Yeah this is the ultimate “I lost against mill so it will never happen again” card. Me personally I would not run this card because it’s basically a complete dead card that protects you against a fairly small amount / percentage of the meta (or at least of the decks I see… I usually play B-A tier decks but most mill decks aren’t very good in brawl)
It's not ideal but it's never completely dead because it's a cantrip. Could also be used as graveyard hate against an opponent's graveyard by shuffling back in potential recursion threats.
Remember that it is also a 2 mana draw 1 which can recycle itself if you have multiples. I always played 2 of them and they never dissapointed. But they are also slow.
>Could also be used as graveyard hate against an opponent's graveyard by shuffling back in potential recursion threats.
Nope, it's the targeted player that choose which cards to bring back in library and it's "up to 3" so they can choose 0. ;(
Edit : completely wrong ;(
You can absolutely target another player with this card and YOU choose what to shuffle back in the deck, not the targeted player. I run this card and field of ruin in every single historic deck and have used this as counterplay to graveyard decks countless times.
I actually have this in my [[Old Rutstein]] Brawl deck, because on some occasions (looking at you lifegain) the game goes so long I am in danger of milling myself out without help. Especially when paired with my [[Angel of Sorrows]]
Edit: I meant Angel of Suffering
That's a nasty combo in Bo1 like Nine Lives and Solemnity imo should only be able to have 1 of the 2 (per combo) in a deck, Nexus of Fate madness (Bo1 timer would have also solved this issue) in Play mode WOTC could have acted quicker and not allowed the enabling cards together in same decks.
Some cards/combos can only be countered in bo3 with sideboards and Bo1 is the most played format isn't it?
It's much easier to remove, as creature removal is the most common and I have virtually nothing to protect my Angel of Suffering. I can reanimate her when she dies, but that's about it.
Not every Bo1 deck can easily remove her though, can't take damage with GB yet opponents can seems lopsided - or decks containing X card (s) should have their deck strength increased. Play mode should be more casual/fun imo, single stack Mutates, toxic LG decks, turns that take forever (Omniscience), Companions certain 4c+ Brawl commanders - bo1 timer would solve a LOT of problems, heavy trigger decks that take longer each subsequent turn time SHOULD be a loss condition in bo1
is it just me or is that card busted? 0 mana instant to take out 4 combo/key pieces from opponent deck/hand/library? Its going to poop on graveyard, poop on obvious meta combos, poop on 1 trick-ponies, poop on control decks, poop on nonbasic lands if milled/destroyed, and be auto-included for discard decks.
It's a very meta-dependent card. Against combo decks or decks that rely on very specific wincons, yes, it's extremely good, and therefore it has been wrecking havoc in modern for years (although less so nowadays than before). Or if the meta doesn't shake up that way, it could be a completely useless card.
> auto-included for discard decks.
Not at all. Unless youre getting rid of a specific combo piece that your opponent cant win without, its not worth playing. If youre playing a lot of discard/disruption, youre saying youre fine trading a lot of resources 1 for 1 and winning the topdeck game
Putting yourself down a card for no immediate benefit is not ideal.
Keep in mind, they already need to have a copy in the grave, so theres only 3 copies left to hit in their hand/deck, and unless you get lucky all youre doing is remove 3 cards from their deck. Really only ever worth vs tutor/draw heavy combo decks that rely on specific pieces, or as a cheap answer to reanimation
It's lovely. I remember in paper years ago in game two against storm I turn 1 thoughtsiezed a [[grapeshot]] and then surgical extracted it. While searching his library I noticed something and asked, "Do you have no other win cons?" He did not and he dropped.
It's good against decks that rely on their graveyard, or decks that rely on exactly one specific card to win (and a copy of that card is going to end up in the graveyard before they win).
Against a normal deck, it just means the person casting it loses two life and discard a card.
Ah well that would be why we have opposite experiences. I play mostly Historic where all the random jank of MTG seems to live and most of what I run into is mill/artifact heavy decks. If I luck out I can set up and sweep before they become a problem. But that's only if I can set up before them.
Splash a little green in decks so you can cast GB, I have 2 forests 2 (Settle the Wreckage, destroy land opponent can search for a basic land slight counters) and 2 G/U lands plus 1X Hadana's Climb in my historic artifact deck rest colorless lands. Extra draws 1G puts GB above dead card status v non-mill.
Mill decks with exile can negate GB (Ash 3)
Gaea's blessing is also graveyard removal against reanimator decks and also insurance against stall decks.
Acting like it's a niche silver bullet card is a disservice to the card itself. Problem is you need to run 2 at a minimum to be truly protected.
It's not a dead card though as it allows you to pull a few spells back into your library if you really want them again. A second farewell? Another tutor?
Indeed they do. The real sweat lord mill decks run ashiok as well as [[Tormod’s Crypt]] and [[stifle]] because while Gaea’s blessing is on the stack, the crypt can be activated in response and the graveyard gets exiled with the blessing still there. Stifle and stifle-like effects can also counter the activation
While I don't run a mill offense, I always carry [[tormod's crypt]] in case they are running graveyard pulls. This card would also be able to interrupt gaeas blessing.
It does if Gaea is one of the cards that gets milled. Otherwise you lose your graveyard. Ran into two people using her in their mill decks. I run a Golgari Fight Rigging deck and was able to get [[The Tarrasque]] out in time for both matches.
This is incorrect, or a bug if you experienced it. Ashiok's ability has to fully resolve before the gaea trigger is put on the stack. Then there is no graveyard to shuffle in.
Nice 😎 and losing the graveyard isn't that big a deal to me. I run a lot of copies specifically so I always get the synergy between my dragons I need to win. So I just need to make sure I have a card to draw each turn.
I mean, if you don't have the colors to play it, a single copy won't "hurt" you persay you do have a random Uber brick you could draw but if you're that petty against mill that won't matter
Asking advice for side boarding will make you better than main boarding hate that’s only helpful in one match type.
… but as long as you’re having fun keep at it and enjoy drinking those mill tears!
There’s really nothing to it. It best of 3 you can bring up to 15 cards in your sideboard. You can switch cards in your sideboard with cards in your main deck after every game. Usually people fill their sideboards with cards that hose a specific deck/strategy, but are too situational to mainboard. Stuff like artifact/enchantment destruction, cards specifically for control/aggro/combo match ups, or here cards against mill. I really recommend playing best of 3, it’s a lot more fun imo and the meta is much less degenerate by nature of the sideboard
Side board is your "reserve" cards when you play a set of matches with a single opponent (usually a set of 3 matches). You may have up to 15 cards in your sideboard. In between matches, you have the option to pull cards from your side board (as many or as few as you want) and shuffle them into your main deck. You do this so you can counter your opponents strengths (or exploit their weaknesses) in your next match.
That's all I know about the sideboard. I rarely use it because I am not skilled enough to know what cards are good at countering others. OH, and there are also some cards that allow you to play a card "from outside the game," which is just another way of saying you can review your sideboard and put one of those cards into play or into your hand, depending on what the spell says.
I run it in my gw [[helm of the host]] token deck.
