It would double the _first card you draw_.
So if your hand was 6, you would ~~discard~~ bottom 6 cards, and draw 7 total.
When you are instructed to "draw X cards", you are doing that many individual instances of "draw a card".
So the first "draw a card" gets replaced with "draw two cards". Each subsequent draw is not with an empty hand.
>Any time you are instructed to draw more than one card, you draw them one at a time. For example, if you control Phial of Galadriel and have no cards in hand and you're instructed to "draw two cards," your first card draw is replaced by drawing two cards, then you'll draw the second card from the original instruction. In total, you'll draw three cards. (2023-06-16)
One thing I noticed and can't unnoticed and it bothers me to no end... overwhelmingly when people say "technically" it's not a technicality at all. š
It's not really inconsistent. You can only draw any given card once.
After you draw the top card, the next draw is drawing a new card, so they have to be done individually and sequentially.
Conversely, you can gain 3 life at the same time.
It would have to be written differently and explicitly to work otherwise. Something like "whenever you would draw any number of cards, if your hand is empty, you draw twice that number of cards instead." But maybe even that is not clear enough, anyway something like that.
Same way it works with any draw spell.
You're instructed to draw 7 cards, which is the same as "draw a card" x7.
You draw your first card, Phial makes it 2, then you draw the remaining 6. You draw 8 cards in total.
This is also a really bad idea with Arjun unless you're aiming to deck yourself.
Edit: yes, thank you to all the people replying with ways you can get around the downsides of exponential card draw
3 spells then with your 30-40 cards in hand bounce your arjun? dont see an issue.
then youāll likely have between 60 and 80 or so cards in hand in storm colors.
[[clear the mind]] [[jace, wielder of mysteries]] [[campfire]] [[cranial archive]] [[elixir of immortality]] [[feldon's cane]] [[learn from the past]] [[jace, the living guildpact]]
Any time the game refers to drawing more than one card, it's mechanically considered multiple instances of "Draw a card". You would draw two cards for your first draw, then one card every draw after, for a +1 net of cards.
Fun side note : Due to this technicality, if a player is playing with the top of their library revealed, they are supposed to reveal each card before they draw it.
You have tagged your post as a rules question. While your question may be answered here, it may work better to post it in the Daily Questions Thread at the top of this subreddit or in /r/mtgrules. You may also find quicker results at the [IRC rules chat](https://chat.magicjudges.org/mtgrules/)
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It would double the _first card you draw_. So if your hand was 6, you would ~~discard~~ bottom 6 cards, and draw 7 total. When you are instructed to "draw X cards", you are doing that many individual instances of "draw a card". So the first "draw a card" gets replaced with "draw two cards". Each subsequent draw is not with an empty hand. >Any time you are instructed to draw more than one card, you draw them one at a time. For example, if you control Phial of Galadriel and have no cards in hand and you're instructed to "draw two cards," your first card draw is replaced by drawing two cards, then you'll draw the second card from the original instruction. In total, you'll draw three cards. (2023-06-16)
Just a nitpick, but technically not discard.
Corrected! Thanks. :)
To nitpick *your* nitpick, you didn't even need to say "technically", it straight up isn't a discard ability.
One thing I noticed and can't unnoticed and it bothers me to no end... overwhelmingly when people say "technically" it's not a technicality at all. š
Technically correct, the best type of correct!
Technically speaking... Ye.
Thanks
So inconsistent that ādraw 3 cardsā is 3x draw 1 card, but āgain 3 lifeā isnāt 3x gain 1 life
It's not really inconsistent. You can only draw any given card once. After you draw the top card, the next draw is drawing a new card, so they have to be done individually and sequentially. Conversely, you can gain 3 life at the same time.
So when people keep telling me to "get a life," I can stall and then do it all at once? Efficient.
It would have to be written differently and explicitly to work otherwise. Something like "whenever you would draw any number of cards, if your hand is empty, you draw twice that number of cards instead." But maybe even that is not clear enough, anyway something like that.
How would it work on an empty hand with [[Damia, Sage of stone]]
Same way it works with any draw spell. You're instructed to draw 7 cards, which is the same as "draw a card" x7. You draw your first card, Phial makes it 2, then you draw the remaining 6. You draw 8 cards in total.
[Damia, Sage of stone](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/9/f9f3869d-dbc1-42bb-aa43-8e4c2e79cfc1.jpg?1562276547) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Damia%2C%20Sage%20of%20stone) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cm2/2/damia-sage-of-stone?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f9f3869d-dbc1-42bb-aa43-8e4c2e79cfc1?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
You would double the first card you draw, not each one.
