Windfall MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 13 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 3 |
Rarity | Uncommon |
Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Each player discards his or her hand and draws cards equal to the greatest number a player discarded this way.
"To fill your mind with knowledge, we must start by emptying it." —Barrin, master wizard
Cards like Windfall
Windfall stands out in the pantheon of card-drawing magic in MTG. It’s often compared to other influential spells like Wheel of Fortune, which is iconic for its card draw and discard capabilities. However, Windfall brings a unique dynamic by setting the card draw number to the greatest hand size among players, potentially refreshing the entire hand. Wheel of Fortune, in contrast, has a fixed number, often leading to a reliable but predictable outcome.
Working similar ground is Whispering Madness, another card that forces players to discard and then draw. It takes the concept in a slightly different direction with the cipher mechanic, allowing for repeated use if the conditions are met. Although Whispering Madness can be a potent spell, the lack of immediate impact compared to the one-time explosiveness of Windfall is noted.
Considering gameplay strategies, Timetwister also reshuffles the graveyard into the library, an additional layer that Windfall does not offer. Despite the differences, Windfall’s impact on the game can be just as profound, offering players the chance to dramatically alter the state of play with one well-timed spell.
Cards similar to Windfall by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Windfall. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
# | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Decklist | Free form | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed | ||
Grixis Control | Vintage | Blue Tinker | 2023 NA Vintage Champs | |
Dimir Mill | Vintage | 2023 NA Vintage Champs | ||
Mono-Blue Control | Vintage | Blue Tinker | 2023 Asia Vintage Championship | |
Colorless Combo | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Tundra Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed | |||
Esper Combo | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Tundra Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Windfall card facilitates a potent draw engine, refilling your hand with the same number of cards as the player with the most cards in their hand. This can provide a significant advantage by potentially offering a new hand of seven cards.
Resource Acceleration: By discarding your hand and drawing a fresh set of cards, Windfall can unearth new resources, thus accelerating your game plan by gaining access to more mana sources or key spells sooner than usual.
Instant Speed: While Windfall operates at sorcery speed, its ability to be played right after an opponent’s draw step mimics the surprise element of instants, catching opponents off-guard just as they’ve drawn to their maximum hand size, often maximizing the card’s potential impact.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Flipping over your hand may feel unsettling, especially if you’ve curated a perfect hand. Windfall’s discard requirement means you’ll be parting with your carefully selected cards, potentially giving up crucial strategies or combos you’ve been setting up for several turns.
Specific Mana Cost: Windfall’s casting cost demands both blue mana and generic mana, making it slightly less flexible for decks that aren’t heavily invested in blue. This requirement might restrict its play to archetypes tailored to blue’s strategic nuances, like control or combo decks, and leave others without the necessary mana support in critical moments.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring three mana, Windfall isn’t the cheapest option for refilling your hand. While three mana is considered a mid-range cost, in fast-paced games where tempo is crucial, spending a full turn on restructuring your hand might be too slow, particularly when there are more efficient low-cost draw spells available.
Reasons to Include Windfall in Your Collection
Versatility: Windfall serves a flexible role in many decks, filling your hand and often disrupting opponents. It’s an excellent addition in formats where card advantage is key.
Combo Potential: This card can be a pivotal piece in combo decks that look to refill their hand and dig for combo pieces. With spells that benefit from the number of cards drawn or discarded, Windfall can turn the tide of a game.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s heavy on control or combo, Windfall can reset hand sizes to keep pace with opponents or to hinder strategies that rely on large hand sizes.
How to beat
Overcoming the Windfall card in Magic: The Gathering revolves around strategic hand management and anticipating its casting. Windfall presents a challenge by equalizing the number of cards in players’ hands to the hand size of the player with the most cards, effectively refreshing hands and potentially escalating your opponent’s strategic possibilities. To counteract this, maintaining a low hand size can diminish Windfall’s impact, limiting the card advantage it provides for your opponent.
Running cards that penalize or disrupt draw strategies can also give you an edge against Windfall. Given Windfall’s nature as a sorcery, instant-speed interaction allows you to adjust your hand size in response or even counter the spell outright if blue mana is at your disposal. Additionally, including graveyard synergistic cards in your deck could turn an opponent’s Windfall to your advantage, as Windfall can inadvertently supply you with an arsenal of new resources from the graveyard. Ultimately, knowing when to play your cards and integrating countermeasures to draw strategies are key tactics in mitigating Windfall’s game-changing effects.
BurnMana Recommendations
Mastering MTG entails more than just collecting cards; it’s about understanding their strengths and the optimal contexts for their use. Windfall, with its potential to refresh hands and disrupt opponents, is a prime example of a card that can shape the flow of a match. To fine-tune your deck and strategy, consider the balance of risk and reward Windfall presents. Embrace the chance to innovate and throw your opponents off balance. Improve your gameplay by learning how to effectively incorporate or counter Windfall’s dynamic effect on the game. Visit BurnMana for in-depth insights and enhance your deck’s performance.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Windfall MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and Battle Royale Box Set, 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 Windfall and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Windfall Magic the Gathering card was released in 13 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2024-04-19. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1998-10-12 | Urza's Saga | USG | 111 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters | |
2 | 1999-11-12 | Battle Royale Box Set | BRB | 99 | 1997 | Normal | White | Pete Venters | |
3 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 62529 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott Murphy | ||
4 | 2011-06-17 | Commander 2011 | CMD | 70 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters | |
5 | 2015-11-13 | Commander 2015 | C15 | 111 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters | |
6 | 2016-11-11 | Commander 2016 | C16 | 104 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott Murphy | |
7 | 2017-11-17 | Iconic Masters | IMA | 77 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott Murphy | |
8 | 2018-06-08 | Commander Anthology Volume II | CM2 | 55 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Pete Venters | |
9 | 2020-04-17 | Commander 2020 | C20 | 128 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott Murphy | |
10 | 2021-02-05 | Kaldheim Commander | KHC | 46 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott Murphy | |
11 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 859 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott Murphy | |
12 | 2023-11-17 | The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander | LCC | 180 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott Murphy | |
13 | 2024-04-19 | Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander | OTC | 123 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott Murphy |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Windfall has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Banned |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Premodern | Banned |
Vintage | Restricted |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |