Dread Return MTG Card


It’s a formidable resource accelerator when used with a graveyard strategy, especially if you can manage its cost. While powerful, its inflexibility in multicolored decks and high cost may deter some players from using it. Versatile and meta-relevant, Dread Return remains a strong asset for any graveyard-themed MTG deck.
Card setsReleased in 17 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery
Abilities Flashback

Text of card

Return target creature card from your graveyard to play. Flashback— Sacrifice three creatures. (You may play this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then remove it from the game.)

Those who forget the horrors of the past are doomed to re-meet them.


Cards like Dread Return

Dread Return, a standout card from the Magic: The Gathering roster, allows players to return a creature card from the graveyard to the battlefield, shaping the tide of the game. Its close kin would be the card Unburial Rites, which has a similar reanimation effect. However, Unburial Rites comes with an added flash back ability presenting increased flexibility, albeit at a higher mana cost. Conversely, Dread Return has an alternative flashback cost that sacrifices creatures, potentially presenting a strategic advantage at a potentially lower monetary cost.

Exhume is another card that shares the reanimation theme but differs in that both players get to partake, bringing back a creature from their respective graveyards. This symmetry can either work in your favor or against it. Zombify follows the same path of returning a valued creature from the graveyard but limits the action to just your own creatures and lacks an alternate casting option altogether, making Dread Return a more versatile choice in various gameplay scenarios.

In summary, while each card offers pathways to reclaim lost creatures, Dread Return stands out by providing a delicate balance between cost and flexibility, cementing its place in decks designed around graveyard strategy within the MTG universe.

Unburial Rites - MTG Card versions
Exhume - MTG Card versions
Zombify - MTG Card versions
Unburial Rites - MTG Card versions
Exhume - MTG Card versions
Zombify - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Dread Return by color, type and mana cost

Stench of Evil - MTG Card versions
Fatal Lore - MTG Card versions
Mind Warp - MTG Card versions
Final Strike - MTG Card versions
Persecute - MTG Card versions
Ancient Craving - MTG Card versions
Unmask - MTG Card versions
Reprocess - MTG Card versions
Befoul - MTG Card versions
Mutilate - MTG Card versions
Extinction Event - MTG Card versions
Terisiare's Devastation - MTG Card versions
Zombify - MTG Card versions
Cranial Extraction - MTG Card versions
Aphetto Dredging - MTG Card versions
Agonizing Memories - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Memoricide - MTG Card versions
Massacre - MTG Card versions
All Hallow's Eve - MTG Card versions
Stench of Evil - MTG Card versions
Fatal Lore - MTG Card versions
Mind Warp - MTG Card versions
Final Strike - MTG Card versions
Persecute - MTG Card versions
Ancient Craving - MTG Card versions
Unmask - MTG Card versions
Reprocess - MTG Card versions
Befoul - MTG Card versions
Mutilate - MTG Card versions
Extinction Event - MTG Card versions
Terisiare's Devastation - MTG Card versions
Zombify - MTG Card versions
Cranial Extraction - MTG Card versions
Aphetto Dredging - MTG Card versions
Agonizing Memories - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Memoricide - MTG Card versions
Massacre - MTG Card versions
All Hallow's Eve - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Dread Return. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Cephalid BreakfastCephalid Breakfast LegacyCephalid BreakfastLegacy League 2024-04-28
WBRGWBRG PauperPauper League 2024-04-29
Oops! All SpellsOops! All Spells LegacyOops! All SpellsLegacy Challenge 32 2024-05-01
DredgeDredge VintageDredgeVintage Qualifier 2024-05-05
WUBGWUBG LegacyLegacy Challenge 64 2024-05-05
UBGUBG LegacyLegacy League 2024-04-29
LED 5cLED 5c LegacyLED DredgeLegacy League 2024-05-01
BG DredgeBG Dredge PauperMonthly Tournament #38 @ Paper Pauper Magic Discord

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Dread Return, you’re given the powerful ability to retrieve a creature from your graveyard and put it directly onto the battlefield. This effect not only can swing the board state in your favor but also represents a significant card advantage by effectively turning one card into a potentially game-changing creature.

Resource Acceleration: Dread Return can be cast using its alternative flashback cost by sacrificing three creatures. This method transforms otherwise insignificant creatures into valuable resources, accelerating your strategy especially in decks designed to leverage the graveyard. It’s a pivotal synergy piece in decks that capitalize on creature sacrifice.

