Tooth and NailHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Tooth and Nail provides two distinct options: searching your library for up to two creature cards to put into your hand, or putting up to two creature cards from your hand onto the battlefield. By paying the Entwine cost of {2}, you do not have to choose. Instead, you perform both actions in the order they are printed on the card.

How It Resolves Step by Step

When you cast Tooth and Nail, you decide whether to pay the Entwine cost. If Entwined, the spell resolves by first allowing you to search your library for up to two creatures, revealing them, and putting them into your hand. Immediately after shuffling, the second effect kicks in, allowing you to put up to two creatures from your hand—including the ones you just searched for—directly onto the battlefield.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is forgetting that you must reveal the cards you search for, even if you intend to put them onto the battlefield immediately. Additionally, note that if you choose only the second mode without Entwine, you cannot search for cards; you can only use what is already in your hand. Also, remember that Entwine is an additional cost, meaning the mana value of the spell remains 7 regardless of whether you pay the extra {2}.

When to Play It

This card is best played when you have enough mana to pay the Entwine cost, typically totaling nine mana. It is a finisher designed to assemble two-card creature combos or to stabilize a losing board state by bringing out high-impact defensive creatures. Because it places cards directly onto the battlefield, it bypasses 'cast from hand' triggers but also ignores timing restrictions for creatures.

Interaction examples

The Entwine Sequence

You cast Tooth and Nail for nine mana. You search your library for two massive creatures, such as two Eldrazi, and put them into your hand. Then, because you paid the Entwine cost, you put those same two creatures onto the battlefield before your opponent can even take an action.

Interacting with Mana Value

Rishkar's Expertise

If you cast Rishkar's Expertise, its second ability allows you to cast a spell with mana value 5 or less for free. Since Tooth and Nail has a mana value of 7, you cannot use Rishkar's Expertise to cast it. However, if you cast Tooth and Nail normally and put a creature with high power into play, a subsequent Rishkar's Expertise would draw you many cards.

Surviving the Wipe

All Is Dust

If an opponent casts All Is Dust, your colored creatures are sacrificed. On your following turn, you can cast Tooth and Nail to search for and deploy two colorless Eldrazi creatures. These colorless creatures will remain on the battlefield if another All Is Dust is cast later, as they do not have any colors to sacrifice.