Evermind — ruling 1

A card with no mana cost can't be cast normally; you'll need a way to cast it for an alternative cost or without paying its mana cost, such as by suspending it.

Evermind — ruling 2

If a card with no mana cost is given an alternative cost equal to its mana cost (by Snapcaster Mage, for example), that cost cannot be paid and the card cannot be cast this way.

Evermind — ruling 3

A card with a splice ability can't be spliced onto itself because the spell is on the stack (and not in your hand) when you reveal the cards you want to splice onto it.

Evermind — ruling 4

You reveal all cards you intend to splice at the same time. Each individual card can be spliced only once onto any one spell.

Evermind — ruling 5

You choose all targets for the spell after revealing cards you want to splice, including any targets required by the text of any of those cards. You may choose a different target for each instance of the word "target" on the resulting spell.

Evermind — ruling 6

If all of the spell's targets are illegal when the spell tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen.

Evermind — ruling 7

Although originally printed with a characteristic-defining ability that defined its color, this card now has a color indicator. This color indicator can't be affected by text-changing effects (such as the one created by Crystal Spray), although color-changing effects can still overwrite it.

Evermind — ruling 8

Evermind has no mana cost, which means it can't normally be cast as a spell. You could, however, cast it via some alternate means, like with Sunforger or Kaho, Minamo Historian.

Evermind : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Evermind 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

(Nonexistent mana costs can't be paid.) Draw a card. Splice onto Arcane (As you cast an Arcane spell, you may reveal this card from your hand and pay its splice cost. If you do, add this card's effects to that spell.)

Complete guide

Evermind is a unique piece of Magic history from the Kamigawa block that challenges how players think about casting spells. Because it lacks a mana cost, you cannot simply play it from your hand; instead, you must rely on its Splice onto Arcane ability or specialized deck-building to unlock its power.

What It Does

Evermind is a blue Arcane instant that allows you to draw a card. However, its most defining characteristic is that it has no mana cost, which means it cannot be cast normally by paying mana. Its primary utility comes from Splice onto Arcane, allowing you to reveal it from your hand while casting another Arcane spell and paying {1}{U} to add 'Draw a card' to that spell's effects without losing the Evermind card itself.

How It Resolves Step by Step

When you splice Evermind onto an Arcane spell, the process follows a strict order. First, you announce the Arcane spell you are casting. Second, you reveal Evermind from your hand and pay the additional {1}{U}. Third, the text 'Draw a card' is added to the instructions of the base spell. When the spell finally resolves, all effects happen in order; if the base spell is countered, the spliced effect is also lost, but Evermind remains safely in your hand to be used again later.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is trying to cast Evermind using its mana value. Since it has no mana cost, its mana value is 0, but you still cannot cast it for zero mana. Another common mistake involves card effects like Snapcaster Mage; even if you give Evermind Flashback, you still cannot pay a non-existent cost. Note that you also cannot splice Evermind onto itself, as the card must be in your hand to be revealed for splice while the spell being cast is already on the stack.

When to Play It

Evermind is best utilized in dedicated Arcane decks where you can repeatedly trigger its splice ability to generate card advantage. It is also an excellent target for cards like Sunforger or Kaho, Minamo Historian, which allow you to cast spells by paying alternative costs or 'without paying their mana cost.' Because it is blue, it can also serve as fodder for powerful 'pitch' spells like Force of Will even if you never intend to cast it.

Interaction examples

Countering Spliced Spells

An Offer You Can't Refuse

If you cast an Arcane spell and splice Evermind onto it, your opponent can use An Offer You Can't Refuse to counter the entire spell. If they do, the spell is removed from the stack and none of its effects happen—meaning you do not get to draw a card. However, because Evermind was only revealed from your hand and not cast, it stays in your hand, and you still receive the two Treasure tokens from the counterspell's effect.

Targeting Rules

Swan Song

Evermind is a legal target for Swan Song because it is an instant spell once it is on the stack (via an alternative casting method). If you manage to cast Evermind using an effect like Sunforger, your opponent can respond with Swan Song. The spell will be countered, you will not draw a card, and you will receive a 2/2 Bird creature token instead.

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

How it works : Evermind

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1February 2, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
A card with no mana cost can't be cast normally; you'll need a way to cast it for an alternative cost or without paying its mana cost, such as by suspending it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2February 2, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
If a card with no mana cost is given an alternative cost equal to its mana cost (by Snapcaster Mage, for example), that cost cannot be paid and the card cannot be cast this way.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3June 7, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
A card with a splice ability can't be spliced onto itself because the spell is on the stack (and not in your hand) when you reveal the cards you want to splice onto it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4June 7, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
You reveal all cards you intend to splice at the same time. Each individual card can be spliced only once onto any one spell.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5June 7, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
You choose all targets for the spell after revealing cards you want to splice, including any targets required by the text of any of those cards. You may choose a different target for each instance of the word "target" on the resulting spell.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6June 7, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
If all of the spell's targets are illegal when the spell tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7June 7, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
Although originally printed with a characteristic-defining ability that defined its color, this card now has a color indicator. This color indicator can't be affected by text-changing effects (such as the one created by Crystal Spray), although color-changing effects can still overwrite it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8October 15, 2006· Wizards of the Coast
Evermind has no mana cost, which means it can't normally be cast as a spell. You could, however, cast it via some alternate means, like with Sunforger or Kaho, Minamo Historian.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#9October 15, 2006· Wizards of the Coast
If a spell or effect, such as Parallectric Feedback, asks for Evermind's mana value, it's 0.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#10June 1, 2005· Wizards of the Coast
Evermind is blue in all zones.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#11June 1, 2005· Wizards of the Coast
Evermind is a blue Arcane instant card. Cards that check whether a card has any of those attributes will affect Evermind. For example, you can exile it (as a blue card) to pay the alternative costs of spells like Force of Will and Disrupting Shoal (X = 0). You could search for it with Mystical Tutor because it's an instant or Eerie Procession because it's an Arcane spell.
No other card is named in this ruling.