To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost you're paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions (such as that of Allies at Last's first ability)
The scaling damage is an issue in the case of Fatty cheat due to playing the card early on, though this doesn't matter if your opponent dies
Calling something a Splinter Twin situation has basically become shorthand for a simple 2-card combo thats starting to take over a format
But it's consistent, and the cards work together
Demonic Junker Aetherdrift s Demonic Junker is one of the best black artifacts in Magic: a Ravenous Chupacabra that hits the whole table, with the added advantage that it's optional (the wording up to one means you can spare any players you want)
And a creature-centric G/R Ramp deck With Cinder Glade really wanting a very low non-basic count (including themselves), I chose to go very lightly on them, with just two and a lone Rogues Passage