Gandalf's Sanction

{1}{U}{R}

Sorcery

LTRThe Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth#659uncommon
ShowcaseScrollSilver Foil

There was a crack, and the staff split asunder in Saruman's hand, and the head of it fell down at Gandalf's feet.

Border
black
Security stamp
triangle
Frame
2015
Pull rate
~1 in 40
Illustrator
Tatiana Veryayskaya
Found in
The Lord of the Rings Tales of Middle earth Special Edition Collector Booster Pack
Printings2
CommanderLegalModernLegalStandardNot legal
Format legality
AlchemyNot legal
BrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
Competitive BrawlLegal
DuelLegal
Future StandardNot legal
GladiatorLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
Old SchoolNot legal
PauperNot legal
Pauper CommanderNot legal
PennyNot legal
PioneerNot legal
PreDHNot legal
PremodernNot legal
StandardNot legal
Standard BrawlNot legal
TimelessLegal
Tiny LeadersLegal
VintageLegal
Gandalf's Sanction deals X damage to target creature, where X is the number of instant and sorcery cards in your graveyard. Excess damage is dealt to that creature's controller instead.

Plays as: Burn

Market · per finishspark updated 15h ago · prices as of 2026-07-12
Nonfoil+0.0%
$0.35
$0.16 low-$0.08 gap
Foil+0.0%
$0.39
$0.16 low$0.08 gap
Cheapest playable copy$0.20· across 2 printings

Rulings

4 · latest Jun 16, 2023 · one tap opens all
  • WotCJun 16, 2023

    Excess damage caused by a spell or ability is similar to how combat damage from a creature with trample is handled. Start with the amount of damage being dealt to the creature and determine what is "lethal." This is the creature's toughness minus the amount of damage that it already has marked on it, but ignoring any replacement or prevention effects that will modify this damage. Also ignore whether the creature has an ability such as indestructible that will result in it not being destroyed by this damage.

  • WotCJun 16, 2023

    Gandalf's Sanction is not yet in your graveyard when you determine the value of X.

  • WotCJun 16, 2023

    If the target creature is an illegal target by the time Gandalf's Sanction tries to resolve, the spell won't resolve. It won't deal damage to any player.

  • WotCJun 16, 2023

    Once you've determined how much damage is excess, Gandalf's Sanction simultaneously deals damage to the creature and to its controller. This damage may be modified by replacement or prevention effects.