Mechanic: Delve

I kick off a new theme today: "mechanic March," where I look at various mechanics the game has featured over the years. (Note: these are technically 'keyword abilities'; the terms are often used interchangeably.) Today: delve.

From the official rules:

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.

The glossary puts it more succinctly:

Delve: A keyword ability that lets you exile cards from your graveyard rather than pay generic mana to cast a spell. See rule 702.66, “Delve.”

Note delve affects only generic mana; you cannot use it for colored mana costs.

Delve is a cost reduction mechanic. For that reason, some delve cards have a higher printed cost than non-delve equivalents, so it makes sense to play the card only if you have cards in your graveyard to exile. Murderous Cut (below) is one example.

Delve was first seen in the Future Sight expansion (2007), though the Tarkir block (2014-15) features the most cards with that keyword. To date, 27 cards have this mechanic. Most are blue or black.

The delve mechanic is most efficient when you are playing a 'self-mill' deck, using other spells that put lots of cards into your graveyard. Cards like Stitcher's Supplier (below), for example, synergize well. And other mechanics (like surveil) pair well with it, too. Anything that puts cards in your own graveyard are fair game here.

Since so few cards have the delve mechanic today, I don't know how popular it is. But it is an option to be aware of for certain deck types.