If a 2 cost spell gets Hard bargained and you pay it, do you reckon that counts towards Jhin's legend ability?

No, paying the cost for Hard Bargain does not count toward Jhin, Meticulous Killer's legend ability.

There are two primary reasons why this interaction does not trigger Jhin’s ability:

1. Payment vs. Spell Cost

Jhin, Meticulous Killer's ability reads: "If you've spent [4] or more to play a spell this turn, you may play me for [C]."

• According to RiftJudge FAQ #10307, this ability requires you to spend [4] or more energy to play a single spell instance (including any additional costs paid during that spell's play process).
• Paying the [2] energy cost to Hard Bargain is not "energy spent to play a spell." It is a separate payment made to a game effect (the Hard Bargain spell) to prevent your original spell from being countered. Because this energy is not part of the base or additional cost of the original spell you played, it does not contribute to the total energy spent to play that spell.

2. Jhin's Ability is an Alternative Cost, Not a "When You Play" Trigger

It is important to clarify that Jhin, Meticulous Killer does not have a "When you play a spell" legend ability; he has an ability that allows you to play him for a reduced cost if you have satisfied a specific energy spending condition.

• Per RiftJudge FAQ #10307, you cannot combine the costs of separate spells to meet this requirement. You must play one single spell that costs [4] or more energy.
• Even if the spell is countered, Rules FAQ Clarification 2026-04-29 states that energy spent to play that spell still counts toward the condition for the rest of the turn. However, because you are only playing a 2-cost spell and paying an additional 2 energy to Hard Bargain, you have not met the requirement of spending [4] or more to play a single spell instance.

Note: This interpretation is based on Rule 356.4.f.1, which defines how costs are paid, and RiftJudge FAQ #10307, which confirms that Jhin’s condition must be met by a single spell instance. No official FAQ exists for the specific interaction of using Hard Bargain payments to trigger this ability, but based on the definition of "playing a spell" and "costs," those payments do not contribute to the spell's cost.