Question: Is there a strict difference between "casting" a spell and "playing" a spell? I've seen both terms used in the rules text, so I was curious. Thanks :)
CastTo take a card from where it is (usually the hand), put it on the stack, and pay its costs, so that it will eventually resolve and have its effect.
Play1. To play a land is to put a land onto the battlefield as a special action. 2. To play a card is to play that card as a land or cast that card as a spell, whichever is appropriate.3. (Obsolete) Casting a spell used to be known as playing a spell. Cards with that text have received errata in the Oracle card reference.4. (Obsolete) Activating an activated ability used to be known as playing an activated ability.5. (Obsolete) The battlefield used to be known as the in-play zone. Cards that were printed with text that contains the phrases “in play,” “from play,” “into play,” or the like are referring to the battlefield and have received errata in the Oracle card reference.