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Whir of Invention, art by Christine Choi
Art by Christine Choi · ™ & © Wizards of the Coast · image via Scryfall
Selected printing · USD
$5.40
checked Jun 14, 2026 · Scryfall
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Whir of Invention

{X}{U}{U}{U} · Instant

Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for {1}.) Search your library for an artifact card with mana value X or less, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.

Rulings (9)

Feb 9, 2017 · Because improvise isn't an alternative cost, it can be used in conjunction with alternative costs.

Feb 9, 2017 · If an artifact you control has a mana ability with {T} in the cost, activating that ability while casting a spell with improvise will result in the artifact being tapped when you pay the spell's costs. You won't be able to tap it again for improvise. Similarly, if you sacrifice an artifact to activate a mana ability while casting a spell with improvise, that artifact won't be on the battlefield when you pay the spell's costs, so you won't be able to tap it for improvise.

Feb 9, 2017 · Tapping an artifact won't cause its abilities to stop applying unless those abilities say so.

Feb 9, 2017 · Improvise can't be used to pay for anything other than the cost of casting the spell. For example, it can't be used during the resolution of an ability that says "Counter target spell unless its controller pays {3}."

Feb 9, 2017 · Improvise can't pay for {W}, {U}, {B}, {R}, {G}, or {C} mana symbols in a spell's total cost.

Feb 9, 2017 · When calculating a spell's total cost, include any alternative costs, additional costs, or anything else that increases or reduces the cost to cast the spell. Improvise applies after the total cost is calculated.

Feb 9, 2017 · Equipment attached to a creature doesn't become tapped when that creature becomes tapped, and tapping that Equipment doesn't cause the creature to become tapped.

Feb 9, 2017 · When using improvise to cast a spell with {X} in its mana cost, first choose the value for X. That choice, plus any cost increases or decreases, will determine the spell's total cost. Then you can tap artifacts you control to help pay that cost. For example, if you cast Whir of Invention (a spell with improvise and mana cost {X}{U}{U}{U}) and choose X to be 3, the total cost is {3}{U}{U}{U}. If you tap two artifacts, you'll have to pay {1}{U}{U}{U}.

Feb 9, 2017 · Improvise doesn't change a spell's mana cost or mana value.

LegacyLegal
VintageLegal
ModernLegal
PioneerLegal
StandardNot legal
PauperNot legal
PremodernNot legal
cEDHLegal

Where it’s played now

Inclusion by archetype

% of archetype's lists running it · last 30 days · n=74 decks
ArchetypeFormatInclusionCopiesDecks (n)
Mono Blue BelcherModern100%33
Colorless BelcherModern100%17
Iron Man, Titan of InnovationcEDH100%1
Niv-Mizzet, ParuncEDH100%1
Kinnan, Bonder ProdigycEDH71.4%14
LanternModern50%8
Data as of Jun 14, 2026 · MTGO + papercasthaven.com

Price

Whir of Invention — price trend

Daily cheapest printing · USD · last 90 days · n=2 snapshots
Data as of Jun 14, 2026 · Scryfallcasthaven.com

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