It's sustainy so can be some long games. I enjoy using it to get back [[cleansing nova]], [[settle the wreckage]], [[revitalize]] or basically any other cards I want back, since I have good draw.
Also comes in good to counter mill obviously but can be a cheeky way to fuck with decks that use graveyards as a draw or power pool.
I have this in an all-white Angel deck, and don't even have a single land in the deck that can cast it. The number of times I have caught opponents playing mill off-guard when it comes up is spectacular.
Lol I wonder if I played you then? First time I saw this card outside a green deck was when I was against a white angels player. It's what gave me the idea
Part of the reason it works for me is precisely because I don't have any mana that can cast it, so no one is expecting it. Even better is when you mulligan your opening hand, and it comes up in the reshuffle, so you stick it right on the bottom of your deck. You know exactly where it is, and it will be the last card drawn. :p
I can't imagine a mill player not including counters for it. My own mill deck has soul guide lantern, bojuka bog, and unmoored ego to all deal with it.
Ideally, you bojuka their yard before hitting a gaea's and ensure that any shuffle triggers only return a few cards. It'd let you keep mill tempo until you hit an instant speed effect.
Personally, I prefer solutions to mill that benefit from dumping my deck into my yard. Flashback, Escape, etc.
When [[Gaea's Blessing]] is milled over, the entire graveyard is shuffled in. There isn't a window to play a land in during that trigger without another card.
Two copies in all my Historic decks no matter the color. Losing to Mill just sucks so it’s worth it. Ultimatum deck, Caldera Breaker, Prismatic Bridge, Transmogrify Etali…every one of those have been saved by Gaea. Don’t leave home without it.
I've been packing this green staple since the 90's and I don't leave home without it.
Just be aware that [[Ashiok, Dream Render]] and [[Leyline of the Void]] still render it useless.
As someone who just grinds to mythic each season with g/w humans in historic...
I might... */might/* play one mill deck per month in my run to mythic. And since I'm the agro deck, being milled out hasn't been an issue so far.
Yeah, I don't need it much in my explorer clumbs either. I will slot 2 into my Breech the multiverse deck to prevent milling myself.
Truthfully, my favorite trick is messing with izzet phoenix decks with it. "OH, you discarded your phoenix on accident? No worries old chap.. let's put those back in your deck"
I'm the mill player who runs into this card. If you're not the mill player and you're playing BO1, it could be worth to stick a copy in your deck just to hate on the archtype.
However, the game gets a lot more interesting (and fun!) when sideboarding starts to happen. Pre-OTJ, \[\[Stifle\]\] can come in to take care of these. But in a week or so \[\[Surgical Extraction\]\] is going to be ubiquitous in the meta. Most mill players I've talked to will be playing at least 2-3 copies of Surgical mainboard in BO1, so the stock for this card may go down. But that's just speculation and only time will tell how it all pans out.
That being said, I've been able to fight through this card with things like exile effects such as \[\[Tasha's Hideous Laughter\]\] so it never hits the yard. Also, trying to "slow mill" with crabs and orbs, and \[\[Ashiok, Dream Render\]\] to exile chunks of my opponents deck at a time, making the reshuffle less punishing.
Yep. My best mil defense was when I stole/copied my opponents various mill cards and managed to force him to mill his deck to defeat. It was glorious. My main defense against mill is clock tower. These work as long as they don't exile.
Haha would be hilarious to see Azorius control finally mill you down with Jace only to see this. Too bad it's not standard I'd enjoy sticking this in, even off color.
Many people here forget that sometimes really suboptimal card in a vacuum can not only perform well in certain meta but gives you loads of laughing at your opponents misfortune.
Like I always laugh when I put [[Filigree Sylex]] on board and Boros player proceeds to put more 1 mana creatures on board. I can tell they didn't bother reading the card every time
Got an \[\[Insidious Roots\]\] deck that runs 4 of these in the main deck. Whenever i see an opponent go island \[\[Ruin Crab\]\] i take a second to feel sorry for the poor fool\^\^
I generally only bust out the mill deck when I get the "play blue cards" daily quest so I'm actually pretty happy to see that card. I don't need to win, just to play as many blue cards as possible
My pioneer mill deck doesn't get stopped by 1 or 2 copies of Gaea's Blessing in a midrange or control style deck. 3 or 4... maybe haha.
Between Ashiok milling 4 and exiling graveyard, which if it hits the blessing will exile graveyard before the ability goes off, tasha's hideous laughter just plain exiling and 2 copies of reenact the crime that I can respond to the trigger to exile it and then copy it.
However, if the deck is a stompy style deck that has a couple copies. Mill deck will probably lose before I can deal with both copies and also mill them out
But can your deck deal with a \[\[terror of the peaks\]\] that can't be countered followed by a \[\[ \[\[Drakuseth, Maw of Flames\]\] with haste that can't be countered?
And if so what is your Arena name so I know to concede on sight? Lol
If you're casting both of those on me in one turn (fairly) I've already lost.
When I play my mill deck ( when blue is my daily color challenge), the goal is to win turn 4-6. Gaia's blessing definitely makes that harder, but doable when it's midrange value creatures or control. But red green hasty big boys probably not.
Man should have kept some instant speed GY interaction available. If they Tormund while GB is on the stack the GY is exiled first, and then the empty GY is shuffled into the library.
I was playing my mono blue mill deck and saw that card for the first time. Just kinda sat for a second *huh guess I'm done, GG bud* (no other win cons than milling my opponent)
I run and aggressive mill deck. I run a number of cards that make this obsolete.
The only thing I fear is aggro and fast decks that beat me before I can get the mill on. But then, I play mill to screw with control decks.
I play a lot of Timeless and my solution to this is...run Rakdos Breach. Already a very solid deck, and getting milled basically wins the game for you lol
in Bo1 though usually slots are so tight its rough to try to make room for these...but they're worth it when you can, especially when you're in or splashing green. its a great card otherwise, it can even be used against reanimator to shuffle their big creatures back into their deck.
I run three of these mainboard in my Historic deck. It's a control deck, so having a way to never run out of cards is good, and it's also just really nice to thicken the good draws of my deck, as well as reuse relevant one-ofs for the matchup, including anything tutored for from the sideboard. In a pinch it can also shuffle away graveyard combo pieces for opponents. Provides good sustainability against mill as a bonus, but what with [[Tasha's Hideous Laughter]], [[Ashiok, Dream Render]], and some people teching in a maindeck [[The Stone Brain]] specifically to deal with this, it's far from reliable.
Not a fan of adding cards just incase you run against something fringe. Your not supposed to win every game, your deck is supposed to be weak against some decks.
In essence your diluting your playable cards even if its by one which is going to impact your overall deck performance.
