How dredge works

Asked by zahon 8 years ago

So I was reading the reminder text on dredge and I noticed the last line, "Dredge 3 (If you would draw a card, instead you may put exactly three cards from the top of your library into your graveyard. If you do, return this card from your graveyard to your hand. Otherwise, draw a card.)" The way I understood dredge was as ,As long as you have at least N cards in your library, if you would draw a card, you may instead put N cards from the top of your library into your graveyard and return this card from your graveyard to your hand. So is the last line of the reminder text redundant or can you draw a card instead of returning a card from the graveyard to your hand?

MindAblaze says... Accepted answer #1

It's just reminding you that you don't have to dredge.

May 29, 2016 8:44 p.m.

zahon says... #2

But in the beginning of the reminder text it already states that it's optional by saying, "If you would draw a card, instead you may put exactly N cards from the top of your library into your graveyard."

May 29, 2016 9:17 p.m.

Raging_Squiggle says... #3

I'm not sure what you're asking about. Dredging is a may ability. You do not have to do it. The "If you do" part means that if you do decide to mill exactly N cards, then "do this part as well".

May 29, 2016 9:36 p.m.

MindAblaze says... #4

Yes it says "dredge X: if you would draw a card, instead you may put X cards from the top of your library into your graveyard and return CARDNAME from your graveyard to your hand. If you don't, draw the card you would have drawn when this ability triggered."

May 29, 2016 10 p.m. Edited.

sonnet666 says... #5

MindAblaze, Just to clarify, Dredge is not a trigger, it's a replacement effect.

The "otherwise" clause is just to clarify for players that choosing NOT to dredge doesn't also replace their draw.

May 29, 2016 10:58 p.m.

MindAblaze says... #6

Ok. It's a static effect that creates a replacement effect when a certain event (drawing a card) takes place. It doesn't trigger and can't be responded to though, so that is relevant.

May 30, 2016 11:42 a.m.

tristen21 says... #7

Additionally, you may use "Dredge" if you would draw a card meaning not only during your draw step but even if an ability or spell tells you to draw a card.

May 30, 2016 4:58 p.m.