Training grounds with ability cost X
Training grounds reduces the mana cost for activated abilities by 2 colorless. Try using this with likeness looter or another creature with ability cost X. Arena forces you to tap all the mana originally needed to activate, then doesn’t use it all on resolution. For example: training grounds is out. Likeness looter activated for sheoldred the apocalypse… X was required to be 4 to activate, so I tapped 4 lands . After transforming into sheoldred, I was left with 2 mana floating. Also, with 5 lands originally available… I was not able to make X=5… it was greyed out. I had a phyrexian fleshgorger in my graveyard with the sheoldred but was unable to activate likeness looter to copy this even though I had 5 mana available. All blue and black mana. Training grounds was only applying the mana cost reduction after choosing which card to copy…. Forcing the X value to remain 4 or 7 respectively to activate the copy ability for each card. I should be able to choose X=5 then select a 7 mana card to copy. Or X=2 then select the sheoldred (cmc 4).
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beefsticks #06401 commented
@Rezzahan#77802 this is correct. You must choose X first, then get the discount after. However, arena will not allow you to choose 7 if you don’t have 7 lands. You should be able to choose any number for X even if you can’t pay up front. Then, the discount will kick in and only 5 lands get tapped.
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[Deleted User] commented
The target of the ability has a specific mana value. X has to be that exact value. What you later end up paying will be less with a Training Grounds out, but the orighinal chosen X has to match the creature card you want to copy.
"...target creature card in your graveyard with mana value X..."