Instant Speed: While Dread Return itself is a sorcery, its capacity to return a creature to the battlefield on your turn enables immediate interaction with numerous instant-speed spells and abilities within the same phase, setting up potential combos or disrupting opponent’s plans before they have a chance to untap and regain resources.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One potential downside to Dread Return is that it asks for a sacrifice of three creatures for its flashback ability. This can be a steep price, especially when your board presence is scarce.

Specific Mana Cost: Its casting cost of two generic plus two black mana may not seem overly restrictive, but it does mandate a heavy commitment to black mana sources, potentially limiting the card’s flexibility in multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of four mana, Dread Return can be considered costly for reanimation spells. Within the vast pool of such spells across the MTG landscape, players might find other options with lower mana requirements to bring back creatures from the graveyard.


Reasons to Include Dread Return in Your Collection

Versatility: Dread Return offers flexibility in deckbuilding, proving to be a significant asset in graveyard-centric decks. It can reanimate key creatures from the graveyard, effectively allowing you to bypass traditional casting requirements.

Combo Potential: The card shines in combo strategies, capable of returning combo pieces like “Narcomoeba” or large threats such as “Flame-Kin Zealot” to play, often enabling game-winning interactions in a single turn.

Meta-Relevance: In metas with a strong graveyard theme, Dread Return holds its weight by providing consistent value. Its synergies with mechanics like dredge or persist make it a timeless choice for competitive play.


How to beat

Dread Return is a powerful card in Magic: The Gathering that brings creatures back from the graveyard. To circumvent its potential, players should consider maintaining graveyard control. Graveyard hate cards such as Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can be instrumental in preventing Dread Return from being utilized to its full extent. Additionally, countering Dread Return with spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak when it’s cast can be an effective strategy to keep your opponent’s graveyard in check.

Another approach is to be proactive in removing key creatures before they become targets for Dread Return. Cards with exile effects, like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, can help ensure that there are no valuable targets for Dread Return to bring back. Remember, the key to beating Dread Return lies in limiting your opponent’s graveyard resources or disrupting their ability to successfully cast the spell.

By incorporating these strategies into your deck and gameplay, you can minimize the impact Dread Return has on the game and maintain control over the match. Understanding how to disrupt this powerful reanimation spell is essential for maintaining an advantage in any MTG duel where such tactics might arise.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dread Return MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Time Spiral, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Dread Return and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Dread Return Magic the Gathering card was released in 14 different sets between 2006-10-06 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 604822015NormalBlackSvetlin Velinov
22006-10-06Time SpiralTSP 1042003NormalBlackKev Walker
32010-11-08Magic Online Theme DecksTD0 A412003NormalBlackKev Walker
42011-11-18Premium Deck Series: GravebornPD3 232003NormalBlackKev Walker
52014-11-07Commander 2014C14 1422015NormalBlackKev Walker
62016-02-26Duel Decks: Blessed vs. CursedDDQ 552015NormalBlackSvetlin Velinov
72019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 6362015NormalBlackSvetlin Velinov
82020-08-07Double Masters2XM 892015NormalBlackKev Walker
92020-09-26The ListPLST DDQ-552015NormalBlackSvetlin Velinov
102021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 1112015NormalBlackKev Walker
112022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 200★2015NormalBlackL J Koh
122022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 2002015NormalBlackL J Koh
132023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 3021997NormalBlackKev Walker
142023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 802015NormalBlackKev Walker
152023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 1532015NormalBlackKev Walker
162023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 6372015NormalBorderlessThomas M. Baxa
172023-08-04Commander Masters Art SeriesACMM 362015Art seriesBorderless

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dread Return has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernBanned
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Dread Return card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2021-03-19 A spell cast using flashback will always be exiled afterward, whether it resolves, is countered, or leaves the stack in some other way.
2021-03-19 If a card with flashback is put into your graveyard during your turn, you can cast it if it's legal to do so before any other player can take any actions.
2021-03-19 To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost (such as a flashback cost) you're paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell is determined only by its mana cost, no matter what the total cost to cast the spell was.
2021-03-19 You can cast a spell using flashback even if it was somehow put into your graveyard without having been cast.
2021-03-19 You must still follow any timing restrictions and permissions, including those based on the card's type. For instance, you can cast a sorcery using flashback only when you could normally cast a sorcery.
2021-03-19Flashback
-ost]” means “You may cast this card from your graveyard by paying
-ost] rather than paying its mana cost” and “If the flashback cost was paid, exile this card instead of putting it anywhere else any time it would leave the stack.”
2022-12-08 You choose the target for Dread Return before paying any of its costs, so it’s not possible to cast it using flashback and bring back one of the creatures you sacrifice.