Turnabout MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Turnabout is a force multiplier, enabling multiple uses of lands or creatures within a single phase.
  2. At instant speed, it offers strategic flexibility and surprise elements to outmaneuver opponents.
  3. It requires a solid blue mana base, presenting a planning challenge to maximize its potential.

Text of card

Tap or untap all artifacts, creatures, or lands target player controls.

The best cure for a big ego is a little failure.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Turnabout card is particularly effective in decks that aim to maximize card utility, as it provides potent versatility. With the ability to untap all lands or creatures under your control, it sets the stage for multiple uses of a single card, boosting your card advantage dramatically.

Resource Acceleration: Resource acceleration is crucial in MTG, and Turnabout excels by offering a surge in mana availability. Untapping all your lands can lead to explosive turns where casting several spells in succession becomes possible, in essence ramping up your available resources significantly in a single turn.

Instant Speed: The strength of Turnabout is partially in its instant speed, allowing players to wait until the last possible moment to make a game-changing move. This flexibility lets you adapt to the unfolding game and can also serve as a surprise tactic that disrupts the opponent’s calculations and strategies.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike cards that offer pure advantage, Turnabout necessitates precise planning as there’s no card loss involved; instead, the constraint lies in its situational nature and timing to optimize its impact.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost demanding two blue mana, Turnabout requires a solid blue mana base, which may restrict it to mono-blue or two-colors decks that can reliably provide blue mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At four mana, including two blue, Turnabout’s cost may compete with other impactful cards in that mana range, potentially slowing down your game plan if not used to its full potential.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Turnabout is an instant card that has the power to either untap all artifacts, creatures, or lands for a player, which can be a game-changer in various deck types. It allows for flexibility during a match, making it adaptable to numerous situations that may arise.

Combo Potential: Due to its ability to untap multiple resources, Turnabout pairs incredibly well with cards that benefit from or trigger off untapping mechanics. It can unexpectedly fuel combos or amplify synergies within your deck, especially in strategies that revolve around resource manipulation.

Meta-Relevance: As formats evolve, the ability to respond to your opponent’s moves can make or break a game. Turnabout’s potential to disrupt or enhance strategies at instant speed makes it a consistently relevant card in various MTG formats, from Vintage to Commander.


How to Beat Turnabout

Turnabout is a versatile card that can disrupt or enhance combos, especially in Magic: The Gathering’s more strategic and combo-oriented formats. Known primarily for its ability to untap all permanents of a single type, it’s a card that can easily tip the scales in a game when played at the right moment. However, there are ways to minimize its impact or even turn it to your disadvantage.

Counterspells such as Counterspell itself or Negate can be effective against Turnabout since it’s crucial to prevent it from resolving. Targeted discard, like Thoughtseize or Duress, can remove Turnabout from an opponent’s hand before they have the opportunity to cast it. If it does resolve, instant-speed removal or tap-down effects can negate the benefit that an opponent might gain from untapping their creatures or lands. It’s also possible to use cards like Stranglehold to prevent an opponent from taking extra turns, thereby limiting the effectiveness of their untap strategy.

Bearing in mind that Turnabout can be a game-changer, keeping a watchful eye on the mana that your opponent leaves open and the cards they draw is paramount. By preparing the right responses and maintaining awareness of your opponent’s potential plays, you can overcome the challenges posed by Turnabout and maintain control of the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG involves both recognizing powerful cards and understanding their strategic impact in gameplay. The utility of Turnabout spans across diverse deck archetypes, providing a pivotal advantage when timing and conditions align. Its ability to untap lands or creatures can be a decisive factor in gaining the edge over your opponent. Taste the triumphs that this multifaceted card offers by expanding your collection and knowledge. For dedicated players eager to unlock the full potential of their decks and increase their win rate, discovering the depths of Turnabout is essential. Enhance your MTG experience; visit us to deepen your strategic play and card mastery.


Cards like Turnabout

Turnabout is an intriguing card in MTG with a unique flexibility to either untap or tap artifacts, creatures, or lands. When looking at cards with similar effects, Time Spiral instantly comes to mind. It also untaps lands, but with the added benefit of giving players a fresh hand by forcing a draw of seven new cards. Though grand in effect, Time Spiral’s downside lies in its exile upon resolution, whereas Turnabout can be reused with the right deck mechanics.

Another analog to Turnabout is Reset, which only targets lands. Unlike Turnabout, Reset can’t affect creatures or artifacts, but it can be played at instant speed and during another player’s turn, giving it a more defensive application. Twiddle, though less potent, serves as a budget-friendly alternative, allowing you to tap or untap a single target and further your strategy with minimal investment.

Overall, Turnabout stands out in MTG due to its multiple target options and the potential for strategic plays it opens up. Its versatility makes it a valuable card in various decks, particularly those exploiting untap mechanics for combo plays or mana ramping advantages.

