Gadwick's First Duel
Enchantment — Saga
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after III.)
I — Create a Cursed Role token attached to up to one target creature. (If you control another Role on it, put that one into the graveyard. Enchanted creature is 1/1.)
II — Scry 2.
III — When you next cast an instant or sorcery spell with mana value 3 or less this turn, copy that spell. You may choose new targets for the copy.
- CMC
- 2
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Wilds of Eldraine
- Price
- $0.18
- EDHREC rank
- #18843
Gadwick's First Duel taps a target creature and draws you a card — immediate board interaction stapled to card advantage, all at instant speed. The cost is real enough that it won't go in every blue deck, but in spellslinger or Wizard-matters shells where the ceiling scales, it earns its slot.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Gadwick's First Duel competes in a slot where blue has abundant options, but the combination of tempo and card draw on one card is genuinely useful in spellslinger decks that want to chain spells. In Standard, Pioneer, and Modern, the rate is too modest for formats where creatures demand immediate answers rather than a tapped blocker. Legacy and Vintage have efficient cantrips and hard removal that make this redundant at any cost. Oathbreaker mirrors Commander's logic — spellcount decks get the most mileage.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.18 bulk tier
At $0.18, Gadwick's First Duel is deep bulk — the kind of card you pick out of a dollar box without hesitation. There's no realistic trajectory that changes that price, so grab it if you want it and don't think twice.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.