---
name: "Welcome to the Fold"
mana_cost: "{2}{U}{U}"
cmc: 4
type_line: "Sorcery"
colors: []
color_identity: ["U"]
keywords: ["Madness"]
set: "PSOI"
set_name: "Shadows over Innistrad Promos"
collector_number: "96s"
rarity: "rare"
artist: "David Palumbo"
oracle_id: "b8647f54-f50b-4bc6-bd44-fda25ef189fa"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/welcome-to-the-fold-psoi"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "legal"
  pioneer: "legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "legal"
---

# Welcome to the Fold
- **Mana Cost:** `{2}{U}{U}` (CMC: 4)
- **Type:** Sorcery
- **Keywords:** Madness

## Oracle Text
Madness {X}{U}{U} (If you discard this card, discard it into exile. When you do, cast it for its madness cost or put it into your graveyard.)
Gain control of target creature if its toughness is 2 or less. If this spell's madness cost was paid, instead gain control of that creature if its toughness is X or less.

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Malevolent Whispers](/printing/malevolent-whispers-c19.md) — Sorcery
2. [Dominate](/printing/dominate-c15.md) — Instant
3. [Beguiler of Wills](/printing/beguiler-of-wills-dka.md) — Creature — Human Wizard
4. [Chilling Grasp](/printing/chilling-grasp-emn.md) — Instant
5. [Just the Wind](/printing/just-the-wind-uma.md) — Instant
6. [Entrancing Melody](/printing/entrancing-melody-soc.md) — Sorcery

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Shadows over Innistrad Promos (PSOI) #96s
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Artist:** David Palumbo
- **Total Printings:** 2 across all historical editions

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

## Official Rulings
- *(2016-04-08)* The toughness of the creature is checked only as Welcome to the Fold resolves. It doesn't matter if it has higher toughness as you cast Welcome to the Fold, or if its toughness becomes higher after Welcome to the Fold has resolved.
- *(2022-12-08)* A spell cast for its madness cost is put onto the stack like any other spell. It can be countered, copied, and so on. As it resolves, it's put onto the battlefield if it's a permanent card or into its owner's graveyard if it's an instant or sorcery card.
- *(2022-12-08)* Casting a spell with madness ignores the timing rules based on the card's card type. For example, you can cast a sorcery with madness if you discard it during an opponent's turn.
- *(2022-12-08)* To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost (such as a madness cost) you're paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell is determined by only its mana cost, no matter what the total cost to cast that spell was.
- *(2022-12-08)* If you choose not to cast a card with madness when the madness triggered ability resolves, it's put into your graveyard. Madness doesn't give you another chance to cast it later.
- *(2022-12-08)* Madness works independently of why you're discarding the card. You could discard it to pay a cost, because a spell or ability tells you to, or because you have too many cards in your hand during your cleanup step. You can't discard a card with madness just because you want to, though.