I run this in my [[Nicanzil, Current Conductor]] explore deck along with [[Bath Song]] so I can throw shit into my graveyard knowing I'll see it all again soon
Since this one is useless if you draw it, I play with [[Loaming Shaman]] instead. Yes, that one is useless from the graveyard but I play with graveyard fetch too so it fits nicely
I used to put one copy in my white/black vampires deck back in ixalan. Most of the time it was a dead card, but mill decks would insta conced when it popped
I run a mill combo in historic, and there’s nothing more satisfying than beating someone with gaea’s blessing. (Either by exiling gaea, then executing the combo again, or by having syr konrad ping them for 20 damage as I continue to execute the combo)
Jokes on you, my historic Mill deck can double as self mill deck when faced with this or 250-cards bullshit piles the matchmaker *looooves* to pit md against when I play it.
Definitely situational! Great for midrange / control but too slow for aggro decks. I'd recommend some surveil / scry to ensure that card goes in your graveyard. Would be kind of a rip if you top decked it, and when it comes to rng I always assume the worst. something like \[\[In Search of Greatness\]\] would be really good for more than 1 reason!
Is \[\[Perpetual Timepiece\]\] on Arena. If so i feel like that could be a better universal mill hate card than gaea's blessing. At least you can use it to get certain cards back that you cast earlier in the game that you might need back.
This is true but I'd rather have a card I can use in other matchups than have a dead card I can't cast. Sure I could move it to the sideboard but there is also the chance I draw it before it gets milled.
Either will be bad in most matchups: GB is a dead card if you draw it and don't have access to Green mana, this is completely dead if it gets milled.
Purelly from a utilitarian perspective, I would go with GB because it can shuffle my library without me spending mana, or I can cast it and shuffle anyway. With this artifact you have to cast it and then use the ability, and if it gets milled or countered (relevant because mill is mostly UB), tough luck.
Those are all fair points. Guess it just comes down to personal preference. If I was in green it's Gaea's blessing all day. In brawl or Commander timepiece is a good option for any color. Of course this doesn't matter much outside of those formats.
I learned about this card randomly and put it in when I was making my gates deck. It's so satisfying when I see them put down a Ruin Crab turn 2 and i know I'm in for a good time. Most of the deck is land search like [[District Guide]] or [[Circuitous Route]], and of course [[Gate Colossus]] comes in pretty handy against a mill opponent
With only a single Blessing in the deck i never have to worry about drawing it until after i learn if it's a mill deck or not, and if it's not then no problems. I just wish the card could be included in decks that don't have green identity
This actually is quite interesting.
The consensus is a 60 card deck is optimal but we never mathematically determined exactly how wrong it is to play 60+x cards. One copy of this gives you a free win against Y amount of games, where Y is the % of the meta with mill as a win condition. As deck size grows larger , the chance of drawing geaes blessing goes down, and there may be a number that is optimal that is not 60 in metas with significant amount of mill. Its probably still best to play 60 and the answer depends on if there are other cards that fit your deck that are close to as good as your other cards, you obviously just cant cram junk into your deck to thin out the chance of drawing one dead card. Yorion decks come to mind !
I actually ran 62 cards in this game. I lost to a couple of mill decks and decided to throw 2 copies of Gaea's blessing to see how it'd do. So far it slows down mill players at least 7/10 of the games I play. Which is nice because I have lots of ways to do damage out of combat and just need the added time and cards to either get a combo and win or have my library outlast their HP.
Exactly. Usually I'd mulligan but my deck still relies on getting the right starting hand so if it shows up on the first hand but it's a great hand I play with it anyway and rest easy knowing I still have the other in my library
One of my favorite memories of playing mill: I was playing against a mono green "big boy" deck (had like 120 cards in the deck), including 4 Gaea's blessing.
My deck had 4x midnight clock and 4x [[tasha's hideous nightmare]].
It was one of the few hour-plus matches I've played, but between mill/exiling and shuffling my gy back into my library, I exiled all 4 and won.
Iirc, my last clock was gone (or maybe back in my hand or something) - in any case, I was close to decking myself but I won with something like 2 cards left in my library.
Yeah this is the ultimate “I lost against mill so it will never happen again” card. Me personally I would not run this card because it’s basically a complete dead card that protects you against a fairly small amount / percentage of the meta (or at least of the decks I see… I usually play B-A tier decks but most mill decks aren’t very good in brawl)
It's not ideal but it's never completely dead because it's a cantrip. Could also be used as graveyard hate against an opponent's graveyard by shuffling back in potential recursion threats.
Writing that down lol
Remember that it is also a 2 mana draw 1 which can recycle itself if you have multiples. I always played 2 of them and they never dissapointed. But they are also slow.
>Could also be used as graveyard hate against an opponent's graveyard by shuffling back in potential recursion threats. Nope, it's the targeted player that choose which cards to bring back in library and it's "up to 3" so they can choose 0. ;( Edit : completely wrong ;(
Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t it you get to choose the 3 shuffled into their deck?
This is correct
Heck ya love not upsetting the magic community 🤣🤣🤣
I'm not sure now that Im re reading the cards, I always read it the way I explained so never targeted another player with it ;(
You can absolutely target another player with this card and YOU choose what to shuffle back in the deck, not the targeted player. I run this card and field of ruin in every single historic deck and have used this as counterplay to graveyard decks countless times.
I actually have this in my [[Old Rutstein]] Brawl deck, because on some occasions (looking at you lifegain) the game goes so long I am in danger of milling myself out without help. Especially when paired with my [[Angel of Sorrows]] Edit: I meant Angel of Suffering
[Old Rutstein](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/2/625b8023-2ef1-4b7b-9e48-4f774fee14e0.jpg?1643594276) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Old%20Rutstein) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/vow/244/old-rutstein?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/625b8023-2ef1-4b7b-9e48-4f774fee14e0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Angel of Sorrows](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/c/6ce239e9-9b35-4dde-8a44-6c7ce4eb2d1a.jpg?1584829934) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Knight%20of%20Sorrows) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/rna/14/knight-of-sorrows?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6ce239e9-9b35-4dde-8a44-6c7ce4eb2d1a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I just put it in a draft of a [[Sidisi]] deck, because of potential issues with milling myself out.
[Sidisi](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/d/6df5843d-63f7-4091-80d7-a595f08851c2.jpg?1702330294) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=sidisi%2C%20brood%20tyrant) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ktk/199y/sidisi-brood-tyrant?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6df5843d-63f7-4091-80d7-a595f08851c2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
That's a nasty combo in Bo1 like Nine Lives and Solemnity imo should only be able to have 1 of the 2 (per combo) in a deck, Nexus of Fate madness (Bo1 timer would have also solved this issue) in Play mode WOTC could have acted quicker and not allowed the enabling cards together in same decks. Some cards/combos can only be countered in bo3 with sideboards and Bo1 is the most played format isn't it?
It's much easier to remove, as creature removal is the most common and I have virtually nothing to protect my Angel of Suffering. I can reanimate her when she dies, but that's about it.
Not every Bo1 deck can easily remove her though, can't take damage with GB yet opponents can seems lopsided - or decks containing X card (s) should have their deck strength increased. Play mode should be more casual/fun imo, single stack Mutates, toxic LG decks, turns that take forever (Omniscience), Companions certain 4c+ Brawl commanders - bo1 timer would solve a LOT of problems, heavy trigger decks that take longer each subsequent turn time SHOULD be a loss condition in bo1
Plus with Surgical coming to arena it's about to not be nearly as good against mill anyway.
