Rob the Archives — ruling 1

You must pay all costs and follow all normal timing rules for cards played this way. For example, you may play lands this way only during your main phase while no spells or abilities are on the stack and only if you haven't played a land yet this turn.

Rob the Archives — ruling 2

Casualty N means “As an additional cost to cast this spell, you may sacrifice a creature with power N or greater.” and “When you cast this spell, if a casualty cost was paid for it, copy it. If the spell has any targets, you may choose new targets for the copy.”

Rob the Archives — ruling 3

You may sacrifice only one creature to pay a spell's casualty cost, and you copy the spell only once.

Rob the Archives — ruling 4

If you pay the casualty cost of a spell, the copy will resolve before the original spell.

Rob the Archives — ruling 5

The copy of the spell is created on the stack, so it's not “cast.” Abilities that trigger when a player casts a spell won't trigger.

Rob the Archives : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Rob the Archives 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

Casualty 1 (As you cast this spell, you may sacrifice a creature with power 1 or greater. When you do, copy this spell.) Exile the top two cards of your library. You may play those cards this turn.

How it works : Rob the Archives

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1April 29, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
You must pay all costs and follow all normal timing rules for cards played this way. For example, you may play lands this way only during your main phase while no spells or abilities are on the stack and only if you haven't played a land yet this turn.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2April 29, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
Casualty N means “As an additional cost to cast this spell, you may sacrifice a creature with power N or greater.” and “When you cast this spell, if a casualty cost was paid for it, copy it. If the spell has any targets, you may choose new targets for the copy.”
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3April 29, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
You may sacrifice only one creature to pay a spell's casualty cost, and you copy the spell only once.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4April 29, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
If you pay the casualty cost of a spell, the copy will resolve before the original spell.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5April 29, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
The copy of the spell is created on the stack, so it's not “cast.” Abilities that trigger when a player casts a spell won't trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.