<p>The term started to be used in Classic Sixth Edition.</p>

<p>In Fifth Edition, <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSpell%20Blast%5d">Spell Blast</a> says <em>total casting cost</em>. In Sixth it says <em>converted mana cost</em>.</p>

<p><a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bPyromancy%5d">Pyromancy</a> also says <em>total casting cost</em>, and Urza's Legacy was the set immediately before Sixth.</p>

<p>Sixth introduced many major rules changes, including the removal of interrupts and the introduction of the stack. You can read more details <a href="http://mtgsalvation.gamepedia.com/6th_Edition/Rules_changes">here</a>, but in general it was a major push by WotC to redesign the rules and wording to lead to a more consistent environment.</p>

<p>I don't know why they chose the exact wording they did, but it makes sense as a term. A spell's mana cost includes colours and generic mana. The word "converted" (as opposed to "total") makes it clear that you're not paying attention to the composition of colour symbols (and later, other symbols), and instead just want a single number answer.</p>

<p>This would be important for comparing two spells in different colours, or reducing a spell's cost by a number but still requiring coloured mana.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-26T14:27:45.277Z
I remember of an article by MaRo covering this term (and a few other "rules oddities"), but I can't seem to find it.
Mephy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-26T18:52:11.420Z
The stack has been around well before Sixth Edition, it just was used more consistently for abilities and effects.
Telastyn
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-26T19:23:45.350Z
There were *series* and *batches*. The stack, as a rules term, was introduced in Sixth edition.
Petr Hudeček
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-26T20:33:36.850Z
Converted mana cost is much better term for some special mana costs like hybrid generic `{2/W}` and phyrexian `{P/U}`.
ryanyuyu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-26T09:37:30.493Z
2016-09-26T09:37:30.493Z
Samthere
<p>In Magic: the Gathering, a card's converted mana cost is the card's mana cost converted to an integer by replacing all mana symbols with 1's and summing all of it.</p>

<p>My conjecture here is that it was named "converted" because it's "mana converted to an integer".</p>

<p>Still, I was wondering when has the term been first used and why is it named "converted". An official explanation would be preferred.</p>

<magic-the-gathering><terminology>
What is the origin of the term "converted mana cost"?
Petr Hudeček
# What is the origin of the term "converted mana cost"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-09-26)

In Magic: the Gathering, a card's converted mana cost is the card's mana cost converted to an integer by replacing all mana symbols with 1's and summing all of it.

My conjecture here is that it was named "converted" because it's "mana converted to an integer".

Still, I was wondering when has the term been first used and why is it named "converted". An official explanation would be preferred.

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering, terminology


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-09-26. Score: 12 | Accepted answer

The term started to be used in Classic Sixth Edition.

In Fifth Edition, [Spell Blast](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSpell%20Blast%5d) says *total casting cost*. In Sixth it says *converted mana cost*.

[Pyromancy](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bPyromancy%5d) also says *total casting cost*, and Urza's Legacy was the set immediately before Sixth.

Sixth introduced many major rules changes, including the removal of interrupts and the introduction of the stack. You can read more details [here](http://mtgsalvation.gamepedia.com/6th_Edition/Rules_changes), but in general it was a major push by WotC to redesign the rules and wording to lead to a more consistent environment.

I don't know why they chose the exact wording they did, but it makes sense as a term. A spell's mana cost includes colours and generic mana. The word "converted" (as opposed to "total") makes it clear that you're not paying attention to the composition of colour symbols (and later, other symbols), and instead just want a single number answer.

This would be important for comparing two spells in different colours, or reducing a spell's cost by a number but still requiring coloured mana.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: I remember of an article by MaRo covering this term (and a few other "rules oddities"), but I can't seem to find it.  
> **username_3**: The stack has been around well before Sixth Edition, it just was used more consistently for abilities and effects.  
> **username_0**: There were *series* and *batches*. The stack, as a rules term, was introduced in Sixth edition.  
> **username_4**: Converted mana cost is much better term for some special mana costs like hybrid generic `{2/W}` and phyrexian `{P/U}`.  

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