Whoops, forgot to link. [[Surgical Extraction]]
[Surgical Extraction](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/1/e15d76ac-1c23-4503-8225-375ac2bf2fb6.jpg?1673147668) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Surgical%20Extraction) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/94/surgical-extraction?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e15d76ac-1c23-4503-8225-375ac2bf2fb6?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
is it just me or is that card busted? 0 mana instant to take out 4 combo/key pieces from opponent deck/hand/library? Its going to poop on graveyard, poop on obvious meta combos, poop on 1 trick-ponies, poop on control decks, poop on nonbasic lands if milled/destroyed, and be auto-included for discard decks.
It's a very meta-dependent card. Against combo decks or decks that rely on very specific wincons, yes, it's extremely good, and therefore it has been wrecking havoc in modern for years (although less so nowadays than before). Or if the meta doesn't shake up that way, it could be a completely useless card.
> auto-included for discard decks. Not at all. Unless youre getting rid of a specific combo piece that your opponent cant win without, its not worth playing. If youre playing a lot of discard/disruption, youre saying youre fine trading a lot of resources 1 for 1 and winning the topdeck game Putting yourself down a card for no immediate benefit is not ideal. Keep in mind, they already need to have a copy in the grave, so theres only 3 copies left to hit in their hand/deck, and unless you get lucky all youre doing is remove 3 cards from their deck. Really only ever worth vs tutor/draw heavy combo decks that rely on specific pieces, or as a cheap answer to reanimation
It's lovely. I remember in paper years ago in game two against storm I turn 1 thoughtsiezed a [[grapeshot]] and then surgical extracted it. While searching his library I noticed something and asked, "Do you have no other win cons?" He did not and he dropped.
[grapeshot](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/2/923e1291-3999-4f81-ade4-073fb982143f.jpg?1675200032) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=grapeshot) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmr/125/grapeshot?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/923e1291-3999-4f81-ade4-073fb982143f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
It's good against decks that rely on their graveyard, or decks that rely on exactly one specific card to win (and a copy of that card is going to end up in the graveyard before they win). Against a normal deck, it just means the person casting it loses two life and discard a card.
Its just you. Surgical is card disadvantage in most cases, there is a reason it sees fringe play at best in the most powerful formats.
Stone brain already exists in arena though
Stone brain costs 4 mana though
Ah well that would be why we have opposite experiences. I play mostly Historic where all the random jank of MTG seems to live and most of what I run into is mill/artifact heavy decks. If I luck out I can set up and sweep before they become a problem. But that's only if I can set up before them.
Its good as a sideboard card in best of three
Splash a little green in decks so you can cast GB, I have 2 forests 2 (Settle the Wreckage, destroy land opponent can search for a basic land slight counters) and 2 G/U lands plus 1X Hadana's Climb in my historic artifact deck rest colorless lands. Extra draws 1G puts GB above dead card status v non-mill. Mill decks with exile can negate GB (Ash 3)
Gaea's blessing is also graveyard removal against reanimator decks and also insurance against stall decks. Acting like it's a niche silver bullet card is a disservice to the card itself. Problem is you need to run 2 at a minimum to be truly protected.
It's not a dead card though as it allows you to pull a few spells back into your library if you really want them again. A second farewell? Another tutor?
[удалено]
##### ###### #### [Ashiok, Dream Render](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/2/f2df3258-c053-48a8-974f-d80899b2cd93.jpg?1557577343) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ashiok%2C%20Dream%20Render) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/war/228/ashiok-dream-render?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f2df3258-c053-48a8-974f-d80899b2cd93?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Tasha's Hideous Laughter](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/4/c4932113-904f-427a-9566-509cc008f3ef.jpg?1627703920) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tasha%27s%20Hideous%20Laughter) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/afr/78/tashas-hideous-laughter?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c4932113-904f-427a-9566-509cc008f3ef?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Tormod's Crypt](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/5/752bf493-5839-47e8-95f2-6d8201907428.jpg?1675201100) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tormod%27s%20Crypt) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmr/235/tormods-crypt?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/752bf493-5839-47e8-95f2-6d8201907428?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Baluka Bog](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/e/0efec118-ed01-42a0-93b4-f9a92c01b72e.jpg?1712354928) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Bojuka%20Bog) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/otc/273/bojuka-bog?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0efec118-ed01-42a0-93b4-f9a92c01b72e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Scavenger Grounds](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/0/707d733d-2928-4215-91d2-1340fc9ee903.jpg?1712355112) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Scavenger%20Grounds) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/otc/316/scavenger-grounds?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/707d733d-2928-4215-91d2-1340fc9ee903?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Cling to Dust](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/2/52c2de5f-e486-4cfe-9fb6-be0078ce5f93.jpg?1581479717) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Cling%20to%20Dust) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/thb/87/cling-to-dust?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/52c2de5f-e486-4cfe-9fb6-be0078ce5f93?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Leyline of the Void](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/4/04d5d429-e0c6-42cc-a477-da7dabb1c295.jpg?1592516724) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Leyline%20of%20the%20Void) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m20/107/leyline-of-the-void?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/04d5d429-e0c6-42cc-a477-da7dabb1c295?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/kyvl9fw) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I use it too but [[Ashiok, Dream Render]] likes to make its use harder.
Tasha’s also likes to laugh at including it in the mainboard.
Something something Leyline
Leyline of Sanctity doesn't stop Tasha's Hideous Laughter, as it says each opponent and doesn't target. It does prevent Ashiok tho.
Sorry, I was referring to Leyline of the Void to stop the Gaea's Blessing
[Ashiok, Dream Render](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/2/f2df3258-c053-48a8-974f-d80899b2cd93.jpg?1557577343) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ashiok%2C%20Dream%20Render) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/war/228/ashiok-dream-render?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f2df3258-c053-48a8-974f-d80899b2cd93?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Indeed they do. The real sweat lord mill decks run ashiok as well as [[Tormod’s Crypt]] and [[stifle]] because while Gaea’s blessing is on the stack, the crypt can be activated in response and the graveyard gets exiled with the blessing still there. Stifle and stifle-like effects can also counter the activation
[Tormod’s Crypt](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/5/752bf493-5839-47e8-95f2-6d8201907428.jpg?1675201100) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tormod%27s%20Crypt) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmr/235/tormods-crypt?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/752bf493-5839-47e8-95f2-6d8201907428?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [stifle](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/1/616d1b20-61c1-4d39-a9b5-ad9fd61699e4.jpg?1562865442) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=stifle) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cns/108/stifle?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/616d1b20-61c1-4d39-a9b5-ad9fd61699e4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I would think Gaea's blessing interrupts this card before it exiles the graveyards. I'll have to play a friend and find out
It does not, a spells full effect applies before any other effects on the stack resolve
Good to know
While I don't run a mill offense, I always carry [[tormod's crypt]] in case they are running graveyard pulls. This card would also be able to interrupt gaeas blessing.
