability resolves during the combat phase.

Interaction examples

Fueling the Face-Breaker

Professional Face-Breaker

You attack with Cheering Fanatic and name Professional Face-Breaker. Because the Fanatic's ability resolves during the Declare Attackers step, you can then cast Professional Face-Breaker during your second main phase for only {1}{R} instead of {2}{R}. This synergy allows you to develop your board faster after generating Treasures from combat damage.

Free Mana Fixing

Ornithopter of Paradise

If you attack with Cheering Fanatic and name Ornithopter of Paradise, the artifact creature's cost is reduced from {2} to {1}. This allows you to deploy your mana-fixing creatures more efficiently, leaving more mana open for other spells or interaction during your turn.

Naming Cards in Exile

Professional Face-Breaker

If you use Professional Face-Breaker to exile the top card of your library and it reveals a second copy of Professional Face-Breaker, you can attack with Cheering Fanatic and name that card. The cost reduction will apply to the card cast from exile just as it would to a card cast from your hand.