Expend: Ablility Spotlight

Expend: The Renewable Resource That the World Needs

This brilliant ability was introduced in Chaotic's final set, Alliances Unraveled (AU). Expend is a Activated ability, meaning it requires a cost be paid in order to get the benefits of the effect. In this case, a creature expends an element!

The great part about Expend is that, since an Element is scanned on to the card, a creature will regain that Element, like it would regain Energy or Discipline scores at the end of every turn.

For example, Donmar here has Expend Water: Heal 10 damage to target creature.

To heal an ally (or an enemy if that's your poison) Donmar can give up his Element of Water for the turn. He does not need to be engaged in combat to use this ability, and at the end of the turn, he gets Water back and can use his ability again!

Hypothetical
Donmar, Tablet Translator is equipped with a Liquilizer. He uses Expend Water to heal himself 10 energy. He can sacrifice the Liquilizer, regain Water, and use his ability again, all on the same turn. Which is to say, that as long as a creature has the specified Element to give, you can use the ability.

Now here's a case where the creature must be engaged to use Expend. Savitsa needs to be in combat to use his Expend ability, which may make you think twice before committing to it, since Savitsa wouldn't be able to use anymore Fire attacks. But there's always the case where that might be exactly what you want.

For example, Savitsa against a creature like Raznus, Ambassador to the Danians. Raznus has Fireproof 10, meaning he gains 10 Energy at the beginning of combat when the opposing creature has Fire. If You Expend Savitsa's Fire before Fireproof takes effect on in the Burst, Raznus gains no Energy!

It's niche, but there's always a case where it could be the difference between winning or losing a fight.

Khybon, Magma Dam Overseer is an interesting and unique example of an Expend ability, but the principle is always the same. Kybon can give up Fire for a Magma counter which, once he has 5, can be used to deal 40 damage to all engaged creatures.

Notice it doesn't say Kybon needs to be engaged in combat to use any part of his ability! This could be a great way to deal a huge chunk of damage to your enemy if you're creature can take the hit.

Some battlegear like the Quranium Pendant give creatures new Expend abilities.

This interesting ability does, however, give a clear indication of Chaotic Power Creep. For example, the original Donmar from DoP has to use 1 MC to heal 10 damage to a target creature, and with 2 MCs, that's only 2 heals. Expend gives you a heal every time Donmar, Tablet Translator has Water to giveup.

This was a look at some of the interesting mechanics and rules behind Expend!