Midnight TillingHow it works & interactions with other cards

Digging and Recovering

When Midnight Tilling resolves, you move the top four cards of your library directly into your graveyard. This process, known as milling, is the first step. After those cards are in the graveyard, you check specifically those four cards to see if any are permanent cards. If they are, you have the option to return one of them to your hand.

Defining a Permanent Card

A permanent card is any card with the type artifact, creature, enchantment, land, or planeswalker. Note that you can only return a card that was put into the graveyard by the mill effect of this specific spell. You cannot use Midnight Tilling to return a card that was already in your graveyard before the spell started resolving.

Resolution Sequence

This spell does not target a card in your graveyard when you cast it. You make the choice of which card to return only after the four cards have been milled. If you mill four cards and none of them are permanents, or if you simply choose not to return one, the spell finishes resolving and is placed in your graveyard.

Interaction examples

Instant Speed Interaction

Beast Within

If an opponent casts Beast Within to destroy your best creature, you can respond by casting Midnight Tilling. If you mill a permanent card, you can return it to your hand immediately. Even if your creature is destroyed after Midnight Tilling resolves, you have successfully replenished your hand with a new threat from your library.

Protecting Your Board

Heroic Intervention

During your opponent's turn, you cast Midnight Tilling and mill a Heroic Intervention along with three lands. Because Heroic Intervention is an Instant, not a permanent card, you cannot return it to your hand with this spell. You choose to return one of the milled lands to ensure you can play your spells on your next turn.