Ephara's Dispersal MTG Card
2023-04-21 - Number 55
2024-02-09 - Number 103
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Surveil |
Text of card
This spell costs less to cast if it targets an attacking creature. Return target creature to its owner's hand. Surveil 2. (Look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them into your graveyard and the rest on top of your library in any order.)
Cards like Ephara's Dispersal
Ephara’s Dispersal is an intriguing addition to the suite of control cards within the MTG universe. It stands in relation to other bounce spells, such as Unsummon or Consign to the Pit. Ephara’s Dispersal not only returns a target creature to its owner’s hand but also forces a discard if it happens during your turn, adding a layer of surprise and temporal advantage. Unsummon, by contrast, is simpler, allowing the return of creatures at a lower cost, but without the conditional discard effect.
When looking to other similar spells, we see compelling comparisons to cards like Boomerang and Disperse. Boomerang has a broader target range, being able to return any permanent to its owner’s hand, not just creatures. On the flip side, Disperse provides a straightforward mechanic with no additional effects, but can target nonland permanents, offering versatility.
Assessing Ephara’s Dispersal within the realm of MTG, its unique blend of bounce-plus-discard sets it apart, providing both creature control and hand disruption wrapped into one. This makes it a potentially advantageous choice for players seeking to preserve momentum while disrupting opponents.
Cards similar to Ephara's Dispersal by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Ephara's Dispersal. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Dimir Mill | Modern | Mill | Pachanga Trial ACUP Domingo |
 | Mono-Blue Tron | Modern | Mono-Blue Tron | Modern League 2023-11-14 |
 | Dimir Reanimator | Standard | Dimir Reanimator | Standard League 2024-03-13 |
 | Four-Color Rhinos | Modern | Crashing Footfalls | DEN24 Sun 9:30 - Modern $10k Open 8-slot RCQ |
| Tron | Modern | Tron | Modern Preliminary 2024-01-03 (1) |
 | Mono-Blue Tempo | Standard | Mono-Blue Tempo | 2023Players Convention Aichi 2023 Standard Open |
 | Mono-Blue Aggro | Pauper | Standard Pauper |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ephara’s Dispersal plays a key role by sending an opponent’s creature back to their hand, potentially undoing their turns of hard work and simultaneously netting you a card to keep your hand filled.
Resource Acceleration: This card’s ability to return a nonland permanent offers a dual benefit by not only hindering your opponent but also reducing the need for additional resources as you maintain board superiority, all without needing to cast another spell.
Instant Speed: The versatility of instant speed adds a strategic layer to Ephara’s Dispersal. Play it on your opponent’s turn to disrupt their plans or save it to react swiftly to an unforeseen threat, making it a potent tool for maintaining tempo.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Ephara’s Dispersal comes with a caveat that can be quite restrictive during gameplay. Players must sacrifice a valuable card from their hand to fulfill the discard requirement. This trade-off can potentially disrupt your strategical reserves and leave you at a disadvantage if your hand is already depleted of key pieces.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires both white and blue mana, which restricts it to decks that run these colors. If your deck does not naturally generate these types of mana, including Ephara’s Dispersal might force you to modify your mana base or possibly exclude the card altogether.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a relatively steep cost to cast, Ephara’s Dispersal may seem suboptimal when compared to other options in the same mana range. Players must weigh the benefits of its ability against the opportunity cost of not playing other potentially more impactful spells at a similar, or even lower, mana investment.
Reasons to Include Ephara’s Dispersal in Your Collection
Versatility: Ephara’s Dispersal can serve multiple roles within a variety of deck types. It acts as a countermeasure against opposing strategies while also providing potential card advantage, making it a solid pick for control or tempo decks.
Combo Potential: This card’s ability to return a creature to its owner’s hand is more than just a simple bounce effect; savvy players can exploit this to re-trigger enter-the-battlefield abilities or to save their own creatures from removal, thus opening up synergistic plays and interactions.
Meta-Relevance: As the game environment shifts, having tools that respond to popular threats is crucial. Ephara’s Dispersal fits nicely into a collection for players aiming to stay competitive, offering a versatile response to creatures that dominate the current meta.
How to beat
Ephara’s Dispersal is a unique card that can cause a shift in the tide of the game. This card allows a player to disrupt their opponent’s battlefield by returning creatures to their owner’s hand. To effectively counter this strategy, players should consider the timing of their plays. They can opt to play less vulnerable creatures that can either bounce back to their hand without much loss or use creatures with beneficial enter-the-battlefield effects to turn the tide back in their favor.
Another effective method is to utilize instant-speed spells that can counter Ephara’s Dispersal. This preemptive approach can save a player from the setback of having their creatures returned. Keeping mana available for such counterspells or playing around the potential casting of Ephara’s Dispersal by not overextending on the board are key strategies. Additionally, cards with hexproof or protection from blue can prove to be invaluable, as they are generally immune to the effects of Ephara’s Dispersal, allowing players to maintain a presence on the battlefield.
In essence, successful counters to Ephara’s Dispersal involve strategic play, timing, and the use of specific abilities that negate or lessen the impact of being the target of this powerful card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ephara's Dispersal MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine and Murders at Karlov Manor Commander, 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 Ephara's Dispersal and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
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- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
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- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Ephara's Dispersal Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-04-21 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by Awanqi (Angela Wang).
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine | MOM | 55 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Awanqi (Angela Wang) | |
| 2 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor Commander | MKC | 103 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Awanqi (Angela Wang) |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ephara's Dispersal has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |