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Looking at the notes for Inspiring Statuary, I noticed:

enter image description here

Is this accurate? Is it specific to the Improvise ability or does it go for any # colorless cards (for example Cloudpost)?

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    In the most general sense, rulings on Gatherer are always accurate. They are as official as the card text and the comprehensive rules.
    – murgatroid99 ♦
    Jun 20, 2018 at 20:32

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Improvise has the following definition in rule 702.125a:

Improvise is a static ability that functions while the spell with improvise is on the stack. “Improvise” means “For each generic mana in this spell’s total cost, you may tap an untapped artifact you control rather than pay that mana.”

A generic mana cost is represented by a number in a circle, and can be paid for with any type of mana. Colored and colorless costs are not generic, so they cannot be paid for with improvise.

Cloudpost is a different matter. Cloudpost adds colorless mana to your mana pool, and that has always been the case. Its current text is

Cloudpost enters the battlefield tapped.

{T}: Add {C} for each Locus on the battlefield.

There is no such thing as generic mana. Any card that is printed as adding {1} to your mana pool actually adds {C}.

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  • So then would something like Affinity for Artifacts take off {C} costs?
    – David Starkey
    Jun 21, 2018 at 13:34
  • No, affinity reduces generic costs. There are currently no printed effects that reduce colorless costs.
    – murgatroid99 ♦
    Jun 21, 2018 at 15:13
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Note that explicitly distinguishing between colorless mana symbols and generic mana symbols is a relatively new thing (says I, who hasn't been really actively playing since the original Ravnica, so most rules changes the last ten years seem relatively new to me). This is why many older lands which according to old printings produce what looks like generic mana actually produce colorless mana. Let's look at the Cloudpost you linked:

enter image description here

(This copy of) Cloudpost was printed in Mirrodin, long before the distinction was made. Therefore it's printed with a generic mana symbol. However, the card text on the right (which is the current official text legally considered to be printed on the card) uses a colorless mana symbol.

Generic mana is part of a cost, and can be payed with any sort of mana (and is also the part of a mana cost which is most often reduced by various effects like inspire). Colorless mana is mana you can add to and have in your mana pool. It works basically the same way as any coloured mana, in that you tap lands to produce it, and you use it to pay for mana costs signified by either its specific symbol, or by the generic mana symbol.

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    While using different symbols for each is relatively new, the distinguishing between the 2 has always been there.
    – GendoIkari
    Jun 21, 2018 at 13:15
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    Lands have never produced generic mana. Previously, the {1} symbol simply had 2 different meanings depending on where it appeared.
    – GendoIkari
    Jun 21, 2018 at 13:16
  • @Gendolkari I don't know enough rules history to know whether you're right. From what I know of Garfield's game design, I wouldn't be surprised if there was no distinction originally, but it might very well be old. I made it more explicitly about the symbol.
    – Arthur
    Jun 21, 2018 at 13:18
  • Originally (1993) the two were distinguished by using words to spell out colorless mana, e.g. Alpha's Sol Ring). This was only changed to overloading the generic mana symbol in 2002 with Onslaught, e.g. Grand Coliseum. The diamond symbol for colorless mana was finally added in 2016 with Oath of the Gatewatch, e.g. Corrupted Crossroads.
    – theosza
    Jun 22, 2018 at 10:18

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