diff --git a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiController.java b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiController.java
index 35b666e0781..36bbf6542b8 100644
--- a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiController.java
+++ b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiController.java
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ import forge.game.player.PlayerActionConfirmMode;
 import forge.game.replacement.ReplaceMoved;
 import forge.game.replacement.ReplacementEffect;
 import forge.game.spellability.*;
+import forge.game.staticability.StaticAbility;
 import forge.game.trigger.Trigger;
 import forge.game.trigger.TriggerType;
 import forge.game.trigger.WrappedAbility;
@@ -670,7 +671,7 @@ public class AiController {
 
     // This is for playing spells regularly (no Cascade/Ripple etc.)
     private AiPlayDecision canPlayAndPayFor(final SpellAbility sa) {
-        boolean xCost = sa.getPayCosts().hasXInAnyCostPart(sa);
+        boolean xCost = sa.getPayCosts().hasXInAnyCostPart();
 
         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
@@ -707,6 +708,13 @@ public class AiController {
             return canPlaySa(((WrappedAbility) sa).getWrappedAbility());
         }
 
+        // Trying to play a card that has Buyback without a Buyback cost, look for possible additional considerations
+        if (getBooleanProperty(AiProps.TRY_TO_PRESERVE_BUYBACK_SPELLS)) {
+            if (card.hasKeyword(Keyword.BUYBACK) && !sa.isBuyBackAbility() && !canPlaySpellWithoutBuyback(card, sa)) {
+                return AiPlayDecision.NeedsToPlayCriteriaNotMet;
+            }
+        }
+
         // When processing a new SA, clear the previously remembered cards that have been marked to avoid re-entry
         // which might potentially cause a stack overflow.
         AiCardMemory.clearMemorySet(this, AiCardMemory.MemorySet.MARKED_TO_AVOID_REENTRY);
@@ -801,10 +809,69 @@ public class AiController {
         if ("True".equals(card.getSVar("NonStackingEffect")) && isNonDisabledCardInPlay(card.getName())) {
             return AiPlayDecision.NeedsToPlayCriteriaNotMet;
         }
+
         // add any other necessary logic to play a basic spell here
         return ComputerUtilCard.checkNeedsToPlayReqs(card, sa);
     }
 
+    private boolean canPlaySpellWithoutBuyback(Card card, SpellAbility sa) {
+        boolean wasteBuybackAllowed = false;
+
+        // About to lose game : allow
+        if (ComputerUtil.aiLifeInDanger(player, true, 0)) {
+            wasteBuybackAllowed = true;
+        }
+
+        int copies = CardLists.filter(player.getCardsIn(ZoneType.Hand), CardPredicates.nameEquals(card.getName())).size();
+        // Have two copies : allow
+        if (copies >= 2) {
+            wasteBuybackAllowed = true;
+        }
+
+        int neededMana = 0;
+        boolean dangerousRecurringCost = false;
+        for (SpellAbility sa2 : GameActionUtil.getOptionalCosts(sa)) {
+            if (sa2.isOptionalCostPaid(OptionalCost.Buyback)) {
+                Cost sac = sa2.getPayCosts();
+                CostAdjustment.adjust(sac, sa2);
+                if (sac.getCostMana() != null) {
+                    neededMana = sac.getCostMana().getMana().getCMC();
+                }
+                if (sac.hasSpecificCostType(CostPayLife.class)
+                        || sac.hasSpecificCostType(CostDiscard.class)
+                        || sac.hasSpecificCostType(CostSacrifice.class)) {
+                    dangerousRecurringCost = true;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        // won't be able to afford buyback any time soon
+        // if Buyback cost includes sacrifice, life, discard
+        if (dangerousRecurringCost) {
+            wasteBuybackAllowed = true;
+        }
+
+        // Memory Crystal-like effects need special handling
+        for (Card c : game.getCardsIn(ZoneType.Battlefield)) {
+            for (StaticAbility s : c.getStaticAbilities()) {
+                if ("ReduceCost".equals(s.getParam("Mode"))
+                        && "Spell.Buyback".equals(s.getParam("ValidSpell"))) {
+                    neededMana -= AbilityUtils.calculateAmount(c, s.getParam("Amount"), s);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        if (neededMana < 0) {
+            neededMana = 0;
+        }
+
+        int hasMana = ComputerUtilMana.getAvailableManaEstimate(player, false);
+        if (hasMana < neededMana - 1) {
+            wasteBuybackAllowed = true;
+        }
+
+        return wasteBuybackAllowed;
+    }
+
     // not sure "playing biggest spell" matters?
     private final static Comparator<SpellAbility> saComparator = new Comparator<SpellAbility>() {
         @Override
diff --git a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiProps.java b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiProps.java
index 23b3b791fe6..1f8b56a9720 100644
--- a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiProps.java
+++ b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiProps.java
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ public enum AiProps { /** */
     THRESHOLD_TOKEN_CHUMP_TO_SAVE_PLANESWALKER ("135"), /** */
     THRESHOLD_NONTOKEN_CHUMP_TO_SAVE_PLANESWALKER ("110"), /** */
     CHUMP_TO_SAVE_PLANESWALKER_ONLY_ON_LETHAL ("true"), /** */
+    TRY_TO_PRESERVE_BUYBACK_SPELLS ("true"), /** */
     MIN_SPELL_CMC_TO_COUNTER ("0"), /** */
     CHANCE_TO_COUNTER_CMC_1 ("50"), /** */
     CHANCE_TO_COUNTER_CMC_2 ("75"), /** */
diff --git a/forge-game/src/main/java/forge/game/cost/Cost.java b/forge-game/src/main/java/forge/game/cost/Cost.java
index 5a48859876a..1d7606922c0 100644
--- a/forge-game/src/main/java/forge/game/cost/Cost.java
+++ b/forge-game/src/main/java/forge/game/cost/Cost.java
@@ -935,19 +935,17 @@ public class Cost implements Serializable {
         return true;
     }
 
