---
name: "Into the Flood Maw"
mana_cost: "{U}"
cmc: 1
type_line: "Instant"
colors: []
color_identity: ["U"]
keywords: ["Gift"]
set: "PW26"
set_name: "Wizards Play Network 2026"
collector_number: "8"
rarity: "uncommon"
artist: "Danny Schwartz"
oracle_id: "8cb36a67-9206-4665-a03f-64f52ba559c4"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/into-the-flood-maw-pw26"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "legal"
  modern: "legal"
  pioneer: "legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "not_legal"
---

# Into the Flood Maw
- **Mana Cost:** `{U}` (CMC: 1)
- **Type:** Instant
- **Keywords:** Gift

## Oracle Text
Gift a tapped Fish (You may promise an opponent a gift as you cast this spell. If you do, they create a tapped 1/1 blue Fish creature token before its other effects.)
Return target creature an opponent controls to its owner's hand. If the gift was promised, instead return target nonland permanent an opponent controls to its owner's hand.

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Parting Gust](/printing/parting-gust-blb.md) — Instant
2. [Long River's Pull](/printing/long-rivers-pull-blb.md) — Instant
3. [Mind Spiral](/printing/mind-spiral-blb.md) — Sorcery
4. [Sazacap's Brew](/printing/sazacaps-brew-blb.md) — Instant
5. [Dewdrop Cure](/printing/dewdrop-cure-blb.md) — Sorcery
6. [Consumed by Greed](/printing/consumed-by-greed-blb.md) — Instant

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Wizards Play Network 2026 (PW26) #8
- **Rarity:** Uncommon
- **Artist:** Danny Schwartz
- **Total Printings:** 2 across all historical editions

## Format Legalities
Commander: `legal` | Standard: `legal` | Modern: `legal` | Pioneer: `legal` | Legacy: `legal` | Vintage: `legal` | Pauper: `not_legal` | Penny: `not_legal`

## Official Rulings
- *(2024-07-26)* If a spell for which the gift was promised is countered, doesn’t resolve (perhaps because all of its targets are illegal), or is otherwise removed from the stack, the gift won’t be given. None of its other effects will happen either.
- *(2024-07-26)* As an additional cost to cast a spell with gift, you can promise the listed gift to an opponent. That opponent is chosen as part of that additional cost. The gift isn’t given at this time; rather, it’s given at a later time based on whether or not the spell is a permanent spell.
- *(2024-07-26)* In the main set, there are four different kinds of gifts. “Gift a Food” causes the chosen opponent to create a Food token, while “Gift a Treasure” causes the chosen opponent to create a Treasure token. “Gift a card” causes them to draw a card, and “Gift a tapped Fish” causes them to create a tapped 1/1 blue Fish creature token. The Commander decks contain two more kinds of gifts: “Gift an Octopus,” which causes the chosen opponent to create an 8/8 blue Octopus creature token, and “Gift an extra turn,” which causes them to take an extra turn after the current turn ends.
- *(2024-07-26)* Some instant or sorcery spells require alternative or additional targets if the gift was promised. You ignore these targeting requirements if the gifts aren’t promised for those spells. On the other hand, you can promise a gift for a permanent spell even if you won’t be able to choose targets for an enters ability of that permanent once the spell resolves.
- *(2024-07-26)* You can’t pay a gift cost more than once.
- *(2024-07-26)* For instants and sorceries with gift, the gift is given to the appropriate opponent as part of the resolution of the spell. This happens before any of the spell’s other effects would take place.