Naktamun Lorespinner // Wheel of Fortune — ruling 1

Only the current controller of a prepared creature can cast the copy of its prepare spell in exile. It doesn't matter who owns that creature or who controlled it when it became prepared.

Naktamun Lorespinner // Wheel of Fortune — ruling 2

Creating a copy of a creature's prepare spell in exile ignores copy exceptions applied to that creature that would affect the copiable values of that spell. For example, say a player casts Croaking Counterpart (a sorcery that says "Create a token that's a copy of target non-Frog creature, except it's a 1/1 green Frog.") targeting Goblin Glasswright. The token copy of Goblin Glasswright will enter prepared as a 1/1 green Frog creature, but the copy of Craft with Pride in exile will still be a red sorcery. The copy of Craft with Pride won't be green, a creature, or a Frog, and it won't have power or toughness.

Naktamun Lorespinner // Wheel of Fortune — ruling 3

Being prepared isn't a copiable value. If a permanent becomes a copy of a prepared creature, it won't be prepared. That permanent will have the alternative characteristics, though, and some other effect could cause it to become prepared later.

Naktamun Lorespinner // Wheel of Fortune — ruling 4

While copies of spells in zones other than the stack cease to exist when state-based actions are checked, this does not apply to copies of prepare spells in exile that were created as a creature became prepared.

Naktamun Lorespinner // Wheel of Fortune — ruling 5

If a prepare spell with one or more targets has no legal targets when it tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. Since the spell was cast, the associated permanent will still not be prepared.

Naktamun Lorespinner // Wheel of Fortune — ruling 6

If a prepared creature loses all abilities, it won't stop being prepared, and nothing will happen to its alternative characteristics or to the copy of its prepare spell in exile.

Naktamun Lorespinner // Wheel of Fortune — ruling 7

Naktamun Lorespinner's ability checks at the moment it would trigger to see if there are any players with one or fewer cards in hand. If there aren't, the ability won't trigger at all. If it does trigger, the ability will check again as it tries to resolve. If there are no players with one or fewer cards in hand at that time, the ability won't resolve and none of its effects will happen.

Naktamun Lorespinner // Wheel of Fortune — ruling 8

A creature with a prepare spell can't become prepared more than once at the same time. For example, Emeritus of Ideation is on the battlefield and is prepared. When it attacks, its last ability triggers. When that ability resolves, its controller may still exile eight cards from their graveyard, but doing so won't cause Emeritus of Ideation to become prepared a second time or create a second copy of Ancestral Recall in exile.

Naktamun Lorespinner // Wheel of Fortune : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Naktamun Lorespinner // Wheel of Fortune 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

At the beginning of your upkeep, if a player has one or fewer cards in hand, this creature becomes prepared. (While it's prepared, you may cast a copy of its spell. Doing so unprepares it.) Each player discards their hand, then draws seven cards.

Complete guide

Naktamun Lorespinner is a Jackal Wizard that rewards you for playing out your hand quickly. By emptying your resources or leaving an opponent with a dry hand, you unlock the power of a classic Magic history lesson: Wheel of Fortune.

Understanding Prepare

Prepare is a new mechanic that allows certain creatures to hold a copy of a specific spell in exile. Naktamun Lorespinner becomes prepared at the beginning of your upkeep if any player has zero or one card in hand. When this happens, a copy of the sorcery Wheel of Fortune is created in exile. As long as the Lorespinner remains on the battlefield and prepared, you can cast that copy by paying its mana cost. Once you cast the spell, the Lorespinner becomes unprepared and loses the ability to cast it again until the trigger condition is met once more.

How it Resolves

The process begins at the start of your upkeep. The game checks the hand size of all players; if someone has one or fewer cards, the ability triggers. When the trigger resolves, the game checks again. If the condition is still met, the creature becomes prepared and the copy of Wheel of Fortune appears in exile. You may then cast this copy during any time you could normally cast a sorcery. Note that even if the creature later loses its abilities or stops being a creature, it remains prepared until the spell is cast or the permanent leaves the battlefield.

Common Mistakes

The most common mistake is assuming you can cast the copy at instant speed. Even though it is cast from exile via the prepare mechanic, you must still follow the timing restrictions of the spell's type—in this case, a sorcery. Additionally, if the Lorespinner is already prepared, the upkeep trigger won't give you a second copy of the spell. You can only hold one copy in exile at a time per creature. Finally, remember that the card in your hand is always a creature; you cannot cast the Wheel of Fortune side directly from your hand.

