wotc
You can't cast an instant (or activate an ability as an instant) while casting a spell. Therefore, much like Lion's Eye Diamond, you can't activate the ability intending to use the mana to cast a spell from your hand.
MTG · Card
◇ Catalog #225s
Diamond Lion
pmh2·#225s·rare·foil
Illus. Howard Lyon
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in vault
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for trade
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wishlisted
May '21
5 yr ago
Value
$1.89$0 (-1.1%)
30 days high $0.90 · low $0.89
Volatility · stable
USD$0.89EUR€0.83
NM$0.89
Where to buy / sell
Search links · prices vary by venue
Buy this card
Played in EDH
EDHrec rank #10,777 · Fringe play
Variants
Gameplay
Artifact Creature — Cat
{T}, Discard your hand, Sacrifice this creature: Add three mana of any one color. Activate only as an instant.
"The merchant asked for riches no one had ever dreamed of. The djinn, smiling, granted his wish."
—Afari, *Tales*
2/2
Legalities
tlrlegal
duellegal
brawlnot legal
pennylegal
PreDH
Rulings · 2
wotc
Even though you can only activate this as an instant, it is still a mana ability. It doesn't use the stack and cannot be responded to.
Notes
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Magic: The Gathering · ™ & © Wizards of the Coast · Illus. Howard Lyon
Card data via Scryfall. Rarix is fan-made; not endorsed by the rights holders.