Retributive Wand MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact
Released	2019-07-12
Set symbol
Set name	Core Set 2020
Set code	M20
Number	236
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Zezhou Chen

Key Takeaways

Acts as a flexible, repeatable damage source, capable of controlling the board or finishing opponents.
Requires specific mana for activation, making it more suitable for red mana-heavy decks.
Part of combos and versatile inclusions in collections, yet vulnerable to targeted artifact removal.

Text of card

, : Retributive Wand deals 1 damage to any target. When Retributive Wand is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, it deals 5 damage to any target.

"The last blast is the biggest." —Sargis Haz, artificer

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Retributive Wand offers an efficient way to deal with multiple threats. With sufficient mana, it can repeatedly target and eliminate creatures or dent an opponent’s life total, effectively reducing the number of resources at their disposal and tipping the balance in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly increasing mana, the Wand’s low casting cost facilitates early game board presence. This, coupled with the potential to clear away smaller creatures, can accelerate your board state to more favorable conditions without a heavy mana investment.

Instant Speed: The wand’s ability to deal damage operates at instant speed, offering flexibility in your game plan. Use it to disrupt an opponent’s strategy during their turn, remove key threats before they deal damage, or even as a surprise element to close out the game. The instant-speed aspect ensures that your mana is never idle and your threats are constant.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Retributive Wand does not have a discard requirement itself, it’s essential to keep in mind that having it in your deck could necessitate holding onto it until the right moment surfaces, which might result in missed opportunities for more immediate card plays.

Specific Mana Cost: At three generic mana to cast, Retributive Wand can fit into any deck; however, its activated ability requires two generic mana and one red mana. This specific requirement means it is best suited for decks heavy in red mana sources and could be inefficient in decks without red mana optimization.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the Wand’s initial casting cost is moderate, the activation fee is also three mana, culminating in a potentially high investment for the damage dealt. When considering it costs three mana both to place on the battlefield and to use its ability, players may find Retributive Wand less mana-efficient than other direct damage options.

Reasons to Include Retributive Wand in Your Collection

Versatility: Retributive Wand comes with the ability to fit into multiple deck archetypes due to its nature as a direct damage source that doesn’t require tapping. This makes it an emergency removal tool as well as an intriguing option for decks that play at instant speed.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, the Wand can be part of an infinite damage combo, particularly in decks utilizing artifact recursion. Pairing it with a card that can untap it or return it to your hand after its self-sacrifice ability is executed can lead to game-ending sequences.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where creatures with prowess or other incremental growth mechanics are prevalent, having a repeatable source of damage that can target creatures or players is crucial. The Wand’s ability to control smaller threats or finish off a weakened opponent keeps it relevant across various metas.

How to beat Retributive Wand

Retributive Wand, an intriguing artifact within the realm of MTG, presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. This card allows players to inflict direct damage to any target, creature or player, when manned with the necessary mana and when it departs the field. Yet, as with all artifacts, it’s susceptible to removal spells that specifically target artifacts. Disenchant, for example, can dispatch the Wand before it unloads its damage.

Strategies to counter Retributive Wand extend beyond simple removal. Blue players might consider countermagic to prevent it from ever hitting the table. Cards like Negate are particularly effective against noncreature spells. Another approach is to restrict the resources available to activate the Wand’s ability. Strategies that limit the opponent’s mana can be pivotal, such as land destruction or taxing effects that make it cost-prohibitive to use the Wand’s ability multiple times.

Ultimately, understanding how to dismantle the Wand’s threat involves knowing the available tools within your deck. Artifact removal, counterspells, and resource denial form a triad of counter measures. With these defenses in play, the chances of Retributive Wand wielding its full power against you significantly diminish.

Cards like Retributive Wand

Retributive Wand is an intriguing artifact in Magic: The Gathering, often weighed against other damage-dealing cards. For instance, Pyrite Spellbomb is another artifact that can be sacrificed to deal damage to any target, albeit only two damage unless additional mana is spent for drawing a card. Retributive Wand offers a consistent three damage output without the need for extra mana but requires a higher initial investment.

Comparatively, there’s also Goblin Charbelcher, a card that can deal potentially massive damage dependent on the library’s land composition. The Wand, however, requires no such deck building constraints, allowing for straightforward inclusion in a variety of decks. Also, we must not forget Staff of Nin, which provides a persistent card draw and the ability to ping creatures or players, but at a much higher casting cost and without the opportunity to deal a significant chunk of damage at once.

Evaluating these options, Retributive Wand offers a mix of damage potential and inevitability that can be a deciding factor in games. Its ability to threaten consistent damage gives it a unique position among its peers, ensuring its value in specific strategies within Magic: The Gathering.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Retributive Wand MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020, 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 Retributive Wand and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Retributive Wand has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2019-07-12	Retributive Wand’s last ability doesn’t allow you to sacrifice it whenever you wish. You’ll need to use another spell or ability to break it.