When the cascade ability resolves, you must exile cards. The only optional part of the ability is whether or not you cast the last card exiled.
(2021-06-18)
If you cast a card "without paying its mana cost," you can't choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those to cast the card.
(2021-06-18)
If a spell with cascade is countered, the cascade ability will still resolve normally.
(2021-06-18)
The mana value of a split card is determined by the combined mana cost of its two halves. If cascade allows you to cast a split card, you may cast either half but not both halves.
(2021-06-18)
You exile the cards face up. All players will be able to see them.
(2021-06-18)
If the card has
in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost.
(2021-06-18)
Cascade triggers when you cast the spell, meaning that it resolves before that spell. If you end up casting the exiled card, it will go on the stack above the spell with cascade.
(2021-06-18)
Due to a 2021 rules change to cascade, not only do you stop exiling cards if you exile a nonland card with lesser mana value than the spell with cascade, but the resulting spell you cast must also have lesser mana value. Previously, in cases where a card's mana value differed from the resulting spell, such as with some modal double-faced cards or cards with an Adventure, you could cast a spell with a higher mana value than the exiled card.
(2021-06-18)
A spell's mana value is determined only by its mana cost. Ignore any alternative costs, additional costs, cost increases, or cost reductions.
(2021-06-18)
Once you announce that you're casting a commander spell, players can't take action until you've finished casting it. Causing Flamekin Herald to leave the battlefield after the spell has been cast won't stop its cascade ability from resolving.
(2020-11-10)
In some unusual situations, you may lose control of Flamekin Herald during the process of casting a commander spell. In those situations, the commander spell won't have cascade.
(2020-11-10)
