To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost you're paying (such as a flashback cost), add any cost increases (such as kicker costs), then apply any cost reductions (such as that of The Darkness Crystal's first ability)
From here you work to make sure your other notes are in tune, and that you are in tune with yourself (basically, when a note changes a whole note, you actually change a whole note, so moving from C to B doesnt result in C to B b ) so that all of your notes are played correctly
Illustrated by Ekaterina Burmak Standard Not Legal Alchemy Not Legal Pioneer Legal Historic Not Legal Modern Legal Brawl Not Legal Legacy Legal Comp
Troll, for example, can be an easy plant for a reanimator deck, putting itself in your graveyard and smoothing your mana in the process
I think Hugs would appreciate her appreciation of nature