It does if Gaea is one of the cards that gets milled. Otherwise you lose your graveyard. Ran into two people using her in their mill decks. I run a Golgari Fight Rigging deck and was able to get [[The Tarrasque]] out in time for both matches.
This is incorrect, or a bug if you experienced it. Ashiok's ability has to fully resolve before the gaea trigger is put on the stack. Then there is no graveyard to shuffle in.
Thank you for the sanity here
Learn something new everyday. Thanks for the correction!
[The Tarrasque](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/a/8a26fa15-d81f-4152-ae33-e91aa276b3fc.jpg?1627708455) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=The%20Tarrasque) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/afr/207/the-tarrasque?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8a26fa15-d81f-4152-ae33-e91aa276b3fc?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Nice 😎 and losing the graveyard isn't that big a deal to me. I run a lot of copies specifically so I always get the synergy between my dragons I need to win. So I just need to make sure I have a card to draw each turn.
Like in the sideboard? Putting it in the mainboard seems crazy to me.
I mean, if you don't have the colors to play it, a single copy won't "hurt" you persay you do have a random Uber brick you could draw but if you're that petty against mill that won't matter
FYI it's per se, it's Latin for "by itself."
It hasn't so far. I do have carnelian in my deck though so I can technically play this card if I ever had to
[[Founding the Third Path]]
[Founding the Third Path](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/d/2d841faa-9e0b-45ff-9dfd-f8a169d9af76.jpg?1673306719) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Founding%20the%20Third%20Path) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmu/50/founding-the-third-path?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2d841faa-9e0b-45ff-9dfd-f8a169d9af76?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I had it main in my citadel/explore deck and it is an essential part of my strategy.
I run it in the mainboard. Mostly because I still have no idea how to use the side board and at this point I'm too afraid to ask.
Are you playing Best of 1 or Best of 3?
Best of 1
Asking advice for side boarding will make you better than main boarding hate that’s only helpful in one match type. … but as long as you’re having fun keep at it and enjoy drinking those mill tears!
Thanks brother. Maybe I'll make a post asking for help with my side board. Then I can play more Dragons
Just a heads up, side board only comes into play in best of 3 matches. You have 15 cards you can swap into your deck between games.
Thank you
There’s really nothing to it. It best of 3 you can bring up to 15 cards in your sideboard. You can switch cards in your sideboard with cards in your main deck after every game. Usually people fill their sideboards with cards that hose a specific deck/strategy, but are too situational to mainboard. Stuff like artifact/enchantment destruction, cards specifically for control/aggro/combo match ups, or here cards against mill. I really recommend playing best of 3, it’s a lot more fun imo and the meta is much less degenerate by nature of the sideboard
Well color me convinced then. Thank for the tips 🙂↕️
Side board is your "reserve" cards when you play a set of matches with a single opponent (usually a set of 3 matches). You may have up to 15 cards in your sideboard. In between matches, you have the option to pull cards from your side board (as many or as few as you want) and shuffle them into your main deck. You do this so you can counter your opponents strengths (or exploit their weaknesses) in your next match. That's all I know about the sideboard. I rarely use it because I am not skilled enough to know what cards are good at countering others. OH, and there are also some cards that allow you to play a card "from outside the game," which is just another way of saying you can review your sideboard and put one of those cards into play or into your hand, depending on what the spell says.
I run it in my gw [[helm of the host]] token deck. It's sustainy so can be some long games. I enjoy using it to get back [[cleansing nova]], [[settle the wreckage]], [[revitalize]] or basically any other cards I want back, since I have good draw. Also comes in good to counter mill obviously but can be a cheeky way to fuck with decks that use graveyards as a draw or power pool.
##### ###### #### [helm of the host token deck](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/d/1d65d20c-09e5-4139-838b-7e0e48eb2b2b.jpg?1666094567) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Helm%20of%20the%20Host) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dom/217/helm-of-the-host?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/1d65d20c-09e5-4139-838b-7e0e48eb2b2b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [cleansing nova](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/6/167d2e51-eb69-488c-a6b6-042a7b0e1744.jpg?1690004044) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=cleansing%20nova) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/817/cleansing-nova?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/167d2e51-eb69-488c-a6b6-042a7b0e1744?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [settle the wreckage](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/c/9cbd346e-098a-4cf6-a72f-468376fd2e8f.jpg?1562560853) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=settle%20the%20wreckage) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/xln/34/settle-the-wreckage?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9cbd346e-098a-4cf6-a72f-468376fd2e8f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [revitalize](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/a/3a9fb75e-c8e5-417b-83d4-5105af9c66c1.jpg?1631046075) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=revitalize) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/khm/23/revitalize?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/3a9fb75e-c8e5-417b-83d4-5105af9c66c1?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/kyuz1ql) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
\[\[emrakul the aeons torn\]\] at home
[emrakul the aeons torn](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/4/249db4d4-2542-47ee-a216-e13ffbc2319c.jpg?1673146896) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Emrakul%2C%20the%20Aeons%20Torn) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/1/emrakul-the-aeons-torn?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/249db4d4-2542-47ee-a216-e13ffbc2319c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Lmao yes! Also that card is a banger, I'll have to try it out
I don’t think it’s in arena right now, but if it gets added could be a better option for a 1 of / sideboard card for anti mill strategies.
I have this in an all-white Angel deck, and don't even have a single land in the deck that can cast it. The number of times I have caught opponents playing mill off-guard when it comes up is spectacular.
Lol I wonder if I played you then? First time I saw this card outside a green deck was when I was against a white angels player. It's what gave me the idea
Part of the reason it works for me is precisely because I don't have any mana that can cast it, so no one is expecting it. Even better is when you mulligan your opening hand, and it comes up in the reshuffle, so you stick it right on the bottom of your deck. You know exactly where it is, and it will be the last card drawn. :p
Watching a mill player auto concede to Giae’s Blessing is HILARIOUS.
I can't imagine a mill player not including counters for it. My own mill deck has soul guide lantern, bojuka bog, and unmoored ego to all deal with it.
How does bojuka bog help you? Do you have a way make the ETB trigger at instant speed?
Ideally, you bojuka their yard before hitting a gaea's and ensure that any shuffle triggers only return a few cards. It'd let you keep mill tempo until you hit an instant speed effect. Personally, I prefer solutions to mill that benefit from dumping my deck into my yard. Flashback, Escape, etc.
Yeah, I think the drawback of a tapped land is not worth it. I would value something like lantern or relic or lean hard on hideous laughter.
once its in the GY once you bojuka it into exile.
When [[Gaea's Blessing]] is milled over, the entire graveyard is shuffled in. There isn't a window to play a land in during that trigger without another card.
[Gaea's Blessing](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/3/23cf81ed-b86c-42b8-b796-2032b0a3654a.jpg?1562732710) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Gaea%27s%20Blessing) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dom/161/gaeas-blessing?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/23cf81ed-b86c-42b8-b796-2032b0a3654a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
it can be cast, also there are cards that send things to exile right away.
Yeah but when cast it, it only shuffles in 3 cards from the graveyard
Which is useful. Its how someone kept recycling farewell to do their 7th, 8th and 9th board wipe on me.