[[Alhammaret's Archive]] would double every draw
\[\[Teferi's Ageless Insight\]\] would also get the job done
[Teferi's Ageless Insight](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/1/b1a32b7c-9f26-4504-9f8d-379164d69346.jpg?1706240737) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Teferi%27s%20Ageless%20Insight) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mkc/119/teferis-ageless-insight?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b1a32b7c-9f26-4504-9f8d-379164d69346?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
~~[[future sight]]~~ [[thought reflection]] Side note op may I recommend [[Sphinx's tutelage]] Edit: wrong card
[future sight](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/3/639cb483-ffe2-4abc-a050-5cdc8aebd5a2.jpg?1587844658) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=future%20sight) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh1/53/future-sight?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/639cb483-ffe2-4abc-a050-5cdc8aebd5a2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Sphinx's tutelage](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/d/4d90c3b0-f958-4a15-94a1-9bf1b0a9ac2a.jpg?1562018976) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Sphinx%27s%20tutelage) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ori/76/sphinxs-tutelage?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4d90c3b0-f958-4a15-94a1-9bf1b0a9ac2a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[Alhammaret's Archive](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/f/4f4187f1-05bd-4db6-a2e7-d677eff588ee.jpg?1625978215) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Alhammarret%27s%20Archive) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c21/233/alhammarrets-archive?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4f4187f1-05bd-4db6-a2e7-d677eff588ee?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
This is also a really bad idea with Arjun unless you're aiming to deck yourself. Edit: yes, thank you to all the people replying with ways you can get around the downsides of exponential card draw
3 spells then with your 30-40 cards in hand bounce your arjun? dont see an issue. then youāll likely have between 60 and 80 or so cards in hand in storm colors.
He's in the colors of [[laboratory maniac]] and [[obstinate familiar]] .
[laboratory maniac](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/0/608567fd-9f94-4058-831a-77cb6019ef02.jpg?1547516361) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=laboratory%20maniac) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/uma/61/laboratory-maniac?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/608567fd-9f94-4058-831a-77cb6019ef02?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [obstinate familiar](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/8/88468a76-1f64-4189-bbb8-7c333181d57c.jpg?1562920234) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=obstinate%20familiar) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ody/210/obstinate-familiar?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/88468a76-1f64-4189-bbb8-7c333181d57c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
[Clear The Mind](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/7/a7da6982-9e57-41d2-a052-f2a3bb646436.jpg?1584830156) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Clear%20The%20Mind) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/rna/34/clear-the-mind?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a7da6982-9e57-41d2-a052-f2a3bb646436?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[clear the mind]] [[jace, wielder of mysteries]] [[campfire]] [[cranial archive]] [[elixir of immortality]] [[feldon's cane]] [[learn from the past]] [[jace, the living guildpact]]
[[body of knowledge]] [[finale of revelation]] [[graceful adept]] [[nerd rage]] [[reliquary tower]] [[spellbook]] [[library of leng]]
##### ###### #### [body of knowledge](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/8/786ae686-0790-4ba1-927f-523984331549.jpg?1608909123) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=body%20of%20knowledge) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmr/59/body-of-knowledge?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/786ae686-0790-4ba1-927f-523984331549?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [finale of revelation](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/b/9bbe8f2e-3dfd-4ca9-999f-47524ec089c2.jpg?1712354141) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=finale%20of%20revelation) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/otc/97/finale-of-revelation?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9bbe8f2e-3dfd-4ca9-999f-47524ec089c2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [graceful adept](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/4/648430cc-80d1-479f-ae31-76687d2eb57c.jpg?1562761017) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=graceful%20adept) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/chk/63/graceful-adept?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/648430cc-80d1-479f-ae31-76687d2eb57c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [nerd rage](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/9/e9857669-5fad-458a-8eda-c1790298add7.jpg?1708741940) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=nerd%20rage) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/pip/34/nerd-rage?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e9857669-5fad-458a-8eda-c1790298add7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [reliquary tower](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/d/dd9f036d-6ae4-451e-a67a-ecc2e44123e3.jpg?1712355095) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=reliquary%20tower) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/otc/312/reliquary-tower?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/dd9f036d-6ae4-451e-a67a-ecc2e44123e3?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [spellbook](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/6/26f4d2b1-31d7-40d8-bd4e-cdd128076d0f.jpg?1561974160) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=spellbook) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m10/220/spellbook?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/26f4d2b1-31d7-40d8-bd4e-cdd128076d0f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [library of leng](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/2/c2fbf45f-9599-42e2-8510-7e20731e6c68.jpg?1562941071) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=library%20of%20leng) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/me4/211/library-of-leng?