Heartwarming Redemption 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
Discard all the cards in your hand, then draw that many cards plus one. You gain life equal to the number of cards in your hand.
Complete guide
Heartwarming Redemption is a powerful Boros instant that allows you to cycle through your deck while simultaneously padding your life total. It serves as an excellent way to refresh a stale hand or trigger 'draw-second-card' abilities during an opponent's turn.
A Fresh Start
When you cast Heartwarming Redemption, you first discard every card currently in your hand. You then draw a number of cards equal to the number you discarded, plus one additional card for the 'redemption' effect. Finally, you look at your new hand size and gain that much life.
Resolution Breakdown
The resolution happens in one smooth sequence. First, discard your hand; if your hand is empty, you discard zero. Second, draw your cards; even if you discarded zero, you still draw one. Third, count your new hand and gain life. Note that no player can cast spells or activate abilities between you drawing the cards and gaining the life.
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake is forgetting that the life gain is based on the final hand size, not the amount discarded. If you have zero cards in hand when this resolves, you will draw one card and gain exactly one life. Additionally, if an effect prevents you from drawing cards, you still discard your hand but will not gain any life for the cards you didn't draw.
Strategic Timing
Because it is an instant, you can use Heartwarming Redemption in response to your own spells or an opponent's removal. It is particularly effective when you have several land cards or situational spells that are no longer useful in the current board state.
Interaction examples
Generous GiftYour opponent casts Generous Gift to destroy your best creature. With Generous Gift on the stack, you cast Heartwarming Redemption. You discard your current hand of three cards, draw four new cards, and gain 4 life. Then, Generous Gift resolves, giving you an Elephant token and a fresh hand to use it with.
Chaos WarpYou have zero cards in hand and your opponent casts Chaos Warp on your commander. You cast Heartwarming Redemption in response. Since your hand is empty, you discard zero, draw one card (0 + 1), and gain 1 life. You have now successfully cycled into a new card before your permanent is shuffled away.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Heartwarming Redemption
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If you have no cards in hand as Heartwarming Redemption resolves, you discard nothing then draw one card.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
The amount of life you gain is determined after you draw during Heartwarming Redemption’s resolution. No player may take actions between the time cards are drawn and the time you gain life.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Heartwarming Redemption
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