Arcane SavantHow it works & interactions with other cards

Setting the Stage

Arcane Savant's first ability functions before the game even begins. Before you shuffle your deck for the start of the game, you may reveal one or more copies of Arcane Savant from your deck. For each one you reveal, you choose an instant or sorcery card you drafted that is not currently in your deck and exile it. These cards remain in the exile zone for the duration of the game and serve as the 'memory' for your Savants.

Resolution Step-by-Step

When Arcane Savant enters the battlefield, its triggered ability goes on the stack. As it resolves, you choose one of the instant or sorcery cards you exiled before the game. You then create a copy of that card in exile and cast it without paying its mana cost. Because this happens during the resolution of the ability, you ignore normal timing restrictions, meaning you can cast a sorcery-speed spell even if it is currently your opponent's turn.

Common Pitfalls

Players often wonder about mana costs and timing. If the exiled card has {X} in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value for X when casting the free copy. Additionally, while you ignore timing restrictions related to card types, you must still follow specific restrictions like 'Cast this spell only during combat.' If you have multiple cards named Arcane Savant, any one of them can copy any of the cards exiled by the group.

Strategic Value

Arcane Savant is best utilized with high-mana, high-impact spells that were too situational or expensive to include in your main 40-card deck. Since you cast the copy for free, you bypass the mana cost of the exiled card entirely. It also pairs exceptionally well with 'blink' effects or triggered ability doublers that allow you to reuse the powerful spell multiple times.

Interaction examples

Standard Play

If you drafted a high-cost sorcery but didn't put it in your deck, you exile it before the game starts. When you play Arcane Savant for five mana, you immediately get to cast that sorcery for free, effectively gaining a creature and a powerful spell simultaneously.

Doubling the Magic

Roaming Throne

With Roaming Throne on the battlefield naming 'Human' or 'Wizard,' Arcane Savant's enters-the-battlefield ability triggers an additional time. You can choose to copy the same exiled spell twice or choose two different spells you exiled before the game, casting both for free.

Mana Efficiency

Solemn Simulacrum

While Solemn Simulacrum doesn't interact with the Savant's ability directly, playing them together highlights a mana curve strategy. You can use the Simulacrum to ramp into your fifth land, ensuring you can cast Arcane Savant as early as possible to stabilize the board with your exiled spell.