For Bullet Time, do you have to decide how much to recycle before it resolves, or can you wait until resolution (especially relevant if it gets countered)?

Ruling: You pay the recycle cost when the effect resolves, not when you play it. If Bullet Time gets countered, you don't pay the recycle cost.

Sequence:

  • Play Bullet Time and choose the target battlefield when announcing
  • Bullet Time enters the stack
  • When Bullet Time resolves, you decide how much to recycle and pay that cost
  • If countered before resolution, no recycle cost is paid

Nuances:

  • The target battlefield is chosen when announcing/playing the card, not on resolution
  • The recycle cost is not an "additional cost" so it's paid on resolution rather than as part of playing the card