Gaze of Granite 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
Destroy each nonland permanent with mana value X or less.
Complete guide
Gaze of Granite is a powerful mass removal spell that allows Golgari mages to clear the board of pesky permanents. By funneling enough mana into the X cost, you can selectively destroy everything from low-cost tokens to high-end threats. It is a versatile tool for controlling the battlefield when the game state gets too crowded.
What It Does
Gaze of Granite is a sorcery that destroys each nonland permanent with a mana value of X or less. This includes creatures, enchantments, artifacts, and planeswalkers. Because it targets 'mana value' rather than just power or toughness, it is particularly effective against boards filled with diverse permanent types.
How It Resolves Step by Step
First, you choose a value for X as you cast the spell and pay the total mana cost of X plus two black and one green. Upon resolution, the game checks the mana value of every nonland permanent on the battlefield. Any nonland permanent whose mana value is less than or equal to the chosen X is destroyed simultaneously. Note that if a permanent has X in its own mana cost, that X is treated as 0 when calculating its mana value on the battlefield.
Common Mistakes
A common error involves creature tokens. The mana value of a token is 0 unless it is a copy of another permanent. This means casting Gaze of Granite where X equals 0 will destroy all standard tokens, such as Soldiers or Goblins, along with any 0-cost artifacts. Another mistake is trying to destroy lands; Gaze of Granite specifically states 'nonland,' so lands are always safe regardless of the value of X.
When to Play It
This spell is best utilized in the mid-to-late game when you have accumulated enough mana to wipe out your opponent's specific threats while potentially leaving your own high-cost permanents intact. It is an excellent response to 'go-wide' strategies or decks that rely on many low-cost utility nonland permanents.
Interaction examples
FarseekYou cast Farseek on turn two to put a Swamp onto the battlefield tapped. This ramp allows you to reach a higher X value for Gaze of Granite sooner, ensuring you can destroy more expensive permanents before they become overwhelming.
CultivateAfter casting Cultivate to ensure you have plenty of lands, you cast Gaze of Granite with X=3. This will destroy all nonland permanents with mana values of 0, 1, 2, and 3. Any lands you searched for with Cultivate remain on the battlefield because the spell only affects nonland permanents.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Gaze of Granite
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If a permanent has
in its mana cost, the value of that X is 0.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
The mana value of a creature token is 0 unless that token is a copy of another creature, in which case it copies that creature's mana cost.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Gaze of Granite
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.