Zoyowa's Justice 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
The owner of target artifact or creature with mana value 1 or greater shuffles it into their library. Then that player discovers X, where X is its mana value. (They exile cards from the top of their library until they exile a nonland card with that mana value or less. They cast it without paying its mana cost or put it into their hand. They put the rest on the bottom in a random order.)
Complete guide
Zoyowa's Justice is a chaotic red instant that offers a unique twist on removal and transformation. It forces the owner of a permanent to trade it for a random card from their deck, provided that card is cheaper or equal in cost to the original. This card is perfect for disrupting opponents or resetting your own resources for a new threat.
What It Does
Zoyowa's Justice targets an artifact or creature with a mana value of 1 or greater. Its owner shuffles it back into their library, and then they immediately 'discover X,' where X is the mana value of the card that was tucked away. This means they will flip cards from the top of their library until they hit a nonland card with a mana value less than or equal to the shuffled permanent.
How It Resolves Step by Step
First, the target is chosen as the spell is cast. Upon resolution, the owner shuffles the target into their library. Next, the game checks the mana value that permanent had on the battlefield. The player then exiles cards from the top of their library face up. Once a nonland card with a mana value of X or less is found, the player chooses to either cast it for free or put it into their hand. Finally, all other exiled cards are placed on the bottom of the library in a random order.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is trying to target tokens with no mana value or permanents with a mana value of 0, like an Ornithopter; Zoyowa's Justice specifically requires a mana value of 1 or greater. Additionally, players often forget that the 'Discover' mechanic is mandatory for exiling cards, though casting the final card is optional. If the discovered card has X in its mana cost, that X must be 0 if cast for free.
When to Play It
This spell is most effective when used on an opponent's high-cost threat to force them into a potentially weaker, low-cost replacement. Alternatively, you can use it on your own creature that is being targeted by an opponent's removal spell, allowing you to 'save' the value of the card by discovering something new into play.
Interaction examples
Chaos WarpWhile similar to Chaos Warp, Zoyowa's Justice provides more predictability. If you target a creature with mana value 3, you are guaranteed to hit a nonland card with mana value 3 or less. Chaos Warp, by contrast, could reveal a land or a high-cost card that doesn't enter the battlefield at all.
Deflecting SwatIf you cast Zoyowa's Justice targeting an opponent's creature, they may respond with Deflecting Swat to change the target to one of your own creatures. If they do, you will be the one shuffling your creature away and performing the Discover action, as you are the owner of the new target.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Zoyowa's Justice
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If the target artifact or creature has X in its mana cost, that X is 0 when determining its mana value.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· 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.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
When you discover, you must exile cards. The only optional part of the ability is whether you cast the exiled card or put it into your hand.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· 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.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
If you cast a spell "without paying its mana cost", you can't choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the spell has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those to cast it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If the discovered 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.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
If you can't cast the discovered card (perhaps because there are no legal targets for the spell), you'll put it into your hand.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
Some spells and abilities that cause you to discover may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve and you won't discover.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #9· Wizards of the Coast
The mana value of a split card is determined by the combined mana cost of its two halves. If discover allows you to cast a split card, you may cast either half (as long as its mana value is less than or equal to the effect's discover value) but not both halves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #10· Wizards of the Coast
If you discover an adventurer card, split card, or modal double-faced card, you might be able to cast that card with either set of characteristics depending on the effect's discover value. For example, if you discover 4 and reveal Galvanic Giant (an adventurer card from Wilds of Eldraine with a mana value of 4), you could cast Galvanic Giant, but not Storm Reading (its Adventure, which has a mana value of 7). If you discover 7 and reveal Galvanic Giant, you could cast either Galvanic Giant or Storm Reading.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Zoyowa's Justice
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