Memory Deluge — ruling 1

"Flashback [cost]" means "You may cast this card from your graveyard if the resulting spell is an instant or sorcery spell by paying [cost] rather than paying its mana cost" and "If the flashback cost was paid, exile this card instead of putting it anywhere else any time it would leave the stack."

Memory Deluge — ruling 2

To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost (such as a flashback cost) you're paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell is determined only by its mana cost, no matter what the total cost to cast the spell was.

Memory Deluge — ruling 3

You must still follow any timing restrictions and permissions, including those based on the card's type. For instance, you can cast a sorcery using flashback only when you could normally cast a sorcery.

Memory Deluge — ruling 4

A spell cast using flashback will always be exiled afterward, whether it resolves, is countered, or leaves the stack in some other way.

Memory Deluge — ruling 5

If a card with flashback is put into your graveyard during your turn, you can cast it if it's legal to do so before any other player can take any actions.

Memory Deluge — ruling 6

You can cast a spell using flashback even if it was somehow put into your graveyard without having been cast.

Memory Deluge — ruling 7

If an effect allows you to cast Memory Deluge without paying its mana cost, X will be 0. Memory Deluge will resolve, but you won't do anything.

Memory Deluge — ruling 8

Memory Deluge cares about the mana you actually paid to cast it, not its mana cost. If you cast Memory Deluge for {2}{U}{U}, you will look at four cards. If you cast it with flashback for {5}{U}{U}, you will look at seven cards. Any effects that increase or decrease the cost to cast it will also be taken into account.

Memory Deluge : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Memory Deluge 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

Look at the top X cards of your library, where X is the amount of mana spent to cast this spell. Put two of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order. Flashback (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)

How it works : Memory Deluge

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1June 6, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
"Flashback [cost]" means "You may cast this card from your graveyard if the resulting spell is an instant or sorcery spell by paying [cost] rather than paying its mana cost" and "If the flashback cost was paid, exile this card instead of putting it anywhere else any time it would leave the stack."
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2June 6, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost (such as a flashback cost) you're paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell is determined only by its mana cost, no matter what the total cost to cast the spell was.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3June 6, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
You must still follow any timing restrictions and permissions, including those based on the card's type. For instance, you can cast a sorcery using flashback only when you could normally cast a sorcery.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4June 6, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
A spell cast using flashback will always be exiled afterward, whether it resolves, is countered, or leaves the stack in some other way.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5June 6, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
If a card with flashback is put into your graveyard during your turn, you can cast it if it's legal to do so before any other player can take any actions.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6June 6, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
You can cast a spell using flashback even if it was somehow put into your graveyard without having been cast.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7September 24, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect allows you to cast Memory Deluge without paying its mana cost, X will be 0. Memory Deluge will resolve, but you won't do anything.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8September 24, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
Memory Deluge cares about the mana you actually paid to cast it, not its mana cost. If you cast Memory Deluge for , you will look at four cards. If you cast it with flashback for , you will look at seven cards. Any effects that increase or decrease the cost to cast it will also be taken into account.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#9September 24, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
If Memory Deluge is copied, no mana was spent to cast the copy, so X will be 0. The amount of mana spent to cast the original spell is not copied. You won't look at any cards from your library as Memory Deluge resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#10September 24, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect requires you to pay some amount of mana to prevent Memory Deluge from being countered, as Flip the Switch does, that mana wasn't spent to cast Memory Deluge and will not be taken into account.
No other card is named in this ruling.