Gamble MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 10 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Gamble can tailor your hand to the game, securing crucial cards for potential victory conditions.
  2. It’s a gamble that could accelerate resources, but the required random discard introduces a significant risk.
  3. The card’s red mana specificity and potential for game-changing plays make it a unique addition to any collection.

Text of card

Search your library for a card, put that card into your hand, then discard a card at random. Shuffle your library afterward.

When you've got nothing, you might as well trade it for something else.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gamble provides you with the unique opportunity to search your library for any card you need, essentially tailoring your hand to the current game situation. This makes it enormously powerful when you’re strategizing for the win or trying to find an answer to an opponent’s threat.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly producing additional mana, Gamble accelerates your resources by potentially fetching crucial combo pieces or key cards that can unlock mana-heavy plays earlier than usual. It’s a catalyst for explosive turns and can tip the scales in your favor quickly.

Instant Speed: Gamble is played at sorcery speed, but it’s worth noting that its ability to secure a needed card can instantly affect the board state as soon as your next turn begins. Given its low cost, it allows you to keep mana available for other spells or actions in the same turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the notable downsides to Gamble is its discard condition. When you play this card, you must discard another at random, which might result in losing a crucial piece from your hand. This could be particularly detrimental during late-game scenarios where every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Gamble requires red mana to cast. This specificity means it’s primarily a fit for red-inclusive decks, and players running multi-color or non-red decks won’t find Gamble compatible with their strategies. This color restriction can limit the card’s versatility in a diverse MTG metagame.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though costing only a single red mana might seem efficient, the risk associated with the random discard can make Gamble less appealing compared to other tutors in the game that offer more predictability or additional value without the immediate downside.


Reasons to Include Gamble in Your Collection

Versatility: Gamble is a unique card that can slot into various red decks, serving a pivotal role in seeking out a key piece of your strategy at the cost of risking another card from your hand.

Combo Potential: This card shines in decks built around synergistic combos. Whether you’re searching for a combo piece or setting up your graveyard for future plays, Gamble provides a cost-effective way to access your library.

Meta-Relevance: In metas that reward fast and decisive plays, Gamble’s ability to quickly find solutions or threats can turn the tide of a game, making it a relevant choice for competitive players looking to gain an edge.


How to beat

Gamble is a unique card in Magic: The Gathering that can set a distinctive pace for the game. This red sorcery allows a player to search their library for a card, then shuffle their library, and discard a card at random. Given the element of chance introduced by the discard, planning how to counteract Gamble’s impact is crucial. When considering strategies to nullify Gamble, having a card like Surgical Extraction or Extirpate in hand becomes key. These cards allow you to remove the tutored card from your opponent’s hand and graveyard if it gets discarded, mitigating the advantage they would gain.

Moreover, precision deck design is vital in hindering Gamble’s effectiveness. Incorporating cards that can manage the opponent’s graveyard, such as Leyline of the Void or Rest in Peace, can turn the tables as they prevent the card retrieved by Gamble from being played later in the game if discarded. Additionally, discard-enablers like Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek can help manage your opponent’s hand post-Gamble to ensure the card they searched for doesn’t turn the tides. A well-prepared defense against this can significantly influence the game’s outcome.

Ultimately, while Gamble can offer a strategic edge with its ability to fetch a crucial card, its randomized discard factor can also be its downfall. Plan your game wisely with cards to mitigate potential gains, and you can transform a risky move into a stumbling block for your opponent.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the intricacies of Gamble within the MTG realm is about harnessing its potential while mitigating its risks. Whether it involves integrating it into high-stakes combo strategies, leveraging its metagame relevance or expertly pairing it with cards that protect against its downsides, Gamble is a tool that, when wielded correctly, can propel you to victory. Embrace the challenge it presents and refine your deck-building skills to turn potential pitfalls into powerful plays. Dive deeper into the strategic depth of MTG with us, and let Gamble be a calculated risk in your quest for dominance at the table.


Cards like Gamble

Gamble is a unique and thrilling card in the MTG arsenal for players seeking a blend of strategy and chance. It mirrors the unpredictability of other tutor cards such as Demonic Tutor and Enlightened Tutor, allowing players to search their library for a card of choice. The distinct catch with Gamble lies in its potential risk—there’s a possibility you might have to discard the card you just tutored, injecting an element of risk into your strategic plans.

Shifting comparisons, we often look at Entomb as a parallel in selecting cards from a library only to place them straight into the graveyard. Unlike Gamble, Entomb focuses on graveyard strategies intentionally, without the hazard Gamble possesses. Then consider Burning Wish, which gives players the liberty to select a card from outside the game. While both Gamble and Burning Wish can fetch powerful cards, Burning Wish’s impact is less risky since there’s no chance of immediately losing the card to a discard.

Ultimately, Gamble stands out amongst tutor spells with its one red mana cost and ability to aggressively sift through the deck, ideal for strategies comfortable with high stakes. Players who appreciate the combination of calculated risks and potential game-changing outcomes might find Gamble a perfect fit for their MTG gameplay style.

Demonic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Enlightened Tutor - MTG Card versions
Entomb - MTG Card versions
Burning Wish - MTG Card versions
Demonic Tutor - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Enlightened Tutor - Mirage (MIR)
Entomb - Odyssey (ODY)
Burning Wish - Judgment (JUD)

Cards similar to Gamble by color, type and mana cost

Earthquake - MTG Card versions
Fireball - MTG Card versions
Disintegrate - MTG Card versions
Goblin Grenade - MTG Card versions
Mana Clash - MTG Card versions
Winds of Change - MTG Card versions
Detonate - MTG Card versions
Blaze - MTG Card versions
Meltdown - MTG Card versions
Landslide - MTG Card versions
Tremor - MTG Card versions
Ghitu Fire - MTG Card versions
Tahngarth's Glare - MTG Card versions
Lava Burst - MTG Card versions
Overmaster - MTG Card versions
Devil's Play - MTG Card versions
Firebolt - MTG Card versions
Crack the Earth - MTG Card versions
Meteor Shower - MTG Card versions
Burning Inquiry - MTG Card versions
Earthquake - Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)
Fireball - The List (PLST)
Disintegrate - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Goblin Grenade - The List (PLST)
Mana Clash - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Winds of Change - Masters Edition (ME1)
Detonate - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Blaze - Duels of the Planeswalkers (DPA)
Meltdown - Urza's Saga (USG)
Landslide - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Tremor - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Ghitu Fire - Invasion (INV)
Tahngarth's Glare - Apocalypse (APC)
Lava Burst - Deckmasters (DKM)
Overmaster - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Devil's Play - Shadows of the Past (SIS)
Firebolt - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Crack the Earth - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Meteor Shower - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Burning Inquiry - Magic 2010 (M10)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gamble MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and Vintage Masters, 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 Gamble and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Gamble Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by 6 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-10-12Urza's SagaUSG 1881997normalblackAndrew Goldhawk
22014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 1622015normalblackAndrew Goldhawk
32016-06-10Eternal MastersEMA 1322015normalblackWinona Nelson
42018-12-07Ultimate MastersUMA 1322015normalblackEven Amundsen
52019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 1882015normalborderlessSam McKenzie
62020-09-26The ListPLST UMA-1322015normalblackEven Amundsen
72023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 1212015normalblackAndrew Goldhawk
82023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 3211997normalblackAndrew Goldhawk
92023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 4332015normalborderlessDaren Bader
102023-11-17Special GuestsSPG 242015normalborderlessJason A. Engle

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gamble has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Gamble card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2022-12-08 You might end up discarding the card you searched for. It’s a gamble!

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