Delve
Delve is a keyword ability, introduced in Future Sight. Delve is a static ability that functions while the spell with delve is on the stack. “Delve” means “For each generic mana in this spell’s total cost, you may exile a card from your graveyard rather than pay that mana.”
From the Comprehensive Rules (November 8, 2024—Edge of Eternities)
- 702.66. Delve
- 702.66a Delve is a static ability that functions while the spell with delve is on the stack. “Delve” means “For each generic mana in this spell’s total cost, you may exile a card from your graveyard rather than pay that mana.”
- 702.66b The delve ability isn’t an additional or alternative cost and applies only after the total cost of the spell with delve is determined.
- 702.66c Multiple instances of delve on the same spell are redundant.
History
In Future Sight, delve was only printed on three timeshifted cards and was a cost reduction. It was re-introduced as the clan specific mechanic for the Sultai Brood in Khans of Tarkir and Fate Reforged. It also appeared in Modern Horizons and Commander 2020.
As with many cost reduction mechanics, several Delve cards were banned in various formats. While the development aspect may theoretically be solvable, the anti-linearity and environmental requirements has rendered it high on the Storm Scale.
Delve in practice
Delve is an option to alternates costs in gameplay being able to casts certain spells through your available graveyard cards, but doing so eliminating them from the game completely, there are options or triggers that benefits from being exiled from the graveyard. and Delve goes in hand with Dredge as it greatly increases graveyard cards while also keeping recursion cards.