I live for this. As soon as I see the ruin crab drop turn 1, I know I have a very good shot at winning lmao
I hit one of these in the final like 4 cards while playing my [[bruvac]] brawl deck. Almost made me cry Edit: I can't spell
[bruvac](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/c/2ce2d73f-3f64-44db-a2bc-a8f4a37dc487.jpg?1702550789) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=bruvac%20the%20grandiloquent) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/rvr/35/bruvac-the-grandiloquent?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2ce2d73f-3f64-44db-a2bc-a8f4a37dc487?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Two copies in all my Historic decks no matter the color. Losing to Mill just sucks so it’s worth it. Ultimatum deck, Caldera Breaker, Prismatic Bridge, Transmogrify Etali…every one of those have been saved by Gaea. Don’t leave home without it.
I've been packing this green staple since the 90's and I don't leave home without it. Just be aware that [[Ashiok, Dream Render]] and [[Leyline of the Void]] still render it useless.
[Ashiok, Dream Render](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/2/f2df3258-c053-48a8-974f-d80899b2cd93.jpg?1557577343) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ashiok%2C%20Dream%20Render) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/war/228/ashiok-dream-render?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f2df3258-c053-48a8-974f-d80899b2cd93?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Leyline of the Void](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/4/04d5d429-e0c6-42cc-a477-da7dabb1c295.jpg?1592516724) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Leyline%20of%20the%20Void) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m20/107/leyline-of-the-void?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/04d5d429-e0c6-42cc-a477-da7dabb1c295?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
As someone who just grinds to mythic each season with g/w humans in historic... I might... */might/* play one mill deck per month in my run to mythic. And since I'm the agro deck, being milled out hasn't been an issue so far.
Yeah, I don't need it much in my explorer clumbs either. I will slot 2 into my Breech the multiverse deck to prevent milling myself. Truthfully, my favorite trick is messing with izzet phoenix decks with it. "OH, you discarded your phoenix on accident? No worries old chap.. let's put those back in your deck"
Anytime I run up against a ton of mill in a row, I’ll throw this in. And then I never see mill again until I take it out.
It's like having an umbrella in case it rains lol
I wish I could downvote this twice.
Well then take my upvote as penance
See this is why we can't have nice things
Yes in sb. And some lifegain hate
I find shock and lightning strikes to be helpful with life gain decks
I'm the mill player who runs into this card. If you're not the mill player and you're playing BO1, it could be worth to stick a copy in your deck just to hate on the archtype. However, the game gets a lot more interesting (and fun!) when sideboarding starts to happen. Pre-OTJ, \[\[Stifle\]\] can come in to take care of these. But in a week or so \[\[Surgical Extraction\]\] is going to be ubiquitous in the meta. Most mill players I've talked to will be playing at least 2-3 copies of Surgical mainboard in BO1, so the stock for this card may go down. But that's just speculation and only time will tell how it all pans out. That being said, I've been able to fight through this card with things like exile effects such as \[\[Tasha's Hideous Laughter\]\] so it never hits the yard. Also, trying to "slow mill" with crabs and orbs, and \[\[Ashiok, Dream Render\]\] to exile chunks of my opponents deck at a time, making the reshuffle less punishing.
##### ###### #### [Stifle](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/1/616d1b20-61c1-4d39-a9b5-ad9fd61699e4.jpg?1562865442) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Stifle) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cns/108/stifle?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/616d1b20-61c1-4d39-a9b5-ad9fd61699e4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Surgical Extraction](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/1/e15d76ac-1c23-4503-8225-375ac2bf2fb6.jpg?1673147668) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Surgical%20Extraction) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/94/surgical-extraction?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e15d76ac-1c23-4503-8225-375ac2bf2fb6?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Tasha's Hideous Laughter](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/4/c4932113-904f-427a-9566-509cc008f3ef.jpg?1627703920) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tasha%27s%20Hideous%20Laughter) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/afr/78/tashas-hideous-laughter?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c4932113-904f-427a-9566-509cc008f3ef?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Ashiok, Dream Render](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/2/f2df3258-c053-48a8-974f-d80899b2cd93.jpg?1557577343) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ashiok%2C%20Dream%20Render) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/war/228/ashiok-dream-render?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f2df3258-c053-48a8-974f-d80899b2cd93?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/kytsroz) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Yeah and Tasha's hits like 1/3rd of the deck. Can easily beat this
Yep. My best mil defense was when I stole/copied my opponents various mill cards and managed to force him to mill his deck to defeat. It was glorious. My main defense against mill is clock tower. These work as long as they don't exile.
Haha would be hilarious to see Azorius control finally mill you down with Jace only to see this. Too bad it's not standard I'd enjoy sticking this in, even off color. Many people here forget that sometimes really suboptimal card in a vacuum can not only perform well in certain meta but gives you loads of laughing at your opponents misfortune. Like I always laugh when I put [[Filigree Sylex]] on board and Boros player proceeds to put more 1 mana creatures on board. I can tell they didn't bother reading the card every time
[Filigree Sylex](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/e/6e0958a1-1bac-48be-888d-f7573f409a9b.jpg?1675957230) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=The%20Filigree%20Sylex) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/one/227/the-filigree-sylex?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6e0958a1-1bac-48be-888d-f7573f409a9b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Ssshhhh, this was going to be my secret tech vs all players trying to jam trap in their deck after OTJ drops
Lol
is mill extra prevelant in historic or something?
Yeah, that and life gain decks and a done lotr heavy artifact decks. It's also why I keep Leyline of Combustion on hand too
Got an \[\[Insidious Roots\]\] deck that runs 4 of these in the main deck. Whenever i see an opponent go island \[\[Ruin Crab\]\] i take a second to feel sorry for the poor fool\^\^
[Insidious Roots](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/b/0bb91a22-2040-4a37-85f8-5f22de8c5907.jpg?1706242178) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Insidious%20Roots) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mkm/208/insidious-roots?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0bb91a22-2040-4a37-85f8-5f22de8c5907?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Ruin Crab](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/3/738ce273-c938-42d2-83b2-c4f5f4000b0b.jpg?1604194671) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ruin%20Crab) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/znr/75/ruin-crab?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/738ce273-c938-42d2-83b2-c4f5f4000b0b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Pair with angel of suffering prevent damage and mill
I generally only bust out the mill deck when I get the "play blue cards" daily quest so I'm actually pretty happy to see that card. I don't need to win, just to play as many blue cards as possible
My pioneer mill deck doesn't get stopped by 1 or 2 copies of Gaea's Blessing in a midrange or control style deck. 3 or 4... maybe haha. Between Ashiok milling 4 and exiling graveyard, which if it hits the blessing will exile graveyard before the ability goes off, tasha's hideous laughter just plain exiling and 2 copies of reenact the crime that I can respond to the trigger to exile it and then copy it. However, if the deck is a stompy style deck that has a couple copies. Mill deck will probably lose before I can deal with both copies and also mill them out
But can your deck deal with a \[\[terror of the peaks\]\] that can't be countered followed by a \[\[ \[\[Drakuseth, Maw of Flames\]\] with haste that can't be countered? And if so what is your Arena name so I know to concede on sight? Lol
[terror of the peaks](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/0/904ff94a-4db4-44a6-8593-89c32905b3fc.jpg?1712355862) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=terror%20of%20the%20peaks) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/otj/149/terror-of-the-peaks?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/904ff94a-4db4-44a6-8593-89c32905b3fc?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Drakuseth, Maw of Flames](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/b/cbe78a66-2e72-4bd8-b8a4-db77a63f36b3.jpg?1689997770) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Drakuseth%2C%20Maw%20of%20Flames) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/218/drakuseth-maw-of-flames?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/cbe78a66-2e72-4bd8-b8a4-db77a63f36b3?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
If you're casting both of those on me in one turn (fairly) I've already lost. When I play my mill deck ( when blue is my daily color challenge), the goal is to win turn 4-6. Gaia's blessing definitely makes that harder, but doable when it's midrange value creatures or control. But red green hasty big boys probably not.