-    public boolean hasXInAnyCostPart(SpellAbility sa) {
+    public boolean hasXInAnyCostPart() {
         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")) {
+        for (CostPart p : this.getCostParts()) {
+            if (p instanceof CostPartMana) {
+                if (((CostPartMana) p).getAmountOfX() > 0) {
                     xCost = true;
                     break;
                 }
+            } else if (p.getAmount().equals("X")) {
+                xCost = true;
+                break;
             }
         }
         return xCost;
diff --git a/forge-gui/res/ai/Cautious.ai b/forge-gui/res/ai/Cautious.ai
index 0e732f97963..05b1d3460d7 100644
--- a/forge-gui/res/ai/Cautious.ai
+++ b/forge-gui/res/ai/Cautious.ai
@@ -244,6 +244,10 @@ BOUNCE_ALL_ELSEWHERE_NONCREAT_EVAL_DIFF=3
 # library to put some into the graveyard.
 INTUITION_ALTERNATIVE_LOGIC=true
 
+# If enabled, the AI will run some additional checks in order to try to preserve spells that have Buyback and not
+# use them unless absolutely necessary (or unless multiple copies are in hand).
+TRY_TO_PRESERVE_BUYBACK_SPELLS=true
+
 # How big of a difference is allowed between the revealed card CMC and the currently castable CMC to still put the
 # card on top of the library
 EXPLORE_MAX_CMC_DIFF_TO_PUT_IN_GRAVEYARD=2
diff --git a/forge-gui/res/ai/Default.ai b/forge-gui/res/ai/Default.ai
index 8e03095a670..e00c218cdf6 100644
--- a/forge-gui/res/ai/Default.ai
+++ b/forge-gui/res/ai/Default.ai
@@ -245,6 +245,10 @@ BOUNCE_ALL_ELSEWHERE_NONCREAT_EVAL_DIFF=3
 # library to put some into the graveyard.
 INTUITION_ALTERNATIVE_LOGIC=true
 
+# If enabled, the AI will run some additional checks in order to try to preserve spells that have Buyback and not
+# use them unless absolutely necessary (or unless multiple copies are in hand).
+TRY_TO_PRESERVE_BUYBACK_SPELLS=true
+
 # How big of a difference is allowed between the revealed card CMC and the currently castable CMC to still put the
 # card on top of the library
 EXPLORE_MAX_CMC_DIFF_TO_PUT_IN_GRAVEYARD=2
diff --git a/forge-gui/res/ai/Experimental.ai b/forge-gui/res/ai/Experimental.ai
index b5f8624f8a2..5b9048770f5 100644
--- a/forge-gui/res/ai/Experimental.ai
+++ b/forge-gui/res/ai/Experimental.ai
@@ -245,6 +245,10 @@ BOUNCE_ALL_ELSEWHERE_NONCREAT_EVAL_DIFF=5
 # library to put some into the graveyard.
 INTUITION_ALTERNATIVE_LOGIC=true
 
+# If enabled, the AI will run some additional checks in order to try to preserve spells that have Buyback and not
+# use them unless absolutely necessary (or unless multiple copies are in hand).
+TRY_TO_PRESERVE_BUYBACK_SPELLS=true
+
 # How big of a difference is allowed between the revealed card CMC and the currently castable CMC to still put the
 # card on top of the library
 EXPLORE_MAX_CMC_DIFF_TO_PUT_IN_GRAVEYARD=2
diff --git a/forge-gui/res/ai/Reckless.ai b/forge-gui/res/ai/Reckless.ai
index 188cf8199a9..4641fe37b0b 100644
--- a/forge-gui/res/ai/Reckless.ai
+++ b/forge-gui/res/ai/Reckless.ai
@@ -245,6 +245,10 @@ BOUNCE_ALL_ELSEWHERE_NONCREAT_EVAL_DIFF=3
 # library to put some into the graveyard.
 INTUITION_ALTERNATIVE_LOGIC=true
 
+# If enabled, the AI will run some additional checks in order to try to preserve spells that have Buyback and not
+# use them unless absolutely necessary (or unless multiple copies are in hand).
+TRY_TO_PRESERVE_BUYBACK_SPELLS=false
+
 # How big of a difference is allowed between the revealed card CMC and the currently castable CMC to still put the
 # card on top of the library
 EXPLORE_MAX_CMC_DIFF_TO_PUT_IN_GRAVEYARD=1
diff --git a/forge-gui/src/main/java/forge/match/input/InputAttack.java b/forge-gui/src/main/java/forge/match/input/InputAttack.java
index cf46d7c3e17..d8955dcfafe 100644
--- a/forge-gui/src/main/java/forge/match/input/InputAttack.java
+++ b/forge-gui/src/main/java/forge/match/input/InputAttack.java
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ public class InputAttack extends InputSyncronizedBase {
     }
 
     private void updatePrompt() {
-        String alphaLabel = canCallBackAttackers() ? "Call Back" : "AlphaStrike";
+        String alphaLabel = canCallBackAttackers() ? "Call Back" : "Alpha Strike";
         getController().getGui().updateButtons(getOwner(), "OK", alphaLabel, true, true, true);
     }