Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis — ruling 1

Tapping a multicolored creature using convoke will pay for {1} or one mana of your choice of any of that creature's colors.

Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis — ruling 2

When calculating a spell's total cost, include any alternative costs, additional costs, or anything else that increases or reduces the cost to cast the spell. Convoke applies after the total cost is calculated. Convoke doesn't change a spell's mana cost or mana value.

Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis — ruling 3

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

Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis — ruling 4

Because convoke isn't an alternative cost, it can be used in conjunction with alternative costs.

Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis — ruling 5

You can tap any untapped creature you control to convoke a spell, even one you haven't controlled continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn.

Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis — ruling 6

Tapping an untapped creature that's attacking or blocking to convoke a spell won't cause that creature to stop attacking or blocking.

Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis — ruling 7

You can exile cards to pay only for generic mana, and you can't exile more cards than the generic mana requirement of a spell with delve. For example, you can't exile more than seven cards from your graveyard to cast Treasure Cruise unless an effect has increased its cost.

Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis — ruling 8

Because delve isn't an alternative cost, it can be used in conjunction with alternative costs, such as flashback. It can also be used to pay for additional costs that include generic mana.

Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis 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

You can't spend mana to cast this spell. Convoke, delve (Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for or one mana of that creature's color. Each card you exile from your graveyard pays for .) You may cast this card from your graveyard. Trample

Complete guide

Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis is a legendary Avatar that redefined what it means to cast a massive threat for free. Because you cannot spend mana to cast it, you must rely entirely on your creatures and your graveyard to bring this 8/8 trample powerhouse onto the battlefield. Whether it is in your hand or resting in your graveyard, Hogaak is never far from the fight.

Paying Without Mana

The most unique trait of Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis is the restriction that you cannot spend mana to cast it. This means you must cover its total cost of seven mana entirely through Convoke and Delve. For the generic portion of the cost, you can exile cards from your graveyard or tap creatures. However, the two hybrid Black/Green mana symbols in its cost must be paid for by tapping creatures of the corresponding colors using Convoke.

The Casting Process

Casting Hogaak follows a specific sequence. First, you move the card to the stack from either your hand or your graveyard. Next, you calculate the total cost, which remains seven mana including two hybrid symbols. Finally, you pay the cost by exiling cards from your graveyard (Delve) and tapping untapped creatures you control (Convoke). You can use creatures even if they have 'summoning sickness,' as Convoke does not use the tap symbol in the cost.

Common Pitfalls

A frequent mistake is attempting to use a creature's mana ability and Convoke at the same time. If you sacrifice a creature to a mana ability or tap it for mana, it is no longer available to be tapped for Convoke. Additionally, remember that Delve only covers generic mana; you cannot exile extra cards from your graveyard to satisfy the hybrid Black/Green mana requirements.

When to Play Hogaak

Hogaak is best played in decks that can quickly fill the graveyard or produce a wide board of tokens. Because it can be cast from the graveyard, it is highly resilient to discard effects and removal. It serves as a massive blocker or an overwhelming attacker that forces opponents to deal with it multiple times throughout a game.

Interaction examples

Building the Necropolis with Plants

Avenger of Zendikar

If you have Avenger of Zendikar and seven Plant tokens on the battlefield, you have more than enough resources to cast Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis. You can tap five tokens to pay for the generic mana and tap two tokens (which are Green) to pay for the two hybrid Black/Green mana symbols. This allows you to deploy Hogaak without exiling a single card from your graveyard.

A Trampling Finisher

Craterhoof Behemoth

Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis already possesses Trample, making it a perfect target for the massive stat boost from Craterhoof Behemoth. If you tap several creatures to Convoke Hogaak into play during your main phase, and then cast Craterhoof Behemoth, Hogaak will receive +X/+X based on your creature count. Even though Hogaak was cast using those creatures as 'mana,' it is ready to attack for lethal damage alongside them.

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

How it works : Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1January 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
Tapping a multicolored creature using convoke will pay for or one mana of your choice of any of that creature's colors.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2January 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
When calculating a spell's total cost, include any alternative costs, additional costs, or anything else that increases or reduces the cost to cast the spell. Convoke applies after the total cost is calculated. Convoke doesn't change a spell's mana cost or mana value.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3January 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature you control has a mana ability with in the cost, activating that ability while casting a spell with convoke will result in the creature being tapped before you pay the spell's costs. You won't be able to tap it again for convoke. Similarly, if you sacrifice a creature to activate a mana ability while casting a spell with convoke, that creature won't be on the battlefield when you pay the spell's costs, so you won't be able to tap it for convoke.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4January 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
Because convoke isn't an alternative cost, it can be used in conjunction with alternative costs.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5January 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
You can tap any untapped creature you control to convoke a spell, even one you haven't controlled continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6January 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
Tapping an untapped creature that's attacking or blocking to convoke a spell won't cause that creature to stop attacking or blocking.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7March 19, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
You can exile cards to pay only for generic mana, and you can't exile more cards than the generic mana requirement of a spell with delve. For example, you can't exile more than seven cards from your graveyard to cast Treasure Cruise unless an effect has increased its cost.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8March 19, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
Because delve isn't an alternative cost, it can be used in conjunction with alternative costs, such as flashback. It can also be used to pay for additional costs that include generic mana.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#9March 19, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
Delve doesn't change a spell's mana cost or mana value. For example, Treasure Cruise's mana value is 8 even if you exiled three cards to cast it.
No other card is named in this ruling.