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Gandalf, Spark Starter

uncommon Legendary Creature — Avatar Wizard

When Gandalf enters, he deals 3 damage divided as you choose among one, two, or three targets.

B+ Grade from the win rate

Win rate when drawn 59.5% +3.3 vs average 23,184 games

Win rates and picks

57.8% 53,434 games
Average pick ()
4.9

By deck

  • Goblin Army 59.9% 12,687 games
  • Dwarves & Equipment 58.9% 7,564 games
  • Burn and Draw 60.1% 1,133 games

Win rates from , 323,114 games. This card is compared with the set average (56.2%).

Reviews

Six mana is a lot for a Flametongue Kavu, but there's a reason why good ol' FTK is one of the best nonrare creatures in the history of Limited. The fact that Gandalf, Spark Starter will often be a but can sometimes kill multiple creatures or even send its damage directly to your opponent means that it's a valuable addition to any red deck.

Red's best commons (Pinecone Strike, Dori, Bearer of Friends, Gundabad Opportunist) and uncommons (Bothersome Noisemaker, Burn, Burn, Tree and Fern, Gandalf, Spark Starter, Misty Mountains Raider) fit into every single deck.

Gandalf, Spark Starter: Up to 3 damage to face with no combat.

How to draft it

Roles in each deck

  • Goblin Army Removal

    Dividing 3 damage among up to three targets often kills two small creatures, and a 4/3 with stays behind to block . He should be one of the two cards in the deck that cost 6 or more.

    How to play it

    Split the damage for the most kills, such as 1 each on Gollum, Riddle Master and two 1/1 , or put all 3 on one creature. With nothing worth hitting, the damage can go to the opponent to end the game. He is , so a second copy cast while the first lives is a 6-mana spell.

    Learn the Goblin Army deck

  • Dwarves & Equipment Removal

    Gandalf, Spark Starter splits 3 damage among one, two or three targets when it enters, enough for one mid-size creature or two or three small ones. Even in a deck that wants few , the 4/3 with earns its cost.

    How to play it

    Split the damage to kill the most creatures. and other 1-toughness creatures need only 1 each, and late in a race the opponent's face is a target too.

    Learn the Dwarves & Equipment deck

  • Burn and Draw Removal

    Against 1/1 , Human Soldier tokens and other X/1s, his enters damage is two or three kills, and the 4/3 with left behind blocks . Players are legal targets, so the last points can go to the opponent's face.

    How to play it

    You divide the 3 damage as the trigger goes on the , at least 1 per target. Count before you cast him: 3 to one creature, 2 and 1 for a 2-toughness and a 1-toughness creature, or 1, 1 and 1 against three X/1s. His wants two Mountains by turn 6.

    Learn the Burn and Draw deck

  • Beasts and Burn Removal

    Its 3 enters damage, split as you like, often kills two small creatures, and the 4/3 with left behind blocks . That is the reason to play its cost.

    How to play it

    Split it 2 and 1 to kill two small creatures, or put all 3 on one. A point you don't need can go at the opponent to finish a game. The keeps only one Gandalf on the battlefield, so a second copy is a 6-mana burn spell, still worth playing.

    Learn the Beasts and Burn deck