Galvanic Iteration MTG Card


Doubling spells offers card advantage, setting up potential game-changing combos and interactions in the game. Flexibility at instant speed permits unexpected plays, enhancing both offensive and defensive strategies. Specific mana cost and discard considerations add strategic layering, requiring careful deck construction.
Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeInstant
Abilities Flashback

Text of card

When you cast your next instant or sorcery spell this turn, copy that spell. You may choose new targets for the copy. Flashback (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)

Better potent than predictable.


Cards like Galvanic Iteration

Galvanic Iteration adds an electrifying twist to the plethora of copying spells within Magic: The Gathering. It echoes the functional essence of spells like Twincast, allowing players to copy an instant or sorcery spell. Twincast, however, solely duplicates a single immediate spell without further caveats. Galvanic Iteration diverges with its flashback ability, giving players a second chance to wreak twice the havoc.

Comparing this to the likes of Fork, which also copies any instant or sorcery spell, the difference lies in Galvanic Iteration’s ability to leave the graveyard for another round, unlike the one-shot nature of Fork. Additionally, we have Increasing Vengeance, which doubles the value of your spells if cast from the graveyard, resonating with the recurrent potential of Galvanic Iteration.

Analyzing the effectiveness and strategic depth of these cards reveals why Galvanic Iteration holds a notable position. Its repeatable effect provides a strategic depth that enriches combo-oriented decks and sets it slightly apart from its cousins. Therefore, for those looking to maximize their spell-slinging, Galvanic Iteration is a valuable tool in the arsenal of any MTG player.

Twincast - MTG Card versions
Fork - MTG Card versions
Increasing Vengeance - MTG Card versions
Twincast - MTG Card versions
Fork - MTG Card versions
Increasing Vengeance - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Galvanic Iteration by color, type and mana cost

Jilt - MTG Card versions
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Leap of Flame - MTG Card versions
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Run for Your Life - MTG Card versions
Jilt - MTG Card versions
Izzet Charm - MTG Card versions
Leap of Flame - MTG Card versions
Inside Out - MTG Card versions
Swerve - MTG Card versions
Desperate Ravings - MTG Card versions
Chemister's Trick - MTG Card versions
Mindswipe - MTG Card versions
Teach by Example - MTG Card versions
Arcane Infusion - MTG Card versions
Fires of Victory - MTG Card versions
Accident-Prone Apprentice // Amphibian Accident - MTG Card versions
Run for Your Life - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Izzet PhoenixIzzet Phoenix PioneerIzzet PhoenixPioneer Challenge 64 2024-05-09

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Galvanic Iteration offers the ability to duplicate any instant or sorcery spell, effectively doubling your output from a single card. This can significantly tip the scales in terms of card advantage as you get more value from the spells already present in your hand.

Resource Acceleration: While this card itself doesn’t directly produce mana or tokens, the replication of resource-generating spells can lead to an explosive increase in your available resources. This multiplicative effect can accelerate your game plan, allowing for earlier and more impactful plays.

Instant Speed: The fact that Galvanic Iteration can be cast at instant speed gives it a layer of versatility and surprise. You can wait until the last moment to decide how to make the best use of it, potentially duplicating crucial counterspells or end-of-turn plays to gain an unforeseen advantage.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Galvanic Iteration doesn’t directly ask for a card to be discarded, it does demand that you have a spell worth copying in hand. This necessity can indirectly lead to a scenario where you’re forced to choose between holding onto valuable cards and potentially discarding them to make room for other strategic plays.

Specific Mana Cost: Galvanic Iteration’s casting cost requires both red and blue mana, making it inherently restrictive to decks that can produce both colors. This specific mana requirement can hinder deck flexibility and may not fit into color combinations outside of Izzet (Blue/Red) themed decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of double blue and a single red mana, Galvanic Iteration can be considered costly for its effect, especially when you factor in the need to have another worthwhile spell to double. For decks aiming for high efficiency, there might be hesitance in including a card that requires such a setup for optimal use.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Galvanic Iteration offers a flexible approach to spell-slinging decks, enabling you to duplicate any instant or sorcery for the cost of a single red and blue mana. This adaptability makes it an asset in various archetypes looking to maximize the impact of their spells.

Combo Potential: For players keen on crafting infinite or powerful combos, this card is a gem. It enables back-to-back spell casting, increasing the potency of your strategy, particularly when paired with spells that untap lands or grant additional turns.

