diff --git a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiController.java b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiController.java
index e864ce31dcd..edab1ee7792 100644
--- a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiController.java
+++ b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiController.java
@@ -670,7 +670,11 @@ public class AiController {
 
     // This is for playing spells regularly (no Cascade/Ripple etc.)
     private AiPlayDecision canPlayAndPayFor(final SpellAbility sa) {
-        if (!ComputerUtilCost.canPayCost(sa, player)) {
+        boolean xCost = ComputerUtilMana.hasXInAnyCostPart(sa);
+
+        if (!xCost && !ComputerUtilCost.canPayCost(sa, player)) {
+            // for most costs, it's OK to check if they can be paid early in order to avoid running a heavy API check
+            // when the AI won't even be able to play the spell in the first place (even if it could afford it)
             return AiPlayDecision.CantAfford;
         }
 
@@ -678,7 +682,20 @@ public class AiController {
             return AiPlayDecision.CantPlaySa;
         }
 
-        return canPlaySa(sa);
+        AiPlayDecision canPlay = canPlaySa(sa); // this is the "heaviest" check, which also sets up targets, defines X, etc.
+        if (canPlay != AiPlayDecision.WillPlay) {
+            return canPlay;
+        }
+
+        if (xCost && !ComputerUtilCost.canPayCost(sa, player)) {
+            // for dependent costs with X, e.g. Repeal, which require a valid target to be specified before a decision can be made
+            // on whether the cost can be paid, this can only be checked late after canPlaySa has been run (or the AI will misplay)
+            return AiPlayDecision.CantAfford;
+        }
+
+        // if we got here, looks like we can play the final cost and we could properly set up and target the API and
+        // are willing to play the SA
+        return AiPlayDecision.WillPlay;
     }
 
     public AiPlayDecision canPlaySa(SpellAbility sa) {
diff --git a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiCostDecision.java b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiCostDecision.java
index 3b380c5f679..4c538e5d4d3 100644
--- a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiCostDecision.java
+++ b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiCostDecision.java
@@ -787,6 +787,7 @@ public class AiCostDecision extends CostDecisionMakerBase {
             final String sVar = ability.getSVar(amount);
             if (sVar.equals("XChoice")) {
                 c = AbilityUtils.calculateAmount(source, "ChosenX", ability);
+                source.setSVar("ChosenX", "Number$" + String.valueOf(c));
             } else if (amount.equals("All")) {
                 c = source.getCounters(cost.counter);
             } else if (sVar.equals("Targeted$CardManaCost")) {
diff --git a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilCombat.java b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilCombat.java
index f27d3dc6e77..897be168b58 100644
--- a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilCombat.java
+++ b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilCombat.java
@@ -2104,6 +2104,16 @@ public class ComputerUtilCombat {
         defenderDamage = predictDamageTo(attacker, defenderDamage, possibleAttackerPrevention, blocker, true);
         attackerDamage = predictDamageTo(blocker, attackerDamage, possibleDefenderPrevention, attacker, true);
 
+        // Damage prevention might come from a static effect
+        if (!ai.getGame().getStaticEffects().getGlobalRuleChange(GlobalRuleChange.noPrevention)) {
+            if (isCombatDamagePrevented(attacker, blocker, attackerDamage)) {
+                attackerDamage = 0;
+            }
+            if (isCombatDamagePrevented(blocker, attacker, defenderDamage)) {
+                defenderDamage = 0;
+            }
+        }
+
         if (combat != null) {
             for (Card atkr : combat.getAttackersBlockedBy(blocker)) {
                 if (!atkr.equals(attacker)) {
diff --git a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilCost.java b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilCost.java
index dd1a4541c33..dcde5ed1b96 100644
--- a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilCost.java
+++ b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilCost.java
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ public class ComputerUtilCost {
                 // value later as the AI decides what to do (in checkApiLogic / checkAiLogic)
                 if (sa != null && sa.hasSVar(remCounter.getAmount())) {
                     final String sVar = sa.getSVar(remCounter.getAmount());
-                    if (sVar.equals("XChoice")) {
+                    if (sVar.equals("XChoice") && !sa.hasSVar("ChosenX")) {
                         sa.setSVar("ChosenX", String.valueOf(source.getCounters(type)));
                     }
                 }
diff --git a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilMana.java b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilMana.java
index 02ffc322634..faaae9b1859 100644
--- a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilMana.java
+++ b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilMana.java
@@ -16,11 +16,7 @@ import forge.game.ability.AbilityUtils;
 import forge.game.ability.ApiType;
 import forge.game.card.*;
 import forge.game.combat.CombatUtil;
-import forge.game.cost.Cost;
-import forge.game.cost.CostAdjustment;
-import forge.game.cost.CostPartMana;
-import forge.game.cost.CostPayEnergy;
-import forge.game.cost.CostPayment;
+import forge.game.cost.*;
 import forge.game.mana.Mana;
 import forge.game.mana.ManaCostBeingPaid;
 import forge.game.mana.ManaPool;
@@ -1560,6 +1556,24 @@ public class ComputerUtilMana {
         return convoke;
     }
 
