1. Oracle has a direct Advantage! And not next turn like Galvanoth. 2. Oracle combines cardadvatage (playing top card) with tempoadvantage(playing one more land). Galavnoth does more or less both only halfway.
Beside this nitpicking it's a rather casual and fun-oriented card but not as horribly bad as the other Intro Pack Rares.
So question for everyone, with this, if it is a instant or sorcery, is that your "draw a card"? Or do you cast it then draw a card?
Nighthawk42
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Seems like he should have been slightly bigger and/or cheaper. Would be a nice ability in my Pyromancer Ascension deck except I don't want to give the opponent non-shroud critters to use things on.
Rollcaster
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
How exactly does this guys ability work with spells with X in their costs like Fireball? Would the spell fail or would you still be allowed to fill X?
Bandswithother
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I would assume that if his ability flips into a fireball the value for X would be zero.
And to answer Hedronmatrix's question:
Short answer: You cast the spell then draw a card.
Long answer: Your Upkeep step occurs after you untap and before you draw. Anything that says "At the beggining of your upkeep..." such as Galvanoth's ability does not affect your draw step UNLESS the card says otherwise.
Preciouss
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Yes, X would be zero (as it is always when you play cards without paying their mana costs), but it doesn't meen you'd waste your Fireball - you just wouldn't cast it, since it says "you may cast it", not "cast it".
Ugh. People at my store keep saying that you get to keep playing spells from the top of your deck until you reveal a non-instant/sorcery card. It's really bothering me. They just keep saying that because it doesn't say "reveal a top card of your library", that you can keep casting spells. Even though I tell them "at the beginning of your upkeep" triggers only once, they don't believe me. Haha. I even give them examples like Masticore. If it was the same, then Masticore would force you to discard your whole hand.
I'm just ranting now. Sorry guys.
shmewdog
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@ telefrancais
That store's got some seriously scrub players. I'd stop going there and go to a place where people actually know how to play Magic.
ANyway, on topic: Great card.
Symbolis
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Anyone know if this interacts with Flash? I would assume not.
Mike-C
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
What happens if you have 2,3 or 4 of these out at once during upkeep?
Marzen
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Why do they not explain the rules on having multiple Galvanoths out? So let me get this straight: If you have 2 Galvanoths in play, then you look at the top card, if it is an instant or sorc then you can play it. If you do play it then you can use the second Galvonoth to see if your next top card is an instant or sorc and possibly play that one too.
But if the first top card on your library is not an instant or sorc then you don't get to play it, and then when the second Galvanoth triggers, the card on the top of your library will be that same non-instant or sorc that you looked at with the first Galanoth, and you still won't be able to play it.
So, basically, the second (or third, or fourth) Galvanoth only really work if the top card was an instant or sorc and you decided to cast it with the first Galvanoth.
Is that correct????
Discoduck
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Probably a good idea to have Telling Time ready if you should have multiples out.
robstew1028
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
so if i have multiple galvanoth's out if the first card is a instant or sorcery can the second galvanoth free cast a the next card if it is a instant or sorcery or is it just once?
jerkoid
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
For multiple Galvanoths (for example, let's have 3):
1. Each instance of the ability (3) trigger and goes on the stack.
2. First one resolves, allowing you to look at the card and, if allowed, play it. Pretend you can and you do play it.
3. Second one resolves like the first. Let's say you got a land. You can't play it with Galvanoth. It goes back on the deck.
4. Third resolves. You look at the same land again. You take the time to appreciate the artist's fine work.
5. The stack is empty. You draw a card (our land).
Basically, multiple Galvanoths really aren't that great.
How does this interact with the epic spells like Eternal Dominion? I assume it works as Cast is different then play right?
kdraphael
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Marzen - That's correct. Having multiple Galvanoth's out is only really useful if you have a deck with a ton of instants & sorceries. If your top card is a creature and you have 4 Galvanoth's out, as each Galvanoth triggers it will see that same land. However, if your next 4 cards were instants/sorceries you would be able to play them all.
@ Mike-C, each one would trigger separately. If you have 3 out, you would look at the top card, and if it's an instant/sorcery you could play it. If it isn't, the 2nd one triggers and you again have the option to play the top card if you can. Then the 3rd triggers and you have the option again. So potentially you could play 3 cards or none (if you choose not to or they aren't instants/sorceries).