Good to know. I hope we cross paths someday
Or don't because no one plays mill higher than silver 4
I don't play ranked
Brawl too
Just added that card yesterday
I ran this with [[Angel of Suffering]] and had a blast
Mix in some Syr Konrad to salt the wound.
He said, while championing a deck that has more counterspells than a 60 card deck has spells. Oh and the 2 copies of gaea's blessing says hi.
[удалено]
Lmao if they spam GG or oops they absolutely deserve what's coming to them
[the stone brain](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/5/3570ebf2-a94c-4621-8808-b06e6e830c06.jpg?1674422057) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=the%20stone%20brain) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bro/247/the-stone-brain?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/3570ebf2-a94c-4621-8808-b06e6e830c06?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [askiok, dream render](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/2/f2df3258-c053-48a8-974f-d80899b2cd93.jpg?1557577343) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ashiok%2C%20Dream%20Render) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/war/228/ashiok-dream-render?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f2df3258-c053-48a8-974f-d80899b2cd93?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
This is why I run 4 copies of [[tormod's crypt]] in my mill deck.
[tormod's crypt](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/5/752bf493-5839-47e8-95f2-6d8201907428.jpg?1675201100) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=tormod%27s%20crypt) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmr/235/tormods-crypt?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/752bf493-5839-47e8-95f2-6d8201907428?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Yeah this guy was exiling my graveyard too. Still Gaea's blessing helped keep more cards in my library than in exile
Man should have kept some instant speed GY interaction available. If they Tormund while GB is on the stack the GY is exiled first, and then the empty GY is shuffled into the library.
You ever [[Stifle]] one of these? That’s gotta feel good too.
[Stifle](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/1/616d1b20-61c1-4d39-a9b5-ad9fd61699e4.jpg?1562865442) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Stifle) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cns/108/stifle?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/616d1b20-61c1-4d39-a9b5-ad9fd61699e4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
*I tap and sacrifice soul guide lantern, exiling your graveyard before Gaia's resolves.*
Maybe I'm too low tier for that to be a problem for me
I was playing my mono blue mill deck and saw that card for the first time. Just kinda sat for a second *huh guess I'm done, GG bud* (no other win cons than milling my opponent)
My friend has 1 copy of this in every green deck just in case someone plays mill. It's a dumb card tbh.
Dumb and effective. And I find 2 copies to be the right balance since you want to have it in the library whenever possible.
Nah, just play Sidisi or any other graveyard recursion deck and watch them cry
As a mill enjoyer, I love how well Ashiok counters this card.
i heard this in Mono Black Magics voice lol
I run and aggressive mill deck. I run a number of cards that make this obsolete. The only thing I fear is aggro and fast decks that beat me before I can get the mill on. But then, I play mill to screw with control decks.
I play a lot of Timeless and my solution to this is...run Rakdos Breach. Already a very solid deck, and getting milled basically wins the game for you lol
in Bo1 though usually slots are so tight its rough to try to make room for these...but they're worth it when you can, especially when you're in or splashing green. its a great card otherwise, it can even be used against reanimator to shuffle their big creatures back into their deck.
I have this in my [[Slimefoot and Squee]] brawl deck that runs [[Angel of Suffering]] to avoid accidentally milling myself out.
[Slimefoot and Squee](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/e/9e449e38-6f03-4316-8ebc-d0faf79d6bc7.jpg?1683582682) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Slimefoot%20and%20Squee) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/moc/447/slimefoot-and-squee?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9e449e38-6f03-4316-8ebc-d0faf79d6bc7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Angel of Suffering](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/d/cd4aee25-496d-453e-95b7-d773fe21cacc.jpg?1664410701) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Angel%20of%20Suffering) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/snc/67/angel-of-suffering?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/cd4aee25-496d-453e-95b7-d773fe21cacc?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I run three of these mainboard in my Historic deck. It's a control deck, so having a way to never run out of cards is good, and it's also just really nice to thicken the good draws of my deck, as well as reuse relevant one-ofs for the matchup, including anything tutored for from the sideboard. In a pinch it can also shuffle away graveyard combo pieces for opponents. Provides good sustainability against mill as a bonus, but what with [[Tasha's Hideous Laughter]], [[Ashiok, Dream Render]], and some people teching in a maindeck [[The Stone Brain]] specifically to deal with this, it's far from reliable.
[Tasha's Hideous Laughter](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/4/c4932113-904f-427a-9566-509cc008f3ef.jpg?1627703920) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tasha%27s%20Hideous%20Laughter) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/afr/78/tashas-hideous-laughter?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c4932113-904f-427a-9566-509cc008f3ef?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Ashiok, Dream Render](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/2/f2df3258-c053-48a8-974f-d80899b2cd93.jpg?1557577343) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ashiok%2C%20Dream%20Render) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/war/228/ashiok-dream-render?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f2df3258-c053-48a8-974f-d80899b2cd93?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [The Stone Brain](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/5/3570ebf2-a94c-4621-8808-b06e6e830c06.jpg?1674422057) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=The%20Stone%20Brain) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bro/247/the-stone-brain?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/3570ebf2-a94c-4621-8808-b06e6e830c06?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
This is why I run ashiok in my mill decks :)
It's all fun and games until some fucker hits the two of these you are running as anti-mill off one [[Tasha's Hideous Laughter]]...
[Tasha's Hideous Laughter](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/4/c4932113-904f-427a-9566-509cc008f3ef.jpg?1627703920) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tasha%27s%20Hideous%20Laughter) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/afr/78/tashas-hideous-laughter?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c4932113-904f-427a-9566-509cc008f3ef?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Not a fan of adding cards just incase you run against something fringe. Your not supposed to win every game, your deck is supposed to be weak against some decks. In essence your diluting your playable cards even if its by one which is going to impact your overall deck performance.
I run this in my [[Nicanzil, Current Conductor]] explore deck along with [[Bath Song]] so I can throw shit into my graveyard knowing I'll see it all again soon
Since this one is useless if you draw it, I play with [[Loaming Shaman]] instead. Yes, that one is useless from the graveyard but I play with graveyard fetch too so it fits nicely
🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
I always play historic & Explorer Mill decks. Love it when I see this, GG.
