What it does
Casualty N is an additional cost you can pay as you cast a spell: when you put the spell on the stack, you may sacrifice a creature with power N or greater. Doing so copies the spell, and you choose new targets for the copy. So Casualty 1 needs a creature with power 1+, Casualty 2 needs power 2+, and so on.
The biggest misconception is timing: you sacrifice the creature while casting the spell (as part of announcing it), but the copy is created by a triggered ability that goes on the stack above the original. That means the copy resolves first, and the sacrificed creature isn't on the battlefield when the spell actually resolves—relevant if your spell counts creatures you control.
In Commander, Casualty shines with token creatures, expendable bodies, or sacrifice synergies, letting you double removal, draw, or big damage spells. Pairing it with creatures that have death triggers or recursion makes the cost nearly free.
Iconic cards with Casualty
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