Strategic Timing

Because the trigger checks at the beginning of your upkeep, you often want to use your last few cards during the preceding opponent's end step. This ensures the ability triggers when your turn starts. Since Wheel of Fortune forces everyone to draw seven new cards, it is best utilized when you have an empty hand and your opponent has a full one, effectively resetting your resources while potentially discarding your opponent's key pieces.

Interaction examples

Doubling the Preparation

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne and chose 'Jackal' or 'Wizard' as it entered, the Lorespinner's upkeep ability triggers twice if a player has one or fewer cards. However, since a creature cannot be prepared more than once, the first trigger to resolve makes it prepared and creates a copy of Wheel of Fortune. The second trigger resolves but does nothing, as the creature is already prepared.

Emptying the Hand

Solemn Simulacrum

Suppose you have Naktamun Lorespinner and two cards in hand. During your turn, you cast Solemn Simulacrum to fetch a land. You now have one card left in hand. At the start of your next upkeep, the Lorespinner checks your hand size, sees you have only one card, and triggers to become prepared, allowing you to cast Wheel of Fortune to refill your hand to seven.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Naktamun Lorespinner // Wheel of Fortune

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
Only the current controller of a prepared creature can cast the copy of its prepare spell in exile. It doesn't matter who owns that creature or who controlled it when it became prepared.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
Creating a copy of a creature's prepare spell in exile ignores copy exceptions applied to that creature that would affect the copiable values of that spell. For example, say a player casts Croaking Counterpart (a sorcery that says "Create a token that's a copy of target non-Frog creature, except it's a 1/1 green Frog.") targeting Goblin Glasswright. The token copy of Goblin Glasswright will enter prepared as a 1/1 green Frog creature, but the copy of Craft with Pride in exile will still be a red sorcery. The copy of Craft with Pride won't be green, a creature, or a Frog, and it won't have power or toughness.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
Being prepared isn't a copiable value. If a permanent becomes a copy of a prepared creature, it won't be prepared. That permanent will have the alternative characteristics, though, and some other effect could cause it to become prepared later.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
While copies of spells in zones other than the stack cease to exist when state-based actions are checked, this does not apply to copies of prepare spells in exile that were created as a creature became prepared.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
If a prepare spell with one or more targets has no legal targets when it tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. Since the spell was cast, the associated permanent will still not be prepared.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
If a prepared creature loses all abilities, it won't stop being prepared, and nothing will happen to its alternative characteristics or to the copy of its prepare spell in exile.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
Naktamun Lorespinner's ability checks at the moment it would trigger to see if there are any players with one or fewer cards in hand. If there aren't, the ability won't trigger at all. If it does trigger, the ability will check again as it tries to resolve. If there are no players with one or fewer cards in hand at that time, the ability won't resolve and none of its effects will happen.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
A creature with a prepare spell can't become prepared more than once at the same time. For example, Emeritus of Ideation is on the battlefield and is prepared. When it attacks, its last ability triggers. When that ability resolves, its controller may still exile eight cards from their graveyard, but doing so won't cause Emeritus of Ideation to become prepared a second time or create a second copy of Ancestral Recall in exile.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#9March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
If a prepared creature stops being a creature, it will still be prepared, and the copy of its prepare spell will remain in exile. That permanent's controller will still be able to cast it. The same is true if a prepared creature becomes a copy of something else, even if it's then a permanent without a prepare spell.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#10March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
As an effect causes a creature with a prepare spell to become prepared (including effects that state that a creature "enters prepared"), that creature's controller creates a copy of that creature's prepare spell in exile. That copy remains in exile for as long as that permanent is on the battlefield and is prepared. That creature's controller may cast that copy as long as it remains in exile. As they cast it, that creature stops being prepared.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#11March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
Casting a copy of a prepare spell from exile isn't casting it for an alternative cost. Effects that allow you to cast a spell for an alternative cost or without paying its mana cost may allow you to apply those to a copy of a prepare spell cast from exile.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#12March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
A preparation card is a creature card in every zone. For example, while it's in your graveyard, Emeritus of Ideation is a blue creature whose mana value is 5. It can't be the target of Zealous Lorecaster's triggered ability ("When this creature enters, return target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand.").
No other card is named in this ruling.
#13March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect instructs you to choose a card name, you may choose the alternative prepare spell's name. Consider only the alternative characteristics to determine whether that is an appropriate name to choose.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#14March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
A creature without a prepare spell can't become prepared.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#15March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
Preparation cards can only be cast with their base characteristics.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#16March 20, 2026· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect causes a creature to become unprepared, a prepared creature stops being prepared and the associated copy of its prepare spell in exile ceases to exist. If it wasn't prepared at that time, nothing happens.
No other card is named in this ruling.