Bounteous Kirin
Legendary Creature — Kirin Spirit
Flying
Whenever you cast a Spirit or Arcane spell, you may gain life equal to that spell's mana value.
Even the most benevolent and life-giving of kami joined the war against the mortal world, but only with heavy and sorrowful hearts.
Shishizaru
Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
• #123Rulings
If the Spirit or Arcane spell has {X} in the mana cost, then you use the value of {X} on the stack. For example, Shining Shoal costs {X}{W}{W}. If you choose X = 2, then Shining Shoal’s mana value is 4. Shining Shoal also has an ability that says “You may exile a white card with mana value X from your hand rather than pay Shining Shoal’s mana cost”; if you choose to pay the alternative cost and exile a card with mana value 2, then X is 2 while Shining Shoal is on the stack and its mana value is 4.
(wotc • 2005-06-01)
Rulings
If the Spirit or Arcane spell has {X} in the mana cost, then you use the value of {X} on the stack. For example, Shining Shoal costs {X}{W}{W}. If you choose X = 2, then Shining Shoal’s mana value is 4. Shining Shoal also has an ability that says “You may exile a white card with mana value X from your hand rather than pay Shining Shoal’s mana cost”; if you choose to pay the alternative cost and exile a card with mana value 2, then X is 2 while Shining Shoal is on the stack and its mana value is 4.
(wotc • 2005-06-01)