Chains of Mephistopheles and Dredge

Asked by -Logician 8 years ago

If Chains of Mephistopheles is in play, and I draw a card on my upkeep from something like Phyrexian Arena or Staff of Nin, would I be able to not only replace that draw with discard, then draw, but discard a card with dredge like Dakmor Salvage and replace the new draw with milling?

I'm about 99.99% sure that's how that works. So like, instead of drawing a card with Staff of Nin, I discard Dakmor Salvage, then return Dakmor Salvage to my hand and mill 2. I just want to make sure before I try something silly.

Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #1

Chains of Mephistopheles's Oracle text, for reference:

If a player would draw a card except the first one he or she draws in his or her draw step each turn, that player discards a card instead. If the player discards a card this way, he or she draws a card. If the player doesn't discard a card this way, he or she puts the top card of his or her library into his or her graveyard.

You could indeed discard a dredge card, then choose to dredge it instead of drawing a card. Dredge can replace any draw taken for any reason. The only requirement is that the dredgeable card be in your graveyard at the time the draw would occur. Because the discard precedes the draw in Chains of Meph's ability, you'll be able to apply the dredge effect of any card you discard prior to the draw instruction.

August 27, 2015 10:36 p.m.