<p>If Nissa is cast for 4 mana, you are declaring X = 2, so she would enter the battlefield at 2 loyalty. </p>

<p>The minimum you can cast her and have her not immediately be put into the graveyard is 3 (X = 1). </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-31T03:53:23.133Z
2017-10-31T04:17:57.560Z
2017-10-31T04:17:57.560Z
JonTheMon
<p>No, only three mana ({1}{G}{U}) is required for that.</p>

<p>First of all, note that X is not derived from the cost, the cost is derived from the X you choose. (This matters if there are cost increases or cost reductions in play.)</p>

<p>If you choose X=0, Nissa costs {G}{U} to cast<sup>[1]</sup>, and she enters the battlefield without any loyalty counters (and dies immediately after).</p>

<p>If you choose X=1, Nissa costs {1}{G}{U} to cast<sup>[1]</sup>, and she enters the battlefield with one loyalty counter.</p>

<p>If you choose X=2, Nissa costs {2}{G}{U} to cast<sup>[1]</sup>, and she enters the battlefield with two loyalty counters. This is the highest X you can choose if you have four mana.</p>

<hr>

<ol>
<li>Subject to cost increases and reductions, as usual.</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-12T18:55:43.397Z
Oath of Gideon as a caveat to X=0 causing Nissa to die.
Andrew
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-31T04:23:12.367Z
2017-10-31T04:28:46.180Z
2017-10-31T04:28:46.180Z
ikegami
<p>Do I have to cast <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bNissa%2c%20Steward%20of%20Elements%5d">Nissa, Steward of Elements</a> for 4 mana in order to put 1 loyalty counter on her?</p>

<magic-the-gathering>
Do I have to spend 4 mana on Nissa, Steward of Elements to put 1 counter on her?
Snaps
# Do I have to spend 4 mana on Nissa, Steward of Elements to put 1 counter on her?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-10-31)

Do I have to cast [Nissa, Steward of Elements](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bNissa%2c%20Steward%20of%20Elements%5d) for 4 mana in order to put 1 loyalty counter on her?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-10-31. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

If Nissa is cast for 4 mana, you are declaring X = 2, so she would enter the battlefield at 2 loyalty.

The minimum you can cast her and have her not immediately be put into the graveyard is 3 (X = 1).


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-10-31. Score: 5

No, only three mana ({1}{G}{U}) is required for that.

First of all, note that X is not derived from the cost, the cost is derived from the X you choose. (This matters if there are cost increases or cost reductions in play.)

If you choose X=0, Nissa costs {G}{U} to cast[1], and she enters the battlefield without any loyalty counters (and dies immediately after).

If you choose X=1, Nissa costs {1}{G}{U} to cast[1], and she enters the battlefield with one loyalty counter.

If you choose X=2, Nissa costs {2}{G}{U} to cast[1], and she enters the battlefield with two loyalty counters. This is the highest X you can choose if you have four mana.

---

1. Subject to cost increases and reductions, as usual.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Oath of Gideon as a caveat to X=0 causing Nissa to die.  

---

