Cascade
Cascade is a triggered ability that was introduced in Alara Reborn.
When you cast a spell with Cascade, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonlandcard whose mana value is less than the cascading spell. You may cast that card without paying its mana cost. Then put all cards exiled this way that weren’t cast on the bottom of your library in a random order.
From the Comprehensive Rules (November 8, 2024—Edge of Eternities)
- 702.85. Cascade
- 702.85a Cascade is a triggered ability that functions only while the spell with cascade is on the stack. “Cascade” means “When you cast this spell, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card whose mana value is less than this spell’s mana value. You may cast that card without paying its mana cost if the resulting spell’s mana value is less than this spell’s mana value. Then put all cards exiled this way that weren’t cast on the bottom of your library in a random order.”
- 702.85b If an effect allows a player to take an action with one or more of the exiled cards “as you cascade,” the player may take that action after they have finished exiling cards due to the cascade ability. This action is taken before choosing whether to cast the last exiled card or, if no appropriate card was exiled, before putting the exiled cards on the bottom of their library in a random order.
- 702.85c If a spell has multiple instances of cascade, each triggers separately.
History
Released on April 30-May 3, 2009. on the Alara Reborn Block.
Cascade returned in multiple supplemental sets, e.g. the Chaos Reigns deck of Planechase 2012, Modern Horizons, Commander Legends, Modern Horizons 2, Double Masters 2022, the Lord of the Rings Holiday Release, and Modern Horizons 3.
Other appearances were in the Streets of New Capenna Commander decks, as well as the Exit from Exile commander deck from Battle for Baldur’s Gate, the Dominaria United Commander decks, and the The Ruinous Powers commander deck from Warhammer 40,000 Commander Decks.
Cascade in practice
Cascade is a triggered ability when the spell is cast, this mean even if the Cascade source is counterspelled the effect will take place.
This spell is oriented on bringing some value from deck into the battlefield directly with a medium range random effect. in the case of Constructed meaning you have a set strategy that has a high probability to show up in play as it was the case with Bloodbraid Elf paired up with Putrid Leech back in 2009.
For EDH Cascade is a gamble being a singleton format lowers up strategic abilities, but remember if Cascade brings another Cascade spell that will take place bringing in more value, so highly costed Cascade sources could cheat in higher value cards into play.