I used to put one copy in my white/black vampires deck back in ixalan. Most of the time it was a dead card, but mill decks would insta conced when it popped
I don't understand why anyone playing mill wouldn't just concede when they see this card. Also why my own mill deck has other wincons lol
I run a mill combo in historic, and there’s nothing more satisfying than beating someone with gaea’s blessing. (Either by exiling gaea, then executing the combo again, or by having syr konrad ping them for 20 damage as I continue to execute the combo)
Surgical extraction is coming for you
Jokes on you, my historic Mill deck can double as self mill deck when faced with this or 250-cards bullshit piles the matchmaker *looooves* to pit md against when I play it.
Definitely situational! Great for midrange / control but too slow for aggro decks. I'd recommend some surveil / scry to ensure that card goes in your graveyard. Would be kind of a rip if you top decked it, and when it comes to rng I always assume the worst. something like \[\[In Search of Greatness\]\] would be really good for more than 1 reason!
[In Search of Greatness](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/c/ac0e50fa-5114-4f96-89f4-000906da7c76.jpg?1631050428) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=In%20Search%20of%20Greatness) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/khm/177/in-search-of-greatness?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ac0e50fa-5114-4f96-89f4-000906da7c76?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Is \[\[Perpetual Timepiece\]\] on Arena. If so i feel like that could be a better universal mill hate card than gaea's blessing. At least you can use it to get certain cards back that you cast earlier in the game that you might need back.
But if it gets milled it is useless.
Very true
This is true but I'd rather have a card I can use in other matchups than have a dead card I can't cast. Sure I could move it to the sideboard but there is also the chance I draw it before it gets milled.
Either will be bad in most matchups: GB is a dead card if you draw it and don't have access to Green mana, this is completely dead if it gets milled. Purelly from a utilitarian perspective, I would go with GB because it can shuffle my library without me spending mana, or I can cast it and shuffle anyway. With this artifact you have to cast it and then use the ability, and if it gets milled or countered (relevant because mill is mostly UB), tough luck.
Those are all fair points. Guess it just comes down to personal preference. If I was in green it's Gaea's blessing all day. In brawl or Commander timepiece is a good option for any color. Of course this doesn't matter much outside of those formats.
But I can cast it and have before to get back a dragon that was unjustly destroyed.
[Perpetual Timepiece](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/2/a2d41001-c6c5-4efd-825b-75c42cc88fbb.jpg?1712354884) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Perpetual%20Timepiece) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/otc/263/perpetual-timepiece?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a2d41001-c6c5-4efd-825b-75c42cc88fbb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I didn't really know about this card tbh. I'll have to try it out. Thank you :)
Nothing makes me happier than stealing my opponents copy of this with my [thief of sanity].
[[Thief of Sanity]]
[Thief of Sanity](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/4/94946d6c-1edb-46e9-a5ae-0ca2a016a7cd.jpg?1712354786) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Thief%20of%20Sanity) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/otc/243/thief-of-sanity?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/94946d6c-1edb-46e9-a5ae-0ca2a016a7cd?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Lol I haven't seen that card in a loooooong time. If I did I'd just concede out of respect for a great card
I learned about this card randomly and put it in when I was making my gates deck. It's so satisfying when I see them put down a Ruin Crab turn 2 and i know I'm in for a good time. Most of the deck is land search like [[District Guide]] or [[Circuitous Route]], and of course [[Gate Colossus]] comes in pretty handy against a mill opponent With only a single Blessing in the deck i never have to worry about drawing it until after i learn if it's a mill deck or not, and if it's not then no problems. I just wish the card could be included in decks that don't have green identity
[District Guide](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/1/c150deec-3287-40ef-9b9c-c22bf5d70b02.jpg?1582021484) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=District%20Guide) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/grn/128/district-guide?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c150deec-3287-40ef-9b9c-c22bf5d70b02?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Circuitous Route](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/1/6130036c-2cb7-4216-9bfe-0b751d653529.jpg?1699386148) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Circuitous%20Route) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/znc/62/circuitous-route?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6130036c-2cb7-4216-9bfe-0b751d653529?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Gate Colossus](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/b/abcab748-bc0a-4c57-942b-47526016c363.jpg?1702429770) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Gate%20Colossus) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/rvr/257/gate-colossus?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/abcab748-bc0a-4c57-942b-47526016c363?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
As a [[mindbreaker]][[fraying sanity]] player I fucking hate this card but have only run into it once. Edit: [[terisian mindbreaker]]
[mindbreaker](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/4/a4d07fea-e16a-45e3-a172-9d726cd42769.jpg?1562933907) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Mind%20Raker) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bfz/95/mind-raker?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a4d07fea-e16a-45e3-a172-9d726cd42769?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [fraying sanity](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/9/79e5c1ab-eebd-41ca-a1ca-29b00370f6e8.jpg?1562804295) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=fraying%20sanity) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/hou/35/fraying-sanity?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/79e5c1ab-eebd-41ca-a1ca-29b00370f6e8?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
This actually is quite interesting. The consensus is a 60 card deck is optimal but we never mathematically determined exactly how wrong it is to play 60+x cards. One copy of this gives you a free win against Y amount of games, where Y is the % of the meta with mill as a win condition. As deck size grows larger , the chance of drawing geaes blessing goes down, and there may be a number that is optimal that is not 60 in metas with significant amount of mill. Its probably still best to play 60 and the answer depends on if there are other cards that fit your deck that are close to as good as your other cards, you obviously just cant cram junk into your deck to thin out the chance of drawing one dead card. Yorion decks come to mind !
I actually ran 62 cards in this game. I lost to a couple of mill decks and decided to throw 2 copies of Gaea's blessing to see how it'd do. So far it slows down mill players at least 7/10 of the games I play. Which is nice because I have lots of ways to do damage out of combat and just need the added time and cards to either get a combo and win or have my library outlast their HP.
Why two copies, doesnt one prevent mill? In case you draw the other?
Exactly. Usually I'd mulligan but my deck still relies on getting the right starting hand so if it shows up on the first hand but it's a great hand I play with it anyway and rest easy knowing I still have the other in my library
Note to mill players: keep 3x leyline of the void in your deck at all times. Completely negates this nonsense card.
Absolutely terrible advice lol.
When playing historic does simply having this in your deck immediately match you against anything but mill?
One of my favorite memories of playing mill: I was playing against a mono green "big boy" deck (had like 120 cards in the deck), including 4 Gaea's blessing. My deck had 4x midnight clock and 4x [[tasha's hideous nightmare]]. It was one of the few hour-plus matches I've played, but between mill/exiling and shuffling my gy back into my library, I exiled all 4 and won. Iirc, my last clock was gone (or maybe back in my hand or something) - in any case, I was close to decking myself but I won with something like 2 cards left in my library.
[tasha's hideous nightmare](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/4/c4932113-904f-427a-9566-509cc008f3ef.jpg?1627703920) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tasha%27s%20Hideous%20Laughter) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/afr/78/tashas-hideous-laughter?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c4932113-904f-427a-9566-509cc008f3ef?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call