u/AdmiralAwesome19

When I cast my first X spell with Zimone on the field, do I HAVE to use all her mana towards the X cost? Like if she has 6 counters on her could I still cast a spell where X is less than 6, or would I have to use all the mana from her counters towards the value of X?

I ask because my friend runs a deck with Lavinia, Azorius Renegade and she states you can’t cast spells for mana costs you don’t have the land for. So would she prevent me from casting X spells once I have more counters on Zimone than I have lands? Or could I choose not to use all her mana? Sorry if confusing.

If were to counter Sin, Unending Cataclysm as it was being cast, would that prevent the removal of counters? Or would the removal of counters happen before then since it’s “as it enters” and not “when it enters the battlefield”?