When you draw your first card for the turn (usually in your draw step), you can reveal it as you draw it if it has the Miracle ability. When you do that, the ability triggers and goes on the stack as soon as you’re done with the action that let you draw the card. So under normal circumstances, you will be in the middle of your draw step when you get the chance to cast a Miracle card. This means you will have to use the resources you already have available to pay the Miracle cost, since you can’t play a land during your draw step or while the stack isn’t empty.

For example, if you’re on the draw, and on your first turn you draw Thunderous Wrath, you’ll be a sad panda. You can reveal the card if you want, but since you’re still in your draw step when the Miracle ability resolves, and you haven’t yet had a chance to play a land, you won’t be able to pay the Miracle cost of R… so the card will just stay in your hand. Sure, you’ll get to play a mountain once you get to your main phase, but now Thunderous Wrath costs 4RR, so it will be a while before you get to cast it.

Another example: If you draw Reforge the Soul, you’ll have to decide whether you want to cast it for 1R right away. Even though it’s a sorcery and you’re not normally able to cast those outside of your main phase, you get to ignore those pesky timing restrictions while Miracle is resolving. However, you can’t move to your main phase, cast that last creature in your hand, then pay 1R to cast Reforge the Soul. Once you pass up your chance to pay the Miracle cost as the Miracle ability is resolving, you never get that opportunity again… Reforge the Soul will cost you 3RR if you wait until your main phase to cast it.

Today’s Rules Tip written by
Josh Stansfield, Level 2 judge from Orange, CA