Gadwick, the Wizened MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Wizard
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides card draw scaling with mana investment, enhancing hand size and strategic options.
  2. Encourages resource acceleration through synergy with mana-generating or untapping spells.
  3. Instant speed casting increases Gadwick’s utility and surprises opponents during their turn.

Text of card

When Gadwick, the Wizened enters the battlefield, draw X cards. Whenever you cast a blue spell, tap target nonland permanent an opponent controls.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gadwick the Wizened is crafted to provide a substantial bonus in the form of card drawing. Each time you cast this card, you are allowed to draw a number of cards equal to the mana spent to play it. This pivotal feature empowers players to sustain a robust hand size, keeping options plentiful and boosting their strategic depth during gameplay.

Resource Acceleration: While Gadwick itself doesn’t directly generate mana or resources, the card’s inherent synergy with spells that untap lands or produce additional mana can lead to a form of indirect resource acceleration. Cast at the right moment, Gadwick can rejuvenate your mana resources through these interactions, hence setting the stage for extended plays or the deployment of additional spells within the same turn.

Instant Speed: Gadwick’s versatility shines with his ability to be cast at instant speed thanks to flash-enabling cards. This capability grants you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s actions on their turn, surprise them with a sudden flurry of cards, or control the flow of the game, making Gadwick a strategic asset in many high-level plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Though Gadwick the Wizened comes with the upside of drawing cards, each card drawn requires a substantial amount of blue mana. In scenarios where your mana resources are spread thin, this could impede your ability to maintain hand advantage or deploy other significant threats on the board.

Specific Mana Cost: Gadwick’s casting cost is restrictive, demanding exclusively blue mana which could pose challenges in multicolored decks. This potentially limits his versatility and may cause consistency issues within mana bases not heavily skewed towards blue.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a scaling mana cost that grows with the desired number of cards drawn, Gadwick the Wizened’s cost can climb quite high to fully utilize his ability. This can be a detriment in faster-paced games where efficiency and lower-cost spells are key to maintaining tempo.


Reasons to Include Gadwick the Wizened in Your Collection

Versatility: Gadwick the Wizened offers a unique blend of card draw and board control. This powerful wizard can be slotted into various blue-based decks, serving as a dynamic draw engine that scales with the game.

Combo Potential: By drawing multiple cards upon entering the battlefield, Gadwick sets the stage for combo plays. His ability to tap down creatures can disrupt opponents and open the door for you to execute your strategies uninterrupted.

Meta-Relevance: With creature-based strategies commonly seen in current meta games, Gadwick’s ability to control the board is extremely relevant. His presence can swing the momentum in your favor while keeping your hand full of options.


How to beat

Confronting Gadwick the Wizened on the battlefield requires strategic finesse and a proper understanding of its utilization in Magic: The Gathering. When your opponent summons Gadwick, you’ll see them tapping a substantial amount of mana not only to play a strong draw spell but also to introduce a creature that can tap down opposing threats. One effective strategy to mitigate Gadwick’s impact is to limit the card advantage it provides. This could be achieved through cards that restrict drawing abilities, such as Narset, Parter of Veils, which caps the number of cards your opponent can draw each turn.

Maintaining a board presence that isn’t susceptible to being tapped down is another tactic. Playing creatures with haste or ones that can’t be targeted by spells and abilities, such as Shroud or Hexproof, can keep your momentum unimpeded. Furthermore, removing Gadwick quickly is crucial. Instant speed removal spells can dispatch Gadwick before a large number of cards is drawn, undermining the card’s value immediately.

Lastly, considering Gadwick’s demand for blue mana, employ land disruption strategies or spells to curtail your opponent’s mana resources, limiting the effectiveness and flexibility of Gadwick’s abilities from the onset.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’re intrigued by the depth of strategy that Gadwick the Wizened brings to the MTG battlefield, we encourage you to delve deeper into its potential. Understanding the balance of its pros and cons, the combo openings it provides, and its relevance in the current meta can greatly enhance your gaming experience. With the insights from this discussion, ensure your collection is prepared for any challenge. Embrace the versatility of Gadwick, refine your blue deck strategies, and master the art of drawing your way to victory. For more insights and to maximize the impact of your deck, connect with us and advance your MTG prowess.


Cards like Gadwick, the Wizened

Gadwick the Wizened offers a unique versatility for blue spell enthusiasts in Magic: The Gathering. This card conjures images of Archmage’s Charm due to its triple-blue mana cost and card drawing capability. Where Gadwick shines is in its scalable card drawing power tied to the mana spent to cast him, and the added utility of tapping a creature each time you cast a blue spell thereafter. Archmage’s Charm, in contrast, has fixed effects and lacks the creature tapping synergy.

Another familiar figure in the realm of drawing cards is Baral, Chief of Compliance. Like Gadwick, Baral reduces the cost of spells, however, Baral specifically targets your instant and sorcery spells while Gadwick is a more comprehensive draw engine that can churn out several cards at once. Furthermore, Baral’s ability to aid in countering spells and Gadwick’s tactical creature tapping offer different strategic advantages.

In the ecosystem of card advantage wizards, Gadwick the Wizened carves out a niche with the potential for an immediate impact on the game state. His versatile nature makes him a suitable inclusion in any deck looking to capitalize on casting numerous spells while maintaining board control.

Archmage's Charm - MTG Card versions
Baral, Chief of Compliance - MTG Card versions
Archmage's Charm - MTG Card versions
Baral, Chief of Compliance - MTG Card versions

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Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - MTG Card versions
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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gadwick, the Wizened MTG card by a specific set like Throne of Eldraine and Throne 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, the Wizened and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Gadwick, the Wizened Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-10-04 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Colin Boyer.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-10-04Throne of EldraineELD 3442015NormalBlackColin Boyer
22019-10-04Throne of EldraineELD 482015NormalBlackColin Boyer
32020-07-17Jumpstart Arena ExclusivesAJMP 482015NormalBlackColin Boyer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gadwick, the Wizened has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-10-04 Gadwick's second ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered.
2019-10-04 Gadwick's triggered ability won't trigger when you cast it because it's not on the battlefield yet.
2019-10-04 If Gadwick enters the battlefield without being cast, or if it was cast for a cost other than its mana cost, the value of X for its first ability is 0.

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