---
name: "Once Upon a Time"
mana_cost: "{1}{G}"
cmc: 2
type_line: "Instant"
colors: ["G"]
color_identity: ["G"]
keywords: []
set: "ELD"
set_name: "Throne of Eldraine"
collector_number: "169"
rarity: "rare"
artist: "Matt Stewart"
oracle_id: "d00ade82-caab-43c6-9756-6e9e6edfc519"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/once-upon-a-time-eld"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "banned"
  pioneer: "banned"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "not_legal"
---

# Once Upon a Time
- **Mana Cost:** `{1}{G}` (CMC: 2)
- **Type:** Instant

## Oracle Text
If this spell is the first spell you've cast this game, you may cast it without paying its mana cost.
Look at the top five cards of your library. You may reveal a creature or land card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Rashmi, Eternities Crafter](/printing/rashmi-eternities-crafter-kld.md) — Legendary Creature — Elf Druid
2. [Weftwalking](/printing/weftwalking-eoe.md) — Enchantment
3. [Temporal Aperture](/printing/temporal-aperture-usg.md) — Artifact
4. [Johann, Apprentice Sorcerer](/printing/johann-apprentice-sorcerer-woe.md) — Legendary Creature — Human Wizard Sorcerer
5. [Rashmi and Ragavan](/printing/rashmi-and-ragavan-moc.md) — Legendary Creature — Elf Monkey
6. [Descendants' Path](/printing/descendants-path-tle.md) — Enchantment

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Throne of Eldraine (ELD) #169
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Artist:** Matt Stewart
- **Total Printings:** 16 across all historical editions

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