Mana Value
3
Rarity
uncommon
Gandalf's Sanction
Sorcery
Card Text
Gandalf's Sanction deals X damage to target creature, where X is the number of instant and sorcery cards in your graveyard. Excess damage is dealt to that creature's controller instead.
Set
The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth
(LTR)
EDHREC Rank
#7,938
Gandalf's Sanction is not yet in your graveyard when you determine the value of X.
Wotc — June 16, 2023
Excess damage caused by a spell or ability is similar to how combat damage from a creature with trample is handled. Start with the amount of damage being dealt to the creature and determine what is "lethal." This is the creature's toughness minus the amount of damage that it already has marked on it, but ignoring any replacement or prevention effects that will modify this damage. Also ignore whether the creature has an ability such as indestructible that will result in it not being destroyed by this damage.
Wotc — June 16, 2023
Once you've determined how much damage is excess, Gandalf's Sanction simultaneously deals damage to the creature and to its controller. This damage may be modified by replacement or prevention effects.
Wotc — June 16, 2023
If the target creature is an illegal target by the time Gandalf's Sanction tries to resolve, the spell won't resolve. It won't deal damage to any player.
Wotc — June 16, 2023
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