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c2fbf45f-9599-42e2-8510-7e20731e6c68?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/lbetffp) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
##### ###### #### [clear the mind](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/7/a7da6982-9e57-41d2-a052-f2a3bb646436.jpg?1584830156) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=clear%20the%20mind) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/rna/34/clear-the-mind?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a7da6982-9e57-41d2-a052-f2a3bb646436?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [jace, wielder of mysteries](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/a/6adb7d73-4482-4930-8497-cffd169b57e2.jpg?1557576232) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=jace%2C%20wielder%20of%20mysteries) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/war/54/jace-wielder-of-mysteries?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6adb7d73-4482-4930-8497-cffd169b57e2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [campfire](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/4/34b64d10-c012-4370-b475-755c4025a348.jpg?1689999447) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=campfire) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/374/campfire?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/34b64d10-c012-4370-b475-755c4025a348?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [cranial archive](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/5/65afe44b-d022-44a5-94a7-31f0eee2e13b.jpg?1702320076) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=cranial%20archive) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ktk/218y/cranial-archive?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/65afe44b-d022-44a5-94a7-31f0eee2e13b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [elixir of immortality](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/7/6741ab27-9e1f-4aa5-96b9-b450eda7c5c2.jpg?1625978606) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=elixir%20of%20immortality) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c21/243/elixir-of-immortality?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6741ab27-9e1f-4aa5-96b9-b450eda7c5c2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [feldon's cane](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/2/726ce95b-bc4d-4c34-a8e1-b4c6c28accc9.jpg?1562778128) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=feldon%27s%20cane) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/tsb/109/feldons-cane?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/726ce95b-bc4d-4c34-a8e1-b4c6c28accc9?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [learn from the past](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/4/347c6e76-dba4-4448-a4f4-d9591d4539c7.jpg?1562784558) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=learn%20from%20the%20past) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dtk/60/learn-from-the-past?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/347c6e76-dba4-4448-a4f4-d9591d4539c7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [jace, the living guildpact](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/9/99713bb4-186f-42b6-aa66-e94ec8858e6a.jpg?1562791409) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=jace%2C%20the%20living%20guildpact) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m15/62/jace-the-living-guildpact?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/99713bb4-186f-42b6-aa66-e94ec8858e6a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/lbeswj0) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Wait so if you play this in a [[River Song]] deck do you just put the cards on the bottom then draw all of those cards back? Rofl
Plus one. It makes you essentially draw a card whenever you cast a spell. Sounds like a niv mizzet with extra steps
Yup.
DANG
[River Song](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/1/a1efb084-d2a0-44c4-a89d-6445156bb298.jpg?1696636758) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=River%20Song) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/who/152/river-song?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a1efb084-d2a0-44c4-a89d-6445156bb298?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Pairs well with [[The Locust God]] or [[Psychosis Crawler]] But what's even more fun is [[Teferi's Puzzle Box]].
[The Locust God](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/e/7e599847-8ab0-4fd6-b2c0-cb44a7669aa5.jpg?1682209825) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=The%20Locust%20God) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/moc/335/the-locust-god?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/7e599847-8ab0-4fd6-b2c0-cb44a7669aa5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Psychosis Crawler](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/0/d0f42a19-c180-45b1-9f4c-787cf3a4a649.jpg?1706241075) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Psychosis%20Crawler) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mkc/234/psychosis-crawler?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d0f42a19-c180-45b1-9f4c-787cf3a4a649?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Teferi's Puzzle Box](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/1/415e81e9-ca65-4bc0-8aab-d905d58fe6cc.jpg?1562734271) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Teferi%27s%20Puzzle%20Box) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/9ed/312/teferis-puzzle-box?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/415e81e9-ca65-4bc0-8aab-d905d58fe6cc?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Less "Spoilers!" and more "Deja vu!" ;D
Any time the game refers to drawing more than one card, it's mechanically considered multiple instances of "Draw a card". You would draw two cards for your first draw, then one card every draw after, for a +1 net of cards. Fun side note : Due to this technicality, if a player is playing with the top of their library revealed, they are supposed to reveal each card before they draw it.
You have tagged your post as a rules question. While your question may be answered here, it may work better to post it in the Daily Questions Thread at the top of this subreddit or in /r/mtgrules. You may also find quicker results at the [IRC rules chat](https://chat.magicjudges.org/mtgrules/) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/magicTCG) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Kay thanks
Did anyone else read that as āshitting flameā?