Reduce Mana Cost (Exclude Brainstorm)

Internal engine status effect. A variant of the Insight/mana cost reduction mechanic that specifically excludes Brainstorm from the discount. This prevents an infinite loop where Brainstorm (which grants mana cost reduction) would reduce its own cost.

Without this exclusion, Brainstorm could reduce its own mana cost to zero, creating a degenerate cycle where the player casts Brainstorm infinitely for free. The engine applies this version instead of standard mana reduction when the source is Brainstorm or similar self-referential abilities, ensuring the discount applies to all other spells but not to the ability granting the discount.

This is a technical safeguard rather than a player-facing mechanic. Players benefit from the mana cost reduction on all other spells as intended, and the Brainstorm exclusion is invisible in normal gameplay. The standard Insight/mana reduction effect applies the discount to all abilities including Brainstorm when granted by other sources.