+    public static boolean hasXInAnyCostPart(SpellAbility sa) {
+        boolean xCost = false;
+        if (sa.getPayCosts() != null) {
+            for (CostPart p : sa.getPayCosts().getCostParts()) {
+                if (p instanceof CostPartMana) {
+                    if (((CostPartMana) p).getAmountOfX() > 0) {
+                        xCost = true;
+                        break;
+                    }
+                } else if (p.getAmount().equals("X")) {
+                    xCost = true;
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        return xCost;
+    }
+
     public static int determineMaxAffordableX(Player ai, SpellAbility sa) {
         if (sa.getPayCosts() == null || sa.getPayCosts().getCostMana() == null) {
             return -1;
diff --git a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ability/AttachAi.java b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ability/AttachAi.java
index 3af7196eacf..3de3a7b20e9 100644
--- a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ability/AttachAi.java
+++ b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ability/AttachAi.java
@@ -91,6 +91,8 @@ public class AttachAi extends SpellAbilityAi {
             }
 
             // Don't try to attach an aura to a card which will have protection from the relevant color
+            // TODO: Fix this not to be dependent on "Protection from Color" wording and to be flexible to account for
+            // other possibilities like "protection from all colors" etc.
             Card targeted = sa.getTargets().getFirstTargetedCard();
             if (targeted != null && !targeted.getZone().is(ZoneType.Battlefield)) {
                 byte color = sa.getTargets().getFirstTargetedCard().getCurrentState().getColor();
diff --git a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ability/ManaEffectAi.java b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ability/ManaEffectAi.java
index 7b4c27a77a5..535b4c34f74 100644
--- a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ability/ManaEffectAi.java
+++ b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ability/ManaEffectAi.java
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import forge.game.phase.PhaseType;
 import forge.game.player.Player;
 import forge.game.spellability.SpellAbility;
 import forge.game.zone.ZoneType;
+import forge.util.Aggregates;
 
 import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.List;
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ public class ManaEffectAi extends SpellAbilityAi {
      */
     @Override
     protected boolean checkAiLogic(Player ai, SpellAbility sa, String aiLogic) {
-        if ("ManaRitual".equals(aiLogic)) {
+        if (aiLogic.startsWith("ManaRitual")) {
             return doManaRitualLogic(ai, sa);
         } else if ("Always".equals(aiLogic)) {
             return true;
@@ -117,7 +118,8 @@ public class ManaEffectAi extends SpellAbilityAi {
         String produced = sa.getParam("Produced");
         byte producedColor = produced.equals("Any") ? MagicColor.ALL_COLORS : MagicColor.fromName(produced);
 
