Gush MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Gush provides card advantage and strategic depth, being playable at instant speed without mana.
  2. Requires bouncing two Islands, which could hinder land progression and overall tempo.
  3. Fosters powerful combos and maintains competitive relevance, a staple in many decks.

Text of card

You may return two islands you control to their owner's hand instead of paying Gush's mana cost. Draw two cards.

Don't trust your secrets to the sea.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gush enables drawing multiple cards without spending mana, offering a significant edge as you access more options and answers than your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: By returning two islands to your hand, Gush bypasses the traditional mana cost, potentially freeing up resources to deploy other strategies or threats within the same turn.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Gush enhances strategic depth, allowing for reactive play, particularly during crucial moments in a match where timing and surprise can shift the tide of battle.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Gush allows you to draw two cards, it comes with the trade-off of returning two Islands to your hand. This can set back your land development and potentially disrupt your play tempo, especially if you’re aiming to build up your mana base for future turns.

Specific Mana Cost: Gush’s alternative casting cost requires you to bounce two Islands to your hand instead of paying its mana cost. This can become a limitation in multi-colored decks that do not have consistent access to Islands or run a high number of non-basic lands.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: If you’re unable to utilize the alternative cost due to board state or strategy, Gush’s traditional casting cost of five mana can be quite steep for its effect. In a fast-paced game, five mana for drawing two cards may not be the most mana-efficient play, especially when competing options are available that provide card draw at a lower cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Gush offers flexible play options, allowing you to return two Islands to your hand instead of paying its mana cost, which can seamlessly integrate into decks that leverage land return mechanics or simply require instant-speed card draw without tapping out.

Combo Potential: As a free draw spell, Gush can be paired with various cards to create powerful interactions or help storm players increase their spell count without depleting resources, thus enabling dramatic combo finishes.

Meta-Relevance: In formats where Gush is legal, its strategic value is undeniable. It allows control and combo decks to maintain card advantage while keeping mana open for other crucial instant-speed interactions, ensuring they stay relevant in a fluctuating competitive environment.


How to beat

Gush is an iconic card in Magic: The Gathering, often found in decks that seek to maximize card advantage without sacrificing land drops. Known for its unique playability by returning two islands to your hand instead of paying its mana cost, Gush allows players to maintain a full grip of cards while potentially unlocking powerful synergies within their deck.

To tackle the challenge that Gush presents, the key is disruption and timing. Cards that restrict draw capabilities, such as Narset, Parter of Veils or Spirit of the Labyrinth, can be essential tools in your arsenal against a deck relying on drawing an excess of cards. Being vigilant and strategic about when to deploy your counterspells also matters. Anticipate the moment your opponent might aim to “go off” with Gush by keeping an eye on their island count and hand size, and be ready to counteract their play. Moreover, pressure is crucial—you’ll want to be aggressive, providing threats that require an immediate answer, thereby reducing your opponent’s chance to capitalize on the free card draw Gush provides.

Ultimately, an efficient strategy against Gush involves a mix of deck knowledge, preemptive disruption, precise timing, and calculated aggression. Adapt your gameplay to deny them the advantage they seek, and you’ll find yourself well-equipped to come out on top.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the duality of Gush in MTG can make all the difference in your play. This card’s ability to propel your strategy forward through card draw without spending mana is invaluable. Gush, however, is not without its drawbacks, as it can sometimes disrupt your mana curve. Despite this, it remains a cornerstone in decks that favor tempo and flexibility. For those looking to harness its full potential or face it across the table, mastering the nuances of gameplay can turn this card from a mere splash in the pond to a title wave of strategic advantage. Dive deeper into the strategic play of Gush and enhance your collection — further insights await in our comprehensive guide.


Cards like Gush

In the world of Magic: The Gathering, the Gush card stands out for its unique ability to let players return two islands to their hand rather than paying its mana cost. This mechanic is quite different from foundational card draw spells like Ancestral Recall, which offers the ability to draw three cards for just one blue mana, but lacks the flexibility of land bounce that Gush provides.

Frantic Search is another card that shares some similarities with Gush, offering the draw of two cards at zero cost after untapping lands, allowing for a potentially net-positive mana gain. Although Frantic Search requires the discarding of two cards, it can also help to filter a player’s hand and sculpt their game plan efficiently. Then consider the card Time Spiral, which resets both players’ hands and graveyards and untaps up to six lands, proving to be a powerhouse in decks that aim to leverage high-impact plays and mana efficiency.

Each of these cards offers its own advantages and trade-offs, ensuring that players have a range of options for drawing cards and managing resources. Gush, with its strategic depth and potential to be played for free, remains a cherished selection among many Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts.

Ancestral Recall - MTG Card versions
Frantic Search - MTG Card versions
Time Spiral - MTG Card versions
Ancestral Recall - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Frantic Search - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Time Spiral - Urza's Saga (USG)

Cards similar to Gush by color, type and mana cost

Force of Will - MTG Card versions
Desertion - MTG Card versions
Evacuation - MTG Card versions
Double Take - MTG Card versions
Sunder - MTG Card versions
Submerge - MTG Card versions
Misdirection - MTG Card versions
Fervent Denial - MTG Card versions
Perplexing Test - MTG Card versions
Graven Lore - MTG Card versions
Access Denied - MTG Card versions
Jace's Ingenuity - MTG Card versions
Spin into Myth - MTG Card versions
Counterbore - MTG Card versions
Traumatic Visions - MTG Card versions
Whiplash Trap - MTG Card versions
Archive Trap - MTG Card versions
Mysteries of the Deep - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Geyser - MTG Card versions
Lost in the Mist - MTG Card versions
Force of Will - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Desertion - Conspiracy: Take the Crown (CN2)
Evacuation - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)
Double Take - Unglued (UGL)
Sunder - The List (PLST)
Submerge - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Misdirection - The List (PLST)
Fervent Denial - Odyssey (ODY)
Perplexing Test - Wilds of Eldraine Commander (WOC)
Graven Lore - Kaldheim Promos (PKHM)
Access Denied - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Jace's Ingenuity - Magic 2015 (M15)
Spin into Myth - Future Sight (FUT)
Counterbore - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Traumatic Visions - Conflux (CON)
Whiplash Trap - Commander 2020 (C20)
Archive Trap - The List (PLST)
Mysteries of the Deep - Worldwake (WWK)
Quicksilver Geyser - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Lost in the Mist - Innistrad (ISD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gush MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques and World Championship Decks 2001, 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 Gush and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Gush Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 1999-10-04 and 2022-11-26. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-10-04Mercadian MasquesMMQ 821997normalblackKev Walker
22001-08-08World Championship Decks 2001WC01 ab821997normalgoldKev Walker
32002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 610562015normalblackFranz Vohwinkel
42008-11-07Duel Decks: Jace vs. ChandraDD2 272003normalblackKev Walker
52014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 722015normalblackKev Walker
62014-12-05Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. ChandraJVC 272015normalblackKev Walker
72019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 3972003normalblackKev Walker
82020-09-26The ListPLST DD2-272003normalblackKev Walker
92022-11-26Eternal WeekendPEWK 11997normalblackSam White

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gush has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyBanned
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperBanned
PremodernLegal
VintageRestricted
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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