Throes of Chaos 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
Cascade (When you cast this spell, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card that costs less. You may cast it without paying its mana cost. Put the exiled cards on the bottom in a random order.) Retrace (You may cast this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying its other costs.)
Complete guide
Throes of Chaos is a fascinating sorcery that embodies the unpredictable nature of Red mana. While it doesn't have an effect upon resolution, its power lies in the Cascade and Retrace keywords, turning every extra land in your hand into a random spell from your deck. This card is a powerhouse for players who want to ensure they never run out of gas during a long game.
What It Does
Throes of Chaos has two key keywords: Cascade and Retrace. Cascade triggers when you cast the spell, allowing you to flip through your library for a cheaper nonland card to cast for free. Retrace allows you to cast Throes of Chaos from your graveyard by paying its mana cost and discarding a land card. Because Throes of Chaos itself has no effect when it resolves, it simply goes back to the graveyard, ready to be Retraced again as long as you have lands to discard.
How It Resolves Step by Step
First, you cast Throes of Chaos from your hand or graveyard. This puts the spell on the stack and triggers the Cascade ability. Cascade resolves first, exiling cards from the top of your library until you find a nonland card with a mana value of 3 or less. You choose whether to cast that card for free; if you do, that new spell goes on the stack above Throes of Chaos. The new spell resolves, then finally, Throes of Chaos resolves and is placed into your graveyard.
Common Mistakes
A common point of confusion is what happens to the mana value. The Cascade ability checks the mana value of the card in your library (which must be 3 or less) and, due to a 2021 rules change, the specific spell you choose to cast must also have a mana value less than 4. Additionally, remember that Cascade is not optional—you must exile the cards, though you can choose not to cast the final spell discovered. Finally, since Throes of Chaos does nothing on resolution, it doesn't matter if it is countered; the Cascade trigger still happens!
When to Play It
Throes of Chaos is best played in decks that have a high density of impactful 1, 2, or 3-mana spells. Since you can cast it repeatedly using Retrace, it is an excellent way to use late-game land draws to dig for answers or threats. It is especially potent in formats where you can build your deck to 'hit' specific cards every time you Cascade.
Interaction examples
Mana GeyserYou cast Throes of Chaos. The Cascade trigger activates and you exile cards until you hit Mana Geyser (mana value 5). However, Mana Geyser's mana value is not less than Throes of Chaos (mana value 4), so you keep exiling. If you eventually hit a spell with mana value 3 or less, you cast it. If Mana Geyser was in your hand instead, you could use the mana it generates to cast Throes of Chaos multiple times using Retrace.
Jeska's WillWhen you cast Throes of Chaos, you Cascade. You exile cards and reveal Jeska's Will, which has a mana value of 3. Since 3 is less than 4, you may cast Jeska's Will without paying its mana cost. Jeska's Will goes on the stack above Throes of Chaos. Once Jeska's Will resolves (giving you mana or cards), Throes of Chaos finishes resolving and returns to the graveyard.
With Throes of Chaos in your graveyard and a Mountain in your hand, you pay {3}{R} and discard the Mountain to cast Throes of Chaos via Retrace. Cascade triggers, giving you a free spell. After everything resolves, Throes of Chaos returns to your graveyard. If you have another land in hand, you can repeat this process immediately.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Throes of Chaos
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
A spell's mana value is determined only by its mana cost. Ignore any alternative costs, additional costs, cost increases, or cost reductions.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If the card has
in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
You exile the cards face up. All players will be able to see them.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If a spell with cascade is countered, the cascade ability will still resolve normally.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
The mana value of a split card is determined by the combined mana cost of its two halves. If cascade allows you to cast a split card, you may cast either half but not both halves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
When the cascade ability resolves, you must exile cards. The only optional part of the ability is whether or not you cast the last card exiled.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
Due to a 2021 rules change to cascade, not only do you stop exiling cards if you exile a nonland card with lesser mana value than the spell with cascade, but the resulting spell you cast must also have lesser mana value. Previously, in cases where a card's mana value differed from the resulting spell, such as with some modal double-faced cards or cards with an Adventure, you could cast a spell with a higher mana value than the exiled card.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
If you cast a card "without paying its mana cost," you can't choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those to cast the card.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #9· Wizards of the Coast
Cascade triggers when you cast the spell, meaning that it resolves before that spell. If you end up casting the exiled card, it will go on the stack above the spell with cascade.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #10· Wizards of the Coast
When a spell you cast with retrace resolves or is countered, it's put back into your graveyard. You may use the retrace ability to cast it again.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #11· Wizards of the Coast
Throes of Chaos does nothing as it resolves. All of its chaos happens before it resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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