Yoto_Megachi
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
An absolutely worthless card in limited. Mirrodin is an artifact world, not a sorcery world.
Arachobia
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@hedronMatrix
Upkeep is before draw, so you would reveal the card, then if it was an instant or sorcery you could choose to cast that card. If you do, it goes to your graveyard and you would then draw a card.
I've got to build a deck with this SOB in it
WildRooster27
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
How does this work with Fireball? Does it mean I can cast a 1,000point fireball since it has no mana cost?
Xenobody
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It's surprisingly fun (and tedious) when you have a copy of Galvanoth and Paradox Haze in play and your opponent casts Gate to the Æther....
Razbot
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@wildrooster27 you can cast fireball, but x would be zero.
Riffachu
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I use this bad boy with sensei's divining top in my 5 color control deck <3
Definitely not a combo for normal 60 card decks; at least not 1v1. In EDH though, it's hilarious. Or, just the Searing Wind by itself in a 60 card deck is just as fun. Toss in any kind of spell doubler effect and it's pretty much game.
Works well when paired with fire servants and charmbreaker devils
GracefulInferno
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It's a nasty trick when run alongside Curse of the Cabal. Seriously though. Galvy is SOOOOOOO much fun to build a deck around.
Sobieski
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
In reality this is just quite a bad card. Your idea of galvanoth knowledge pool is pointless because the combo will activate on turn 7 and the cards that you want to play are sorin's vengeance and army of the damned cost 7 mana. You might as well just play them from your hand, possibly with some mana ramp. Also, 5 mana for a 3/3 dies to most things and the ability is quite slow. At turn 6, which is the turn the ability would activate, you should be able to play most instants or socery's anyway and since the ability doesn't always activate I give this card 2 out of five. Many uncommons from that set are better.
alphagprime
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I want so badly to be able to build a USABLE deck using this + Wild Evocation + Knowledge Pool. It would be MIND BENDING!
We are talking (essentially) two FREE casts a turn. With Knowledge Pool on the field, unless you opponent is thinking several steps ahead, the confusion will allow you to start dumping for free or cheap their cards out of the Knowledge Pool onto your side of the field. I'm not saying this is a viable or reliable strategy but think of the fun!
So I'm not sured if this was answered or not. Can I or can I not use Galvanoth's ability till I draw a card I do not want to cast or cannot cast?
UrzasSlurpeeMachine
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Some of you guys are so stupid!
It says "you may look at the top card of your library. If it's an instant or sorcery card, you may cast it..."
It doesn't say "draw a card" or anything about putting cards in the graveyard.
Its says YOU MAY look and YOU MAY cast it.
You don't have to look at your next card if you don't want to or don't need to. If you already know that your next card is NOT an instant or sorcery you DON'T HAVE to look at it. You also do not draw the next card with Galvanoth during your Upkeep unless it is an instant or sorcery and you wish to put it directly into play.
You DON'T have to look at the top card of your library, nor must you play an instant or sorcery if it is one. It says you MAY look and you MAY play an instant or sorcery but you don't HAVE to.
And if your friends think You get to draw cards until you get an instant or sorcery then you have some seriously stupid friends with poor reading comprehension.
Dymecoar
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Guys the Knowledge Pool combo doesn't work. Think about it. Knowledge Pool only triggers when casting a card from your HAND. Galvanoth doesn't put the revealed card into your hand. It simply gets revealed from your library, which essentially merely flips it over, and gets cast for free right from the top of the library.
avishai
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
How 1 Galvanoth and 1 Descendants' Path in play interact esp. if your deck is creature and instant/sorcery based, say any land destruction perhaps?
Is it right to say that i can choose Galvanoth to resolved first checking if instant/sorcery, if yes i would cast it free, if not, say a creature and stays there then Descendants' Path can cast it free right?
Is that right a assumption?
Imagine set of those in play, so that 4 of your opponents lands in graveyard and 4 of your creatures in play?
Comments (50)
You can play:
Cruel Ultimatum
Time Stretch
Beacon of Tomorrows
Curse of the Cabal
I need this for my Intet EDH... holy beetles...