-        if ("ChosenX".equals(sa.getParam("Amount"))
+        int numCounters = 0;
+        if ("XChoice".equals(host.getSVar("X"))
                 && sa.getPayCosts() != null && sa.getPayCosts().hasSpecificCostType(CostRemoveCounter.class)) {
             CounterType ctrType = CounterType.KI; // Petalmane Baku
             for (CostPart part : sa.getPayCosts().getCostParts()) {
@@ -126,7 +128,11 @@ public class ManaEffectAi extends SpellAbilityAi {
                     break;
                 }
             }
-            manaReceived = host.getCounters(ctrType);
+            numCounters = host.getCounters(ctrType);
+            manaReceived = numCounters;
+            if ("ManaRitualBattery".equals(sa.getParam("AILogic"))) {
+                manaReceived++; // adds an extra mana even if no counters removed
+            }
         }
 
         int searchCMC = numManaSrcs - selfCost + manaReceived;
@@ -196,6 +202,12 @@ public class ManaEffectAi extends SpellAbilityAi {
                         CardPredicates.lessCMC(searchCMC),
                         Predicates.or(CardPredicates.isColorless(), CardPredicates.isColor(producedColor))));
 
+        if ("ManaRitualBattery".equals(sa.getParam("AILogic"))) {
+            // Don't remove more counters than would be needed to cast everything we want to cast
+            int maxCtrs = Aggregates.sum(castableSpells, CardPredicates.Accessors.fnGetCmc);
+            sa.setSVar("ChosenX", "Number$" + Math.min(numCounters, maxCtrs));
+        }
+
         // TODO: this will probably still waste the card from time to time. Somehow improve detection of castable material.
         return castableSpells.size() > 0;
     }
diff --git a/forge-gui/res/cardsfolder/b/black_mana_battery.txt b/forge-gui/res/cardsfolder/b/black_mana_battery.txt
index e4eb26d5990..6b158ba4b8a 100644
--- a/forge-gui/res/cardsfolder/b/black_mana_battery.txt
+++ b/forge-gui/res/cardsfolder/b/black_mana_battery.txt
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ Name:Black Mana Battery
 ManaCost:4
 Types:Artifact
 A:AB$ PutCounter | Cost$ 2 T | CounterType$ CHARGE | CounterNum$ 1 | SpellDescription$ Put a charge counter on CARDNAME.
-A:AB$ Mana | Cost$ T SubCounter<X/CHARGE> | References$ X,Y | Produced$ B | Amount$ Y | CostDesc$ {T}, Remove any number of charge counters from CARDNAME: | SpellDescription$ Add {B}, then add an additional {B} for each charge counter removed this way.
+A:AB$ Mana | Cost$ T SubCounter<X/CHARGE> | References$ X,Y | Produced$ B | Amount$ Y | CostDesc$ {T}, Remove any number of charge counters from CARDNAME: | AILogic$ ManaRitualBattery | AINoRecursiveCheck$ True | SpellDescription$ Add {B}, then add an additional {B} for each charge counter removed this way.
 SVar:Y:Number$1/Plus.ChosenX
 SVar:X:XChoice
 #ChosenX SVar created by Cost payment
diff --git a/forge-gui/res/cardsfolder/b/blue_mana_battery.txt b/forge-gui/res/cardsfolder/b/blue_mana_battery.txt
index d5a592473f8..f8eaa9f6c92 100644
--- a/forge-gui/res/cardsfolder/b/blue_mana_battery.txt
+++ b/forge-gui/res/cardsfolder/b/blue_mana_battery.txt
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ Name:Blue Mana Battery
 ManaCost:4
 Types:Artifact
 A:AB$ PutCounter | Cost$ 2 T | CounterType$ CHARGE | CounterNum$ 1 | SpellDescription$ Put a charge counter on CARDNAME.
-A:AB$ Mana | Cost$ T SubCounter<X/CHARGE> | Produced$ U | Amount$ Y | CostDesc$ {T}, Remove any number of charge counters from CARDNAME: | References$ X,Y | SpellDescription$ Add {U}, then add an additional {U} for each charge counter removed this way.
