Urabrask // The Great Work — ruling 1

Urabrask’s second ability isn’t a mana ability, even though it causes you to add mana. It uses the stack and can be responded to.

Urabrask // The Great Work — ruling 2

Urabrask will count any instant or sorcery spells you’ve cast during the turn, whether those spells resolved, didn’t resolve, were countered, or left the stack some other way. Urabrask won’t count copies of instant and sorcery spells that were created on the stack and not cast.

Urabrask // The Great Work — ruling 3

After chapter III of The Great Work resolves, casting spells from graveyards follows the normal rules for casting those cards. You must pay their costs, and you must follow all applicable timing rules. For example, to cast a sorcery spell from a graveyard, you can do so by paying its mana cost only during your main phase while the stack is empty.

Urabrask // The Great Work — ruling 4

If multiple players are allowed to cast the same card, the player with priority at any given time determines who can cast it. The player whose turn it is has priority as each step and phase begins, and they receive priority after each spell and ability resolves. This means immediately after chapter III resolves you’ll have priority to cast spells before any other player does.

Urabrask // The Great Work : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Urabrask // The Great Work 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

First strike Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, Urabrask deals 1 damage to target opponent. Add . : Exile Urabrask, then return it to the battlefield transformed under its owner's control. Activate only as a sorcery and only if you've cast three or more instant and/or sorcery spells this turn. (As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter.) I — This Saga deals 3 damage to target opponent and each creature they control. II — Create three Treasure tokens. III — Until end of turn, you may cast instant and sorcery spells from any graveyard. If a spell cast this way would be put into a graveyard, exile it instead. Exile this Saga, then return it to the battlefield (front face up).

Complete guide

Urabrask is back in a devastating new form, ready to fuel your fires and turn the tide of battle with the Great Work. This legendary Phyrexian Praetor not only accelerates your mana and whittles down your opponents, but can transform into a Saga that provides a massive board clear, wealth, and recursive power. Understanding the timing of its transformations and spell-casting triggers is key to mastering this card.

Mastering the Mana and Damage

While Urabrask is on its front face, it acts as an engine for instant and sorcery decks. Every time you cast a qualifying spell, a triggered ability goes on the stack that deals 1 damage to an opponent and adds one red mana. Crucially, this is NOT a mana ability because it has a target (the opponent), meaning it uses the stack and can be responded to. You cannot use this mana to help pay for the spell that triggered it, as the trigger won't resolve until after the spell is already cast.

The Transformation Process

To flip Urabrask into The Great Work, you must pay one red mana and satisfy the condition of having cast three or more instant and/or sorcery spells in the current turn. This counts any such spell you cast, even if it was countered or didn't resolve. Because this is a sorcery-speed activation, you must do it during your main phase while the stack is empty. Once it transforms, it enters as a Saga, immediately triggering the Chapter I ability to deal damage to an opponent and their creatures.

Completing The Great Work

The final chapter of The Great Work allows you to cast instant and sorcery spells from any graveyard, not just your own. You must still pay the mana costs and follow timing restrictions (sorceries only during your main phase). Any spell cast this way is exiled instead of returning to a graveyard. After this chapter resolves, Urabrask returns to the battlefield front-face up, ready to begin the cycle again.

Interaction examples

Doubling the Praetor's Influence

Urabrask // The Great Work

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne with 'Phyrexian' chosen as the creature type, Urabrask's triggered ability triggers an additional time. Every instant or sorcery you cast will now deal 2 damage and add two red mana to your pool, significantly accelerating your ability to reach the three-spell requirement for transformation.

Generating Resources for the Finish

Urabrask // The Great Work

Treasure

After the Saga reaches Chapter II, you create three Treasure tokens. These are vital for the following turn's Chapter III effect. When Chapter III allows you to cast spells from any graveyard, you can sacrifice these Treasure tokens to produce the various colors of mana needed to cast your opponents' best spells.

Board Wipes and Artifact Interactions

Urabrask // The Great Work

Solemn Simulacrum

If your opponent controls a Solemn Simulacrum and you trigger Chapter I of The Great Work, the 3 damage will destroy the Simulacrum. Since the Chapter I ability targets the opponent and 'each creature they control,' it bypasses hexproof or shroud on the creatures themselves as long as the opponent is a legal target.

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

How it works : Urabrask // The Great Work

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Urabrask’s second ability isn’t a mana ability, even though it causes you to add mana. It uses the stack and can be responded to.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Urabrask will count any instant or sorcery spells you’ve cast during the turn, whether those spells resolved, didn’t resolve, were countered, or left the stack some other way. Urabrask won’t count copies of instant and sorcery spells that were created on the stack and not cast.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
After chapter III of The Great Work resolves, casting spells from graveyards follows the normal rules for casting those cards. You must pay their costs, and you must follow all applicable timing rules. For example, to cast a sorcery spell from a graveyard, you can do so by paying its mana cost only during your main phase while the stack is empty.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If multiple players are allowed to cast the same card, the player with priority at any given time determines who can cast it. The player whose turn it is has priority as each step and phase begins, and they receive priority after each spell and ability resolves. This means immediately after chapter III resolves you’ll have priority to cast spells before any other player does.
No other card is named in this ruling.