Meta-Relevance: With many decks focusing on powerful one-off spell effects, including Galvanic Iteration can give you the edge by duplicating critical control or combo spells, making it a well-suited card for the current competitive landscape.


How to beat

Galvanic Iteration is a card that has the potential to turn the tide of any MTG game when used effectively, offering the chance to copy a spell from your hand and casting it twice for the price of four mana. This capability makes it both powerful and versatile, proving to be a game-changer in the hands of a strategic player. It’s essential to recognize that the threat posed by Galvanic Iteration lies in its duplicating capacity, which means hindering the original spell can effectively nullify the card’s advantage.

Combatting this requires a two-pronged strategy. Firstly, holding counterspells to negate either the Galvanic Iteration or the initial spell it aims to duplicate is a robust defense. Secondly, another proven tactic is to diminish the player’s hand before they can utilize their combo potential, using discard effects to force them to play their crucial spells prematurely or lose them altogether. Controlling the pace of the game with these methods can significantly reduce the impact of Galvanic Iteration, ensuring it doesn’t swing the momentum against you.

The key takeaway here is to be preemptive and not allow your opponent the luxury of setting up their spell sequence. Disrupting their game plan early on gives you a solid chance of outmaneuvering the duplicative power of Galvanic Iteration and securing victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG involves recognizing the power of cards like Galvanic Iteration, which can amplify your strategy and turn the tables in your favor. This card’s ability to copy impactful spells means that understanding its nuances is crucial for any serious player. With the potential for resource acceleration and game-changing plays at instant speed, it’s a noteworthy addition to your arsenal, especially if you’re running a deck that thrives on spell synergies. Curious about leveraging Galvanic Iteration to its fullest and discovering new spell-slinging strategies that can reshape your matches? Delve deeper with us, and we’ll guide you through optimizing your deck’s performance with insightful tactics tailored for spell-heavy lineups. Ready to harness the power of duplication and dominate your opponents? Explore more and refine your gameplay with our expertise.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Galvanic Iteration MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Promos, 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 Galvanic Iteration and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Galvanic Iteration Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2024-04-19. Illustrated by Johann Bodin.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 940762015NormalBlackJohann Bodin
22021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight Hunt PromosPMID 224s2015NormalBlackJohann Bodin
32021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight Hunt PromosPMID 224p2015NormalBlackJohann Bodin
42021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight HuntMID 3712015NormalBlackJohann Bodin
52021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight HuntMID 2242015NormalBlackJohann Bodin
62022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 2242015NormalBlackJohann Bodin
72024-04-19Outlaws of Thunder Junction CommanderOTC 2272015NormalBlackJohann Bodin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Galvanic Iteration has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-09-24 "Flashback
-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."
2021-09-24 A copy is created even if the spell that caused Galvanic Iteration's ability to trigger has been countered by the time that ability resolves. The copy resolves before the original spell.
2021-09-24 A spell cast using flashback will always be exiled afterward, whether it resolves, is countered, or leaves the stack in some other way.
2021-09-24 Galvanic Iteration's ability will copy any instant or sorcery spell, not just one with targets.
2021-09-24 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.
2021-09-24 If the spell that's copied has an X whose value was determined as it was cast, the copy has the same value of X.
2021-09-24 If the spell that's copied is modal (that is, it says "Choose one —" or the like), the copy will have the same mode or modes. You can't choose different ones.
2021-09-24 If you resolve one Galvanic Iteration after another (or cast the same one with flashback), the second Galvanic Iteration will be copied. That copy and spell each resolve, creating two delayed triggered abilities. The next spell you cast after that will be copied twice. If that spell is also a Galvanic Iteration, the following spell will be copied three times, and so on.
2021-09-24 The copy that Galvanic Iteration's ability creates is created on the stack, so it's not "cast." Abilities that trigger when a player casts a spell won't trigger.
2021-09-24 The copy will have the same targets as the spell it's copying unless you choose new ones. You may change any number of the targets, including all of them or none of them. The new targets must be legal.
2021-09-24 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.
2021-09-24 You can cast a spell using flashback even if it was somehow put into your graveyard without having been cast.
2021-09-24 You can't choose to pay any additional costs for the copy. However, effects based on any additional costs that were paid for the original spell are copied as though those same costs were paid for the copy too.
2021-09-24 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.