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If an ability would produce one or more mana of an undefined type, it produces no mana instead.

Some abilities produce mana based on the type of mana another permanent or permanents “could produce.” The type of mana a permanent could produce at any time includes any type of mana that an ability of that permanent would produce if the ability were to resolve at that time, taking into account any applicable replacement effects in any possible order. Ignore whether any costs of the ability could or could not be paid. If that permanent wouldn’t produce any mana under these conditions, or no type of mana can be defined this way, there’s no type of mana it could produce.

To “tap [a permanent] for mana” is to activate a mana ability of that permanent that includes the {T} symbol in its activation cost. See rule 605, “Mana Abilities.”

An ability that triggers whenever a permanent “is tapped for mana” or is tapped for mana of a specified type triggers whenever such a mana ability resolves and produces mana or the specified type of mana.

A replacement effect that applies if a permanent “is tapped for mana” or tapped for mana of a specific type and/or amount modifies the mana production event while such an ability is resolving and producing mana or the specified type and/or amount of mana.

If an object’s enters-the-battlefield triggered ability or replacement effect refers to X, and the spell that became that object as it resolved had a value of X chosen for any of its costs, the value of X for that ability is the same as the value of X for that spell, although the value of X for that permanent is 0. This is an exception to rule 107.3i.

The tap symbol is {T}. The tap symbol in an activation cost means “Tap this permanent.” A permanent that’s already tapped can’t be tapped again to pay the cost. A creature’s activated ability with the tap symbol in its activation cost can’t be activated unless the creature has been under its controller’s control continuously since their most recent turn began. See rule 302.6.

The untap symbol is {Q}. The untap symbol in an activation cost means “Untap this permanent.” A permanent that’s already untapped can’t be untapped again to pay the cost. A creature’s activated ability with the untap symbol in its activation cost can’t be activated unless the creature has been under its controller’s control continuously since their most recent turn began. See rule 302.6.

Unlike most abilities that reduce the costs of spells, Vorthos’s ability cannot be applied to generic mana costs. For example, a spell that costs {2}{B}{G} to cast would instead cost {2} to cast. One that costs {4}{U}{U} would instead cost {4}{U}.

If a character has gone by different names, you may count all versions of that character. For example, choosing Lim-Dûl will offer you a discount on (SPOILERS) The Raven Man. Choosing Urza will offer you a discount on (SPOILERS BUT VERY OLD ONES) Blind Seer.

Vorthos’s ability applies to any spell in which the chosen character’s name appears in any form, whether that’s possessive (e.g. Teferi and Teferi’s Protection), or a related word (e.g. Avacyn and Avacynian Priest), or a word that’s derived from their name (e.g. Niv-Mizzet and Izzet Charm).

You can choose any Magic character that has ever appeared in any official product or story, including characters that have appeared only in art. You can even choose characters who don’t have official names, as long as they’re clearly defined characters, like the Wanderer.

Vorthos’s ability cares whether the chosen character appears in the name, flavor text, or art of the card. It doesn’t care about rules text, watermark, set symbol, artist, and so on. No, choosing Maro as your character doesn’t let you get a discount on Look at Me, I’m the DCI.

As with other acorn cards, Vorthos cares only about the actual printed card you’re casting to determine whether the chosen character appears. But would Vorthos want it any other way?