If I conquer with a creature with Last Rites equipped, can I play the creature from trash directly on the battlefield I just conquered? Also, how much does Rhasa cost when played from trash with 7 cards in the graveyard?
Ruling: Yes, you can play a unit from your trash directly to the battlefield you just conquered using Last Rites. When you have 7 cards in your trash and play Rhasa the Sunderer from trash, it costs 3 Energy and 1 Chaos Power.
Sequence:
- You establish control of the battlefield (conquer)
- Last Rites triggers and goes on the chain
- Upon resolution, you choose a unit in your trash and pay its costs
- The unit is removed from trash and placed on the chain first
- You make necessary choices
- You determine the total cost (Rhasa's base cost is 10 Energy and 1 Chaos Power)
- You apply discounts (Rhasa is no longer in the trash at this point, so only the 7 remaining cards count: 10 - 7 = 3 Energy)
- You pay the card's cost (3 Energy + 1 Chaos Power)
- Since you control the battlefield you just conquered, it is a valid destination for that unit
Nuances:
- Last Rites allows you to play a unit even during your opponent's turn, ignoring normal timing restrictions
- Cost reduction effects only apply to Energy unless specified otherwise; Power costs must still be paid in full
- When playing a card from trash, it is removed from that zone BEFORE its cost reduction is calculated, so Rhasa does NOT discount itself
- If you used Recycle 2 to equip Last Rites earlier that turn, those 2 cards would be on the bottom of your deck and would not count toward Rhasa's discount