<p>No.</p>

<p>Casting a spell is a keyword action that involves placing a card (or copy thereof) on the stack, making choices, optionally activating mana abilities, and paying its cost.</p>

<p>Activating an activated ability (such as <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bPrototype%20Portal%5d">Prototype Portal</a>'s second abiliy) is not casting a spell.</p>

<p>Creating a copy of an object is not casting a spell (even if the object being copied is a spell).</p>

<p>Putting an artifact on the battlefield is not casting a spell.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-06T12:45:39.263Z
2018-11-08T07:48:01.200Z
2018-11-08T07:48:01.200Z
ikegami
<p>No. Paradox Engine cares specifically about casting spells, whereas Prototype Portal has an activated ability. These are different things (though they can have the same result, e.g. an artefact entering the battlefield).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-06T12:47:02.127Z
Technically, casting a spell can't place an artifact on the battlefield. Resolving a spell can.
ikegami
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-06T12:48:13.093Z
(And please use `[mtg:Card Name]` to link to cards instead of using a link.)
ikegami
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-06T16:14:39.197Z
@Ikegami Technically, if there were a spell that has placing an artifact on the battle field as a cost, then casting the spell would place an artifact on the battlefield.
Acccumulation
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-06T19:10:58.220Z
@ikegami `[mtg:Card Name]` is fine as long as the card name isn't also part of other, longer card names. I personally prefer going to Gatherer, searching for the card, then use `[Card Name](http://gatherer.wizards.com/whatever the full URL is, I'm just copy-pasting it)`. It's not much slower, but it's more reliable.
Arthur
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-06T20:46:30.793Z
@Arthur Doing it that way makes it annoying when people click on the link though; instead of getting a new window popup with the card; you get redirected to the gatherer site.
GendoIkari
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-06T21:03:48.187Z
@Acccumulation, Yeah, I know, but there isn't
ikegami
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-06T11:57:19.347Z
2018-11-06T11:57:19.347Z
Jonny
<p>If I have <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bPrototype%20Portal%5d">Prototype Portal</a> copy an artifact but I have <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bParadox%20Engine%5d">Paradox Engine</a>, would Paradox Engine’s abilities activate every time I copy?</p>

<magic-the-gathering>
Does creating a token copy count as having cast a spell?
user27739
# Does creating a token copy count as having cast a spell?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-11-06)

If I have [Prototype Portal](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bPrototype%20Portal%5d) copy an artifact but I have [Paradox Engine](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bParadox%20Engine%5d), would Paradox Engine’s abilities activate every time I copy?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-11-06. Score: 9

No.

Casting a spell is a keyword action that involves placing a card (or copy thereof) on the stack, making choices, optionally activating mana abilities, and paying its cost.

Activating an activated ability (such as [Prototype Portal](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bPrototype%20Portal%5d)'s second abiliy) is not casting a spell.

Creating a copy of an object is not casting a spell (even if the object being copied is a spell).

Putting an artifact on the battlefield is not casting a spell.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2018-11-06. Score: 2

No. Paradox Engine cares specifically about casting spells, whereas Prototype Portal has an activated ability. These are different things (though they can have the same result, e.g. an artefact entering the battlefield).

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Technically, casting a spell can't place an artifact on the battlefield. Resolving a spell can.  
> **username_1**: (And please use `[mtg:Card Name]` to link to cards instead of using a link.)  
> **username_3**: @username_1 Technically, if there were a spell that has placing an artifact on the battle field as a cost, then casting the spell would place an artifact on the battlefield.  
> **username_4**: @username_1 `[mtg:Card Name]` is fine as long as the card name isn't also part of other, longer card names. I personally prefer going to Gatherer, searching for the card, then use `[Card Name](http://gatherer.wizards.com/whatever the full URL is, I'm just copy-pasting it)`. It's not much slower, but it's more reliable.  
> **username_5**: @username_4 Doing it that way makes it annoying when people click on the link though; instead of getting a new window popup with the card; you get redirected to the gatherer site.  
> **username_1**: @username_3, Yeah, I know, but there isn't  

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