1. Oracle has a direct Advantage! And not next turn like Galvanoth.
2. Oracle combines cardadvatage (playing top card) with tempoadvantage(playing one more land). Galavnoth does more or less both only halfway.
Beside this nitpicking it's a rather casual and fun-oriented card but not as horribly bad as the other Intro Pack Rares.
And to answer Hedronmatrix's question:
Short answer: You cast the spell then draw a card.
Long answer: Your Upkeep step occurs after you untap and before you draw. Anything that says "At the beggining of your upkeep..." such as Galvanoth's ability does not affect your draw step UNLESS the card says otherwise.
I'm just ranting now. Sorry guys.
That store's got some seriously scrub players. I'd stop going there and go to a place where people actually know how to play Magic.
ANyway, on topic: Great card.
So let me get this straight: If you have 2 Galvanoths in play, then you look at the top card, if it is an instant or sorc then you can play it. If you do play it then you can use the second Galvonoth to see if your next top card is an instant or sorc and possibly play that one too.
But if the first top card on your library is not an instant or sorc then you don't get to play it, and then when the second Galvanoth triggers, the card on the top of your library will be that same non-instant or sorc that you looked at with the first Galanoth, and you still won't be able to play it.
So, basically, the second (or third, or fourth) Galvanoth only really work if the top card was an instant or sorc and you decided to cast it with the first Galvanoth.
Is that correct????
1. Each instance of the ability (3) trigger and goes on the stack.
2. First one resolves, allowing you to look at the card and, if allowed, play it. Pretend you can and you do play it.
3. Second one resolves like the first. Let's say you got a land. You can't play it with Galvanoth. It goes back on the deck.
4. Third resolves. You look at the same land again. You take the time to appreciate the artist's fine work.
5. The stack is empty. You draw a card (our land).
Basically, multiple Galvanoths really aren't that great.
@ Mike-C, each one would trigger separately. If you have 3 out, you would look at the top card, and if it's an instant/sorcery you could play it. If it isn't, the 2nd one triggers and you again have the option to play the top card if you can. Then the 3rd triggers and you have the option again. So potentially you could play 3 cards or none (if you choose not to or they aren't instants/sorceries).
Upkeep is before draw, so you would reveal the card, then if it was an instant or sorcery you could choose to cast that card. If you do, it goes to your graveyard and you would then draw a card.
I've got to build a deck with this SOB in it
Nope! If you find an instant or sorcery, you play it without paying its mana cost, THEN draw normally. :3 It's fun on a bug-bun.
Furnace of Rath
Repercussion
Definitely not a combo for normal 60 card decks; at least not 1v1. In EDH though, it's hilarious. Or, just the Searing Wind by itself in a 60 card deck is just as fun. Toss in any kind of spell doubler effect and it's pretty much game.
We are talking (essentially) two FREE casts a turn. With Knowledge Pool on the field, unless you opponent is thinking several steps ahead, the confusion will allow you to start dumping for free or cheap their cards out of the Knowledge Pool onto your side of the field. I'm not saying this is a viable or reliable strategy but think of the fun!
It says "you may look at the top card of your library. If it's an instant or sorcery card, you may cast it..."
It doesn't say "draw a card" or anything about putting cards in the graveyard.
Its says YOU MAY look and YOU MAY cast it.
You don't have to look at your next card if you don't want to or don't need to. If you already know that your next card is NOT an instant or sorcery you DON'T HAVE to look at it. You also do not draw the next card with Galvanoth during your Upkeep unless it is an instant or sorcery and you wish to put it directly into play.
You DON'T have to look at the top card of your library, nor must you play an instant or sorcery if it is one. It says you MAY look and you MAY play an instant or sorcery but you don't HAVE to.
And if your friends think You get to draw cards until you get an instant or sorcery then you have some seriously stupid friends with poor reading comprehension.
Is it right to say that i can choose Galvanoth to resolved first checking if instant/sorcery, if yes i would cast it free, if not, say a creature and stays there then Descendants' Path can cast it free right?
Is that right a assumption?
Imagine set of those in play, so that 4 of your opponents lands in graveyard and 4 of your creatures in play?
isn't that sweet! ^_^