Wheel of Misfortune — ruling 1

For each player to secretly choose a number, that player should write down their chosen number without showing it to anyone else. Each player then keeps their number secret until all players simultaneously reveal their numbers.

Wheel of Misfortune — ruling 2

The number of players choosing the highest number doesn't change how much damage is dealt. For example, if the four players in your game reveal 4, 7, 7, and 7, Wheel of Misfortune will deal 7 damage to each of the last three players and those three players will discard their hand and draw seven cards.

Wheel of Misfortune : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Wheel of Misfortune 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

Each player secretly chooses a number 0 or greater, then all players reveal those numbers simultaneously and determine the highest and lowest numbers revealed this way. Wheel of Misfortune deals damage equal to the highest number to each player who chose that number. Each player who didn't choose the lowest number discards their hand, then draws seven cards.

Complete guide

Wheel of Misfortune is a high-stakes red sorcery that turns the classic Wheel of Fortune effect into a psychological guessing game. It challenges every player at the table to bid life for the chance to refresh their hand, leading to tense moments and unexpected outcomes. Understanding how to bid safely while ensuring you get your cards is the key to mastering this chaotic spell.

The Mechanics of Choice

When Wheel of Misfortune resolves, every player secretly chooses a non-negative integer (0 or greater). The most common way to do this is by writing the number on a piece of paper or using a hidden die. Once everyone has decided, the numbers are revealed simultaneously. The game then identifies the highest number(s) and the lowest number(s) among those revealed to determine the consequences.

Damage and Discarding

The resolution happens in two main parts. First, the spell deals damage equal to the highest number revealed to every player who chose that specific number. Second, every player who did NOT choose the lowest number discards their hand and draws seven cards. Note that if you chose the highest number, you will take damage but still get to draw your cards, provided that highest number wasn't also the lowest number (which can only happen if everyone chose the same value).

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is forgetting that the lowest bidder gets nothing—they keep their current hand and take no damage. If you choose 0 and someone else chooses a higher number, you will not discard or draw. Additionally, if multiple players tie for the highest number, they all take the full amount of damage; the damage is not split among them. The spell does not target players, so effects like Hexproof do not prevent a player from participating or taking damage.

Strategic Timing

This card is best played when you are low on resources and have a high life total to gamble with. Because you need to avoid being the lowest bidder to get your new hand, you must predict what your opponents are willing to pay. In a multiplayer game, bidding '1' is often a safe way to get a new hand if you believe at least one opponent will bid '0' to stay safe.

Interaction examples

The Three-Way Gamble

Wheel of Fortune

Player A casts Wheel of Misfortune. Player A chooses 5, Player B chooses 5, and Player C chooses 0. 5 is the highest number and 0 is the lowest. Players A and B each take 5 damage. Since Player A and Player B did not choose the lowest number, they both discard their hands and draw seven cards. Player C chose the lowest number, so they keep their hand and draw nothing, effectively missing out on the Wheel of Fortune effect.

Feeding the Will

Jeska's Will

You cast Jeska's Will to add red mana based on an opponent's large hand, then use that mana to cast Wheel of Misfortune. If you bid high enough to not be the lowest, you discard your empty hand and draw seven new cards. This combination allows you to turn an opponent's resources into your own mana and then replace your exhausted hand immediately.

The Unanimous Decision

In a strange turn of events, all four players choose the number 10. In this case, 10 is both the highest and the lowest number revealed. Because every player chose the highest number, everyone takes 10 damage. However, because everyone also chose the lowest number, no one gets to discard and draw. The 'Misfortune' is shared by all, and the board state remains the same but with lower life totals.

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

How it works : Wheel of Misfortune

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1November 10, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
For each player to secretly choose a number, that player should write down their chosen number without showing it to anyone else. Each player then keeps their number secret until all players simultaneously reveal their numbers.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2November 10, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
The number of players choosing the highest number doesn't change how much damage is dealt. For example, if the four players in your game reveal 4, 7, 7, and 7, Wheel of Misfortune will deal 7 damage to each of the last three players and those three players will discard their hand and draw seven cards.
No other card is named in this ruling.