Gadwick's First Duel MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment — Saga |
| Abilities | Role token,Scry |
| Released | 2023-09-08 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Wilds of Eldraine |
| Set code | WOE |
| Number | 51 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Saga |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Chris Seaman |
Text of card
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after III.) I — Create a Cursed Role token attached to up to one target creature. (If you control another Role on it, put that one into the graveyard. Enchanted creature is 1/1.) II — Scry 2. III — When you cast your next instant or sorcery spell with mana value 3 or less this turn, copy that spell. You may choose new targets for the copy.
Cards like Gadwick's First Duel
Gadwick’s First Duel steps into the scene of Magic: The Gathering as another intriguing option for players fond of instant spells with a twist. It evokes memories of the classic Frost Breath, both putting opponents’ creatures on ice, hindering their combat abilities for a turn. However, Gadwick’s First Duel nudges ahead with its additional perk of drawing a card, ensuring that its caster doesn’t fall behind in card advantage.
The parallels continue with another frosty contender, Blizzard Sting. This spell freezes a target just as well, but it lacks the card draw feature that makes Gadwick’s First Duel more compelling. On the more aggressive end, there’s Charmed Sleep, a card that locks down an opponent’s creature indefinitely. Still, the dependency on being an enchantment rather than an instant could make it less appealing for those quick, strategic plays as rendered by Gadwick’s First Duel.
Overall, among the frost-covered spells available to control-minded players, Gadwick’s First Duel holds its own with the dual benefit of neutralizing threats and refilling the player’s hand, making it a versatile spell in any blue mage’s library.
Cards similar to Gadwick's First Duel by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Gadwick's First Duel. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Esper Aggro | Standard | Esper Poison | 2023Players Convention Aichi 2023 Standard Open |
 | Dimir Mill | Modern | Mill | NRG Series $10,000 Showdown - Madison, Wisconsin (Modern) |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Gadwick’s First Duel enables drawing of cards, assisting players in accumulating valuable resources or catching up when they’ve been set back.
Resource Acceleration: This card offers an advantage by untapping lands, allowing for a potential boost in the resources available to a player, and setting the stage for additional plays within the same turn.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Gadwick’s First Duel at instant speed provides strategic flexibility, giving players the chance to respond to an opponent’s moves or end their turn with a surprise spell that can shift the momentum of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Gadwick’s First Duel demands players to pitch another card when they cast it. This might hinder your game plan, especially when the cards in your hand are crucial to maintaining momentum during a match.
Specific Mana Cost: The spell’s cost is exclusive, requiring a precise combination of blue mana. This can be prohibitive for multi-colored decks that may struggle to gather the necessary mana, limiting its overall versatility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Gadwick’s First Duel offers a unique effect, its mana cost is significant when considering alternative cards that could be played at a lower cost. For decks looking to optimize mana efficiency, the high cost could potentially put a user behind their opponents in terms of board development and tempo.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Gadwick’s First Duel brings a dynamic edge to blue-centric decks, offering not only a valuable spell but also a creature presence on the board. Its adaptability makes it a fit for various playstyles, from control to tempo.
Combo Potential: This card shines in situations where spellcasting frequency matters. It can trigger prowess or magecraft with ease, synergizing with decks that capitalize on casting numerous spells in a single turn.
Meta-Relevance: Considering the landscape where control decks are prominent, Gadwick’s First Duel can be a strategic component. It offers the dual benefit of adding creature advantage while potentially disrupting opponents’ plans—a tool that’s often critical in shifting the tide of the game.
How to beat
Gadwick’s First Duel brings strategic depth to Magic: The Gathering confrontations, particularly in battles where control and tempo are essential. This card allows the player to assert dominance by deciding the outcome of a duel between two creatures. The key to conquering Gadwick’s First Duel requires understanding its potential effect on the board state. As a preemptive measure, consider keeping removal spells or abilities in reserve, ensuring that you can disrupt the duel’s setup or outcome.
Moreover, focus on building a robust board presence that can withstand the swings in advantage created by Gadwick’s First Duel. Having creatures with indestructible or those that provide value when targeted, can deter an opponent from choosing them as duel participants. Planeswalker abilities that manipulate creature stats or that can remove Gadwick’s First Duel’s targets from combat are invaluable assets as well.
Finally, remember that Gadwick’s First Duel hinges on the controller having a wizard to initiate the duel. Reduce your opponent’s opportunity by prioritizing the removal of wizards from their board. Adopting these tactics increases your deck’s resilience against the tactical edge Gadwick’s First Duel could otherwise offer.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gadwick's First Duel MTG card by a specific set like Wilds of Eldraine, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Gadwick's First Duel and other MTG cards:
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Gadwick's First Duel has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Gadwick's First Duel card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-09-01 | Any choices made when the spell resolves won't have been made yet when it's copied. Any such choices will be made separately when the copy resolves. |
| 2023-09-01 | If the spell has damage divided as it was put onto the stack, the division can't be changed for the copy, although the targets receiving that damage still can. The same is true of spells that distribute counters. |
| 2023-09-01 | If the spell that's copied has an X whose value was determined as it was cast, the copy has the same value of X. |
| 2023-09-01 | If you don't choose a target for the first chapter ability, the Cursed Role token won't be created. |
| 2023-09-01 | The copy created by the third chapter ability will have the same targets as the spell it's copying unless you choose new ones. You may change any number of the targets, including all of them or none of them. The new targets must be legal. If, for any target, you can't choose a new legal target, then it remains unchanged (even if the current target is illegal). |
| 2023-09-01 | The copy is created on the stack, so it's not "cast." Creating the copy won't cause abilities that trigger when a player casts a spell to trigger. |
| 2023-09-01 | You can't choose to pay any additional costs for a copied spell. However, effects based on any additional costs that were paid for the original spell are copied as though the same costs were paid for the copy too. |