Welcome all to the Daily Dose of Throne of Eldraine. Today I’m going to be talking to you about three new blue cards that just want you (and in some cases your opponent) to draw cards. Blue has always been the colour mages head towards when they want some card advantage. In most cases it comes in the form of instants and sorceries that can be cast to gain that card advantage. In Throne of Eldraine, they have provided us with multiple permanents that will get you drawing cards left and right. Don’t worry, there are still instants in the set to help you draw cards in the form of a reprinted Opt and the new Into the Story. (Draw 4 for four or seven mana)
First off, is a Legendary artifact that has a cost reduction possibility built in. Here is The Magic Mirror.
This new wave super Howling Mine is either going to cost your nine mana and stay in your hand for most of the game or cost you three or four mana and help you just take over the game. First thing is finding a deck that would benefit from this card the most. Izzet Drakes was a great deck for this card before rotation, but will there be a similar build that sees play now that some of the key spells of that deck rotated out. The Magic Mirror could be a great card advantage engine for that deck. Is there a danger with this artifact to mill yourself out by drawing too many cards? Here is what would happen if you got The Magic Mirror out onto the battlefield on different turns, assuming you are on the play.
- Turn three : 9 cards drawn, at least 6 spells needed in the graveyard. 45 cards left. You have 9 turns to win the game before getting milled out.
- Turn nine: 15 cards drawn. 45 cards left. You have 9 turns to win the game before getting milled out.
As you can see, the time you have with this on the battlefield is the same no matter when you cast it, but the earlier you get it onto the battlefield, the quicker you will get those extra cards to win the game with.
Next is another slightly cheaper to cast artifact that wants to spread the card advantage love around. Here is Folio of Fancies.
Like The Magic Mirror, this draws you card, but it also draws your opponent cards as well. It also makes it so both players have no maximum hand size. It’s got what might first seem like a mana intensive ability cost to draw cards, but four mana to draw 2 cards at instant speed is quite good. I think the key to this card being very successful lies in the hands of one Narset, Parter of Veils. If you have both cards on the battlefield at the same time, the ability now becomes a one-sided card drawing engine for you. Its ability allows you to use it as an instant, so you can use it during your opponent’s turn, when they’ve already drawn a card during their draw phase, allowing only you to reap the rewards. If you don’t feel like drawing cards, you could always mill your opponent each turn for three mana, although I think I’ll lean towards drawing cards often.
Finally, it’s time to move away from artifacts and give a creature some love. Here is Gadwick, the Wizened.
The obvious comparison for this card is the still in Standard, Hydroid Krasis. Let’s compare the two when it comes to what you for its casting cost.
Gadwick, the Wizened
Three mana – 3/3, 0 cards
Four mana -- 3/3, 1 card
Five mana -- 3/3, 2 cards
Six mana -- 3/3, 3 cards
Seven mana -- 3/3, 4 cards
Eight mana -- 3/3, 5 cards
Hydroid Krasis
Three mana – 1/1 Flying, 0 cards, 0 life
Four mana -- 2/2 Flying, 1 card, 1 life
Five mana -- 3/3 Flying, 1 card, 1 life
Six mana -- 4/4 Flying, 2 cards, 2 life
Seven mana -- 5/5 Flying, 2 cards, 2 life
Eight mana -- 6/6 Flying, 3 cards, 3 life
When it comes to straight card advantage, Gadwick, the Wizened has the advantage, the more mana you can spend casting it. If you need a larger threat and some life gain, I would turn to Hydroid Krasis. Each of them gets destroyed by the likes of Vraska, Golgari Queen and Tyrant’s Scorn. Once on the battlefield though, Gadwick, the Wizened’s reign of power does not end. For every blue spell you cast you can tap down a nonland permanent and opponent controls. This can be used offensively or during their turn to stop a creature from attacking you.
If these card drawing engines don’t put a smile on your face, I’m not sure what will! I am excited to brew some decks with these cards and look forward to avoiding playing against a Narset, Parter of Veils. Thanks again for reading the Daily Dose of Throne of Eldraine. Join me again tomorrow for a brand-new adventure as I continue the journey that is, Throne of Eldraine!
