The Maelstrom — ruling 1

A plane card is treated as if its text box included "When you roll {PW}, put this card on the bottom of its owner's planar deck face down, then move the top card of your planar deck off that planar deck and turn it face up." This is called the "planeswalking ability."

The Maelstrom — ruling 2

A face-up plane card that's turned face down becomes a new object with no relation to its previous existence. In particular, it loses all counters it may have had.

The Maelstrom — ruling 3

The controller of a face-up plane card is the player designated as the "planar controller." Normally, the planar controller is whoever the active player is. However, if the current planar controller would leave the game, instead the next player in turn order that wouldn't leave the game becomes the planar controller, then the old planar controller leaves the game. The new planar controller retains that designation until they leave the game or a different player becomes the active player, whichever comes first.

The Maelstrom — ruling 4

If an ability of a plane refers to "you," it's referring to whoever the plane's controller is at the time, not to the player that started the game with that plane card in their deck. Many abilities of plane cards affect all players, while many others affect only the planar controller, so read each ability carefully.

The Maelstrom — ruling 5

A permanent card is an artifact, creature, enchantment, land, or planeswalker card.

The Maelstrom — ruling 6

As The Maelstrom's first ability resolves, you choose whether or not to reveal the top card of your library. If you reveal it and it's a permanent card, you have two choices: Put it onto the battlefield, or put it on the bottom of your library. It can't remain on top of your library. On the other hand, if you reveal it and it's an instant or sorcery card, it must be put on the bottom of your library. There is no way you can leave a card revealed this way on top of your library.

The Maelstrom — ruling 7

If you reveal a permanent card that can't enter (because it's an Aura and there's nothing it can enchant, for example), then you must put it on the bottom of your library.

The Maelstrom : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

The Maelstrom 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

When you planeswalk to The Maelstrom and at the beginning of your upkeep, you may reveal the top card of your library. If a permanent card is revealed this way, you may put it onto the battlefield. If you revealed a card but didn't put it onto the battlefield, put it on the bottom of your library. Whenever chaos ensues, return target permanent card from your graveyard to the battlefield.

Complete guide

The Maelstrom is a legendary Plane card from Alara that represents the chaotic center of the shards, where wild mana flows unchecked. It offers players the chance to cheat massive permanents into play for free or resurrect fallen allies whenever the chaos die rolls in their favor. Mastering this plane requires understanding how to manage your library and graveyard to maximize these powerful triggered abilities.

Harnessing the Maelstrom

The Maelstrom has two distinct triggered abilities. The first occurs when you planeswalk to it or at the start of your upkeep. You have the option to reveal the top card of your library; if it is a permanent card (Artifact, Creature, Enchantment, Land, or Planeswalker), you can put it directly onto the battlefield. The second ability is tied to the chaos symbol on the planar die. When chaos ensues, you target a permanent card in your graveyard and return it to the battlefield immediately.

Step-by-Step Resolution

For the upkeep trigger, first decide if you want to reveal a card. If you do and it is a permanent, you choose to either put it onto the battlefield or on the bottom of your library. If it is an instant or sorcery, it must go to the bottom. For the chaos trigger, you must choose a target permanent card in your graveyard when the ability is put onto the stack. If the target is legal when the ability resolves, it enters the battlefield under your control.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is thinking you can leave a revealed card on top of your library. According to official rulings, if you reveal a card, it must either enter the battlefield (if it's a permanent) or go to the bottom of your library; it cannot stay on top. Additionally, remember that 'you' refers to the current planar controller. In a multiplayer game, the player whose turn it is controls the plane and its triggers.

When to Play for Chaos

You should prioritize rolling the planar die at The Maelstrom when you have high-impact permanents in your graveyard or when your library is stacked with expensive spells. Since the upkeep trigger is free, this plane provides incredible value for decks running high densities of permanents, allowing you to bypass mana costs entirely.

Interaction examples

Accelerating Mana

Sol Ring

During your upkeep at The Maelstrom, you reveal the top card of your library and see a Sol Ring. Since Sol Ring is an artifact (a permanent type), you choose to put it onto the battlefield. You now have extra mana available for your main phase without having spent any mana to cast the ring.

Recovering Resources

Command Tower

You roll the planar die and land on the chaos symbol. The Maelstrom's second ability triggers. You target a Command Tower that was destroyed earlier in the game and is currently in your graveyard. The land is returned directly to the battlefield.

Interacting with Battles

Invasion of Alara // Awaken the Maelstrom

You planeswalk to The Maelstrom and reveal the top card of your library, which is Invasion of Alara. Because it is a Battle (a permanent card), you put it onto the battlefield. The 'enters the battlefield' ability of Invasion of Alara then triggers, allowing you to exile cards and cast a spell for free, effectively doubling up on the 'free stuff' theme of the Maelstrom.

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

How it works : The Maelstrom

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1October 1, 2009· Wizards of the Coast
A plane card is treated as if its text box included "When you roll , put this card on the bottom of its owner's planar deck face down, then move the top card of your planar deck off that planar deck and turn it face up." This is called the "planeswalking ability."
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2October 1, 2009· Wizards of the Coast
A face-up plane card that's turned face down becomes a new object with no relation to its previous existence. In particular, it loses all counters it may have had.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3October 1, 2009· Wizards of the Coast
The controller of a face-up plane card is the player designated as the "planar controller." Normally, the planar controller is whoever the active player is. However, if the current planar controller would leave the game, instead the next player in turn order that wouldn't leave the game becomes the planar controller, then the old planar controller leaves the game. The new planar controller retains that designation until they leave the game or a different player becomes the active player, whichever comes first.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4October 1, 2009· Wizards of the Coast
If an ability of a plane refers to "you," it's referring to whoever the plane's controller is at the time, not to the player that started the game with that plane card in their deck. Many abilities of plane cards affect all players, while many others affect only the planar controller, so read each ability carefully.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5October 1, 2009· Wizards of the Coast
A permanent card is an artifact, creature, enchantment, land, or planeswalker card.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6October 1, 2009· Wizards of the Coast
As The Maelstrom's first ability resolves, you choose whether or not to reveal the top card of your library. If you reveal it and it's a permanent card, you have two choices: Put it onto the battlefield, or put it on the bottom of your library. It can't remain on top of your library. On the other hand, if you reveal it and it's an instant or sorcery card, it must be put on the bottom of your library. There is no way you can leave a card revealed this way on top of your library.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7October 1, 2009· Wizards of the Coast
If you reveal a permanent card that can't enter (because it's an Aura and there's nothing it can enchant, for example), then you must put it on the bottom of your library.
No other card is named in this ruling.

Interactions with other cards

These cards' text mentions The Maelstrom.

Invasion of Alara // Awaken the Maelstrom

When this Siege enters, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile two nonland cards with mana value 4 or less. You may cast one of those two cards without paying its mana cost. Put one of them into your hand. Then put the other cards exiled this way on the bottom of your library in a random order. Awaken the Maelstrom is all colors. Target player draws two cards. You may put an artifact card from your hand onto the battlefield. Create a token that's a copy of a permanent you control. Distribute three +1/+1 counters among one, two, or three creatures you control. Destroy target permanent an opponent controls.

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The MaelstromHow it works & interactions with other cards