Hama, the Bloodbender — ruling 1

If you cast a spell with {X} in its mana cost this way, the only legal choice for X is 0.

Hama, the Bloodbender — ruling 2

Even if the cost of the spell or ability that waterbend is part of increases or decreases, you still may only tap artifacts or creatures to pay for costs up to the amount of the generic mana in the waterbend cost.

Hama, the Bloodbender — ruling 3

You may only cast a spell this way by paying the waterbend cost. You may not pay its normal cost and may not pay any other alternative costs. You may still pay for additional costs, such as kicker costs. If the spell has mandatory additional costs, you must pay those.

Hama, the Bloodbender — ruling 4

You must follow all normal timing rules when casting a spell this way.

Hama, the Bloodbender — ruling 5

If a waterbend cost is part of the total cost to cast a spell or activate an ability, you may tap an untapped artifact or creature you control rather than pay one generic mana in that total cost any number of times up to a maximum of the amount of generic mana in the waterbend component of that total cost.

Hama, the Bloodbender — ruling 6

You can tap any untapped creature or artifact you control to pay a waterbend cost, even one you haven't controlled continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn.

Hama, the Bloodbender — ruling 7

"Waterbend [cost]" means "Pay [cost]. For each generic mana in that cost, you may tap an untapped artifact or creature you control rather than pay that mana."

Hama, the Bloodbender — ruling 8

If an artifact or creature you control has a mana ability with {T} in the cost, activating that ability while casting a spell or activating an ability with waterbend will result in the artifact or creature being tapped before you pay the spell's costs. You won't be able to tap it again for waterbend. Similarly, if you sacrifice an artifact or creature to activate a mana ability to pay a cost with waterbend, that artifact or creature won't be on the battlefield when you pay the spell's costs, so you won't be able to tap it for waterbend.

Hama, the Bloodbender : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Hama, the Bloodbender 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

When Hama enters, target opponent mills three cards. Exile up to one noncreature, nonland card from that player's graveyard. For as long as you control Hama, you may cast the exiled card during your turn by waterbending rather than paying its mana cost, where X is its mana value. (While paying a waterbend cost, you can tap your artifacts and creatures to help. Each one pays for .)

How it works : Hama, the Bloodbender

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
If you cast a spell with in its mana cost this way, the only legal choice for X is 0.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
Even if the cost of the spell or ability that waterbend is part of increases or decreases, you still may only tap artifacts or creatures to pay for costs up to the amount of the generic mana in the waterbend cost.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
You may only cast a spell this way by paying the waterbend cost. You may not pay its normal cost and may not pay any other alternative costs. You may still pay for additional costs, such as kicker costs. If the spell has mandatory additional costs, you must pay those.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
You must follow all normal timing rules when casting a spell this way.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
If a waterbend cost is part of the total cost to cast a spell or activate an ability, you may tap an untapped artifact or creature you control rather than pay one generic mana in that total cost any number of times up to a maximum of the amount of generic mana in the waterbend component of that total cost.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
You can tap any untapped creature or artifact you control to pay a waterbend cost, even one you haven't controlled continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
"Waterbend [cost]" means "Pay [cost]. For each generic mana in that cost, you may tap an untapped artifact or creature you control rather than pay that mana."
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
If an artifact or creature you control has a mana ability with in the cost, activating that ability while casting a spell or activating an ability with waterbend will result in the artifact or creature being tapped before you pay the spell's costs. You won't be able to tap it again for waterbend. Similarly, if you sacrifice an artifact or creature to activate a mana ability to pay a cost with waterbend, that artifact or creature won't be on the battlefield when you pay the spell's costs, so you won't be able to tap it for waterbend.
No other card is named in this ruling.