Experimental OverloadHow it works & interactions with other cards

Token Generation and X

When Experimental Overload resolves, it checks the number of instant and sorcery cards currently in your graveyard to determine the value of X. It then creates a blue and red Weird creature token with power and toughness equal to X. Note that because Experimental Overload is still on the stack while it is resolving, it is not yet in the graveyard and does not count toward the value of X.

Recovering Resources

After the token is created, you have the option to return one instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand. This is a 'may' ability, meaning it is optional. Importantly, this occurs after the token's size has already been determined, so the card you return to your hand will still have counted toward the token's power and toughness during the previous step.

Final Resolution and Exile

The final step of the spell's resolution is to exile Experimental Overload. This happens regardless of whether you chose to return a card to your hand or not. Because the spell is exiled, it cannot be recovered by another copy of Experimental Overload or other effects that target spells in the graveyard.

Timing and Strategy

Since the Weird token's stats are locked in at the moment of resolution, its power and toughness will not change even if your graveyard size changes later. To maximize the value, play this after you have cast several low-cost spells or used discard effects to fill your graveyard with targets.

Interaction examples

Generating a Massive Threat

Windfall

If you cast Windfall earlier in the game, you likely discarded several spells into your graveyard. When you later cast Experimental Overload, it counts all those discarded instants and sorceries to create a massive Weird token. You can then use the second part of Experimental Overload to put Windfall back into your hand to repeat the process next turn.

Fueling the Overload

Jeska's Will

If you have Jeska's Will in your graveyard, Experimental Overload will count it when determining X for the token size. After the token is created, you can choose to return Jeska's Will to your hand. Even though Jeska's Will is no longer in the graveyard, the Weird token maintains its size based on the count taken during resolution.

Self-Exile Interaction

You cast Experimental Overload with three sorceries in your graveyard. It creates a 3/3 Weird token. You choose not to return any cards to your hand. Experimental Overload is then moved to the exile zone. It does not go to the graveyard, so you cannot use a second copy of the spell to retrieve the first one.