X-spell

X-spell is Magic: The Gathering jargon used to describe a spell with a variable cost which the caster sets when announcing the spell. They are called X-spells due to the symbol in the casting cost.

In most cases X may be paid with any color of mana. Exceptions are Drain Life and Consume Spirit (only black mana may be spent on X), and Soul Burn (only black or red mana may be spent on X).

An X in the mana cost or rules text is the number one thing about the game that confuses players, as determined by the questions sent to Wizards of the Coast's Customer Service. In recent years the majority of X-spells have been printed at rare. Between 2012 and 2020 only two X-spells were printed in Standard-legal expansions at common rarity: Death Wind and Syncopate.