+A:AB$ Mana | Cost$ T SubCounter<X/CHARGE> | Produced$ U | Amount$ Y | CostDesc$ {T}, Remove any number of charge counters from CARDNAME: | References$ X,Y | AILogic$ ManaRitualBattery | AINoRecursiveCheck$ True | SpellDescription$ Add {U}, then add an additional {U} for each charge counter removed this way.
 SVar:Y:Number$1/Plus.ChosenX
 SVar:X:XChoice
 #ChosenX SVar created by Cost payment
diff --git a/forge-gui/res/cardsfolder/g/green_mana_battery.txt b/forge-gui/res/cardsfolder/g/green_mana_battery.txt
index 24c156d0ea2..69a72d9d9e1 100644
--- a/forge-gui/res/cardsfolder/g/green_mana_battery.txt
+++ b/forge-gui/res/cardsfolder/g/green_mana_battery.txt
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ Name:Green Mana Battery
 ManaCost:4
 Types:Artifact
 A:AB$ PutCounter | Cost$ 2 T | CounterType$ CHARGE | CounterNum$ 1 | SpellDescription$ Put a charge counter on CARDNAME.
-A:AB$ Mana | Cost$ T SubCounter<X/CHARGE> | Produced$ G | Amount$ Y | CostDesc$ {T}, Remove any number of charge counters from CARDNAME: | References$ X,Y | SpellDescription$ Add {G}, then add an additional {G} for each charge counter removed this way.
+A:AB$ Mana | Cost$ T SubCounter<X/CHARGE> | Produced$ G | Amount$ Y | CostDesc$ {T}, Remove any number of charge counters from CARDNAME: | References$ X,Y | AILogic$ ManaRitualBattery | AINoRecursiveCheck$ True | SpellDescription$ Add {G}, then add an additional {G} for each charge counter removed this way.
 SVar:Y:Number$1/Plus.ChosenX
 SVar:X:XChoice
 #ChosenX SVar created by Cost payment
diff --git a/forge-gui/res/cardsfolder/r/red_mana_battery.txt b/forge-gui/res/cardsfolder/r/red_mana_battery.txt
index b6c2b5319fd..770054db1ca 100644
--- a/forge-gui/res/cardsfolder/r/red_mana_battery.txt
+++ b/forge-gui/res/cardsfolder/r/red_mana_battery.txt
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ Name:Red Mana Battery
 ManaCost:4
 Types:Artifact
 A:AB$ PutCounter | Cost$ 2 T | CounterType$ CHARGE | CounterNum$ 1 | SpellDescription$ Put a charge counter on CARDNAME.
-A:AB$ Mana | Cost$ T SubCounter<X/CHARGE> | Produced$ R | Amount$ Y | References$ X,Y | CostDesc$ {T}, Remove any number of charge counters from CARDNAME: | SpellDescription$ Add {R}, then add an additional {R} for each charge counter removed this way.
+A:AB$ Mana | Cost$ T SubCounter<X/CHARGE> | Produced$ R | Amount$ Y | References$ X,Y | CostDesc$ {T}, Remove any number of charge counters from CARDNAME: | AILogic$ ManaRitualBattery | AINoRecursiveCheck$ True | SpellDescription$ Add {R}, then add an additional {R} for each charge counter removed this way.
 SVar:Y:Number$1/Plus.ChosenX
 SVar:X:XChoice
 #ChosenX SVar created by Cost payment
diff --git a/forge-gui/res/cardsfolder/w/white_mana_battery.txt b/forge-gui/res/cardsfolder/w/white_mana_battery.txt
index f1ac19742e2..280c4e35d52 100644
--- a/forge-gui/res/cardsfolder/w/white_mana_battery.txt
+++ b/forge-gui/res/cardsfolder/w/white_mana_battery.txt
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ Name:White Mana Battery
 ManaCost:4
 Types:Artifact
 A:AB$ PutCounter | Cost$ 2 T | CounterType$ CHARGE | CounterNum$ 1 | SpellDescription$ Put a charge counter on CARDNAME.
-A:AB$ Mana | Cost$ T SubCounter<X/CHARGE> | Produced$ W | Amount$ Y | CostDesc$ {T}, Remove any number of charge counters from CARDNAME: | SpellDescription$ Add {W}, then add an additional {W} for each charge counter removed this way.
+A:AB$ Mana | Cost$ T SubCounter<X/CHARGE> | Produced$ W | Amount$ Y | CostDesc$ {T}, Remove any number of charge counters from CARDNAME: | AILogic$ ManaRitualBattery | AINoRecursiveCheck$ True | SpellDescription$ Add {W}, then add an additional {W} for each charge counter removed this way.
 SVar:Y:Number$1/Plus.ChosenX
 SVar:X:XChoice
 #ChosenX SVar created by Cost payment