Experimental Frenzy — ruling 1

Experimental Frenzy lets you look at the top card of your library whenever you want (with one restriction—see below), even if you don’t have priority. This action doesn’t use the stack. Knowing what that card is becomes part of the information you have access to, just like you can look at the cards in your hand.

Experimental Frenzy — ruling 2

If the top card of your library changes while you’re casting a spell, playing a land, or activating an ability, you can’t look at the new top card until you finish doing so. This means that if you cast the top card of your library, you can’t look at the next one until you’re done paying for that spell.

Experimental Frenzy — ruling 3

You must follow the normal timing permissions and restrictions of the cards you play from your library.

Experimental Frenzy — ruling 4

You can play a land card on top of your library only if you have available land plays remaining.

Experimental Frenzy — ruling 5

You’ll still pay all costs for a spell you cast from your library, including additional costs. You may also pay alternative costs.

Experimental Frenzy — ruling 6

You can’t cast spells or play lands from your hand, but you may take other actions with those cards (such as discarding them to activate their cycling or bloodrush abilities).

Experimental Frenzy : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Experimental Frenzy is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

You may look at the top card of your library any time. You may play lands and cast spells from the top of your library. You can't play lands or cast spells from your hand. : Destroy this enchantment.

Complete guide

Experimental Frenzy is a high-risk, high-reward enchantment that turns your library into your second hand while locking away your actual hand. It allows red mages to chain together a flurry of spells as long as they have the mana and the luck of the draw. This card is a powerhouse for aggressive decks looking to out-resource their opponents in the late game.

What Experimental Frenzy Does

Experimental Frenzy allows you to look at the top card of your library at any time without using the stack. While it is on the battlefield, you can play lands and cast spells directly from the top of your library. However, there is a significant drawback: you are strictly prohibited from playing lands or casting spells that are currently in your hand.

Resolution and Timing

When you cast a spell from the top of your library, you follow all normal timing rules and must pay all associated costs. A key technical detail is that if the top card changes during the process of casting a spell (such as moving the spell to the stack), you cannot look at the new top card until you have finished paying for and casting the current spell. If you run into a card you cannot use or need your hand back, you can pay {3}{R} to destroy Experimental Frenzy.

Common Mistakes

Many players forget that Experimental Frenzy only stops you from 'playing' or 'casting' from your hand. You can still activate abilities of cards in your hand, such as Cycling or Channel. Additionally, if an effect tells you to 'put' a card from your hand onto the battlefield, this is allowed because you aren't 'playing' it. Lastly, remember that playing a land from your library still counts as your one land play per turn.

When to Play It

This card is best played when your hand is nearly empty or contains cards you can't currently use. Since it lets you dig through your deck, it is excellent for finding specific answers or finishing off an opponent. It pairs exceptionally well with ways to shuffle or clear the top of the library if you get stuck on a land you cannot play.

Interaction examples

Chaining Enchantments

Shared Animosity

Step 1: You have Experimental Frenzy on the battlefield and Shared Animosity on top of your library. Step 2: During your main phase, you cast Shared Animosity from the top of your library by paying its mana cost. Step 3: Once Shared Animosity is on the stack, you reveal the next card of your library. If it is a land and you haven't played one yet, you can play it immediately.

Finishing the Game

Aggravated Assault

Step 1: With Experimental Frenzy active, you cast Aggravated Assault from the top of your library. Step 2: Since you cannot cast spells from your hand, you rely on the top of your library to find more creatures. Step 3: If you hit a 'dead' card like a second land you cannot play, you can use your mana to activate Aggravated Assault's ability to get extra combats, or choose to pay {3}{R} to destroy Experimental Frenzy and cast the cards currently stuck in your hand.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Experimental Frenzy

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1October 5, 2018· Wizards of the Coast
Experimental Frenzy lets you look at the top card of your library whenever you want (with one restriction—see below), even if you don’t have priority. This action doesn’t use the stack. Knowing what that card is becomes part of the information you have access to, just like you can look at the cards in your hand.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2October 5, 2018· Wizards of the Coast
If the top card of your library changes while you’re casting a spell, playing a land, or activating an ability, you can’t look at the new top card until you finish doing so. This means that if you cast the top card of your library, you can’t look at the next one until you’re done paying for that spell.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3October 5, 2018· Wizards of the Coast
You must follow the normal timing permissions and restrictions of the cards you play from your library.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4October 5, 2018· Wizards of the Coast
You can play a land card on top of your library only if you have available land plays remaining.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5October 5, 2018· Wizards of the Coast
You’ll still pay all costs for a spell you cast from your library, including additional costs. You may also pay alternative costs.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6October 5, 2018· Wizards of the Coast
You can’t cast spells or play lands from your hand, but you may take other actions with those cards (such as discarding them to activate their cycling or bloodrush abilities).
No other card is named in this ruling.