Arcanis, the Omnipotent AvatarHow it works & interactions with other cards

Unpacking the Ability

This ability requires two costs: a mana payment of X and returning a creature you control with mana value X to its owner's hand. It is important to note that X cannot be 0, so you cannot bounce tokens or zero-mana creatures to activate this. Once the cost is paid, you draw a random number of cards between 0 and the value of X you chose.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, you declare you are activating the ability and choose a value for X. Next, you pay X mana and return a creature with that exact mana value to your hand as a cost; this part cannot be responded to. Once the ability resolves, you determine the number of cards drawn by choosing a number at random from the range 0 to X. Finally, you draw that many cards.

Strategic Considerations

Because the number of cards drawn is random and includes the possibility of drawing 0 cards, this ability is best used to save your creatures from removal spells or to reuse many 'enters the battlefield' effects. Since X must match the creature's mana value, you cannot overpay mana to try and increase your chances of drawing more cards.

Interaction examples

Mana Efficiency with Sol Ring

Sol Ring

If you control a creature with a mana value of 2, you can tap Sol Ring to add two colorless mana. You use this mana to pay the X=2 cost for the Avatar's ability and return that creature to your hand. Upon resolution, you will draw either 0, 1, or 2 cards at random.

Color Fixing with Command Tower

Command Tower

Suppose you need to return a creature with a mana value of 1 to your hand to protect it. You can tap Command Tower to produce the one mana required for X. After returning the creature to your hand, you randomly draw either 0 or 1 card.