<p>With the latest update to the <a href="https://media.wizards.com/2017/downloads/MagicCompRules_20170605.pdf" rel="noreferrer">comprehensive rules (June 5, 2017)</a>, the converted mana cost of split card is the <strong>sum of both halves</strong>.  This happens to align with the previous "apply both answers" approach previously, but now split cards return a single answer instead of having to deal with "halves" of cards. From the rules:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>708.4. In every zone except the stack, the characteristics of a split card are those of its two halves combined. This is a change from previous rules.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Specifically regarding CMC (emphasis mine):</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>708.4b <strong>The mana cost of a split card is the combined mana costs of its two halves.</strong> A split card’s colors and converted mana cost are determined from its combined mana cost. </p>
  
  <p>Example: Assault/Battery’s mana cost is {3}{R}{G}. It’s a red and green card with a converted mana cost of 5. If you cast Assault, the resulting spell is a red spell with a converted mana cost of 1.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-15T14:48:23.843Z
2017-06-15T14:48:23.843Z
ryanyuyu
<p>If it's somewhere other than on the stack or if it's fused, a split card's CMC is the sum of each half's CMC.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>708.4. In every zone except the stack, the characteristics of a split card are those of its two halves combined. This is a change from previous rules.</p>
<p>708.4b The mana cost of a split card is the combined mana costs of its two halves. A split card’s colors and converted mana cost are determined from its combined mana cost.</p>
<p><em><strong>Example:</strong> Assault/Battery’s mana cost is {3}{R}{G}. It’s a red and green card with a converted mana cost of 5.  If you cast Assault, the resulting spell is a red spell with a converted mana cost of 1.</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>708.4b is rather poorly worded. As the example shows, the mana cost and converted mana cost of a split card is only the combined mana costs or converted mana costs of its two halves <em>when it's not on the stack or when it's fused</em>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-01T14:23:45.187Z
2017-06-15T18:04:03.800Z
2020-06-17T09:01:24.697Z
ikegami
<p>On my upkeep controlling a <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Dark%20Confidant">Dark Confidant</a> I trigger revealing a card and losing life to it's cmc cost. What happens if I have a split card with 2 identifiable spells? Do I get to choose which one I would prefer to lose my life on?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-01T14:26:34.103Z
Please link to cards (by using `[mtg:Card Name]`).
ikegami
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-01T14:34:52.710Z
Don't use split cards with the new dark confidant vampire!
wesdfgfgd
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-01T18:03:30.143Z
@wesdfgfgd Why not? Blood Scrivener only makes you lose 1 life, not life equal to the CMC. It would be  abetter option that Dark Confidant.
SocioMatt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-01T18:28:18.847Z
@SocioMatt Blood Scrivener is the Dark Confidant **Zombie**.  Wes is talking about  Duskmantle Seer.
Alex P
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-01T18:33:10.977Z
@AlexP Good call. It was the word "new" that threw me off.
SocioMatt
<magic-the-gathering>
Dark Confidant and split cards
wesdfgfgd
# Dark Confidant and split cards

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-05-01)

On my upkeep controlling a [Dark Confidant](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Dark%20Confidant) I trigger revealing a card and losing life to it's cmc cost. What happens if I have a split card with 2 identifiable spells? Do I get to choose which one I would prefer to lose my life on?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Please link to cards (by using `[mtg:Card Name]`).  
> **username_0**: Don't use split cards with the new dark confidant vampire!  
> **username_2**: @username_0 Why not? Blood Scrivener only makes you lose 1 life, not life equal to the CMC. It would be  abetter option that Dark Confidant.  
> **username_3**: @username_2 Blood Scrivener is the Dark Confidant **Zombie**.  Wes is talking about  Duskmantle Seer.  
> **username_2**: @username_3 Good call. It was the word "new" that threw me off.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-05-01. Score: 18 | Accepted answer

If it's somewhere other than on the stack or if it's fused, a split card's CMC is the sum of each half's CMC.

> 708.4. In every zone except the stack, the characteristics of a split card are those of its two halves combined. This is a change from previous rules.
>
> 708.4b The mana cost of a split card is the combined mana costs of its two halves. A split card’s colors and converted mana cost are determined from its combined mana cost.
>
> ***Example:** Assault/Battery’s mana cost is {3}{R}{G}. It’s a red and green card with a converted mana cost of 5. If you cast Assault, the resulting spell is a red spell with a converted mana cost of 1.*

708.4b is rather poorly worded. As the example shows, the mana cost and converted mana cost of a split card is only the combined mana costs or converted mana costs of its two halves *when it's not on the stack or when it's fused*.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-06-15. Score: 8

With the latest update to the [comprehensive rules (June 5, 2017)](https://media.wizards.com/2017/downloads/MagicCompRules_20170605.pdf), the converted mana cost of split card is the **sum of both halves**. This happens to align with the previous "apply both answers" approach previously, but now split cards return a single answer instead of having to deal with "halves" of cards. From the rules:

> 708.4. In every zone except the stack, the characteristics of a split card are those of its two halves combined. This is a change from previous rules.

Specifically regarding CMC (emphasis mine):

> 708.4b **The mana cost of a split card is the combined mana costs of its two halves.** A split card’s colors and converted mana cost are determined from its combined mana cost.
>
> Example: Assault/Battery’s mana cost is {3}{R}{G}. It’s a red and green card with a converted mana cost of 5. If you cast Assault, the resulting spell is a red spell with a converted mana cost of 1.


---

