Splice and converted mana costs

[LotusHead]

If I play Reach Through the Mists (for U), and splice on say, Glacial Ray and Evermind (for 1R and 1U), would my spell have a converted casting cost of 1, 3 or 5 with respect to Chalice of the Void, Mana Drain, Trinisphere, Long-Forgotten Gohei (arcane spells cost one less) and Cloudhoof Kirin (target player mills depending on the size of arcane spell cast)?

Thanks in advance.

[Jacob Orlove]

The converted mana cost of a spell never changes, barring copy effects like Clone. So, for the purposes of Chalice, Drain, and Kirin, your Reach has a CMC of 1.

However, the total cost of a spell is quite different. In this case, you total up the mana cost, all additional costs, then subtract all cost reductions, then apply Trinisphere (if it's in play). So, you'd first add up U + 1R + 1U for a total of 2UUR. Then, Gohei will reduce that cost by 1, to 1UUR. Trinisphere will see that you're paying 3 or more mana, so it won't change the cost. Your net payment is thus four mana.

[Gabethebabe]

The converted mana cost of a spell never changes, barring copy effects like Clone.

Wait a minute - what are you saying here.

The permanent Clone (well, it´s note even called Clone anymore) has a CMC of whatever it´s copying, but the spell Clone always has a CMC of 4, isn´t it?

[Jebus]

Clone will copy the mana cost of the creature it copies once it is in play.  On the stack, it has its own mana cost.

[Jacob Orlove]

All I'm saying is that the only time a card's CMC is not what's printed in the corner is when copy effects are involved. At all other times, you can just look at the card to find the CMC, no matter what else is going on.

[Nibble]

Nitpick: For spells with X in the cost, you do have to remember what X was chosen as. This only applies on the stack, though.