Casting a Spell without Discarding/with Alternate Discard

UPDATE: This ruling has been overturned. Alternate discard effects should be evaluated in written order, unless the effect explicitly occurs instead of or without discarding the spell. This entry will be more fully updated at a later date.

While spells are typically discarded prior to resolving the "On Cast" effects, several cards/effects allow a player to cast a spell without discarding or by discarding to an alternate location. These effects should be interpreted as replacing the standard discard action in sequence.

Example: Jian uses Black Mirror (Cast any player's prepped spell without discarding it. Then, cast that prepped spell again. (Discard it as normal.)) to cast Disintegrating Scythe (Cast: Deal 8 damage. Suffer 1 damage. Instead of discarding this, destroy it or place it on top of any player's discard pile.). The second half of Disintegrating Scythe is ignored for the first cast (leaving the spell on the prepped breach), and resolved instead of discarding the spell for the second half (allowing it to be destroyed of placed on any player's discard pile).

Example: While playing solo as your own ally with Mist (WE), you use Exalted Brand (Cast up to three different spells prepped by any number of players. For each spell cast this way, place that spell into any ally's hand.) to cast Dark Fire (Cast: Discard up to two cards in hand. Deal 3 damage for each card discarded this way.). The cast Dark Fire is immediately placed into your hand, allowing you to discard it to deal 3 damage.

Cards

Dark Fire Disintegrating Scythe

Black Mirror Exalted Brand Spell Tracking

References

https://boardgamegeek.com/article/24583902#24583902 https://discordapp.com/channels/488460591128641536/488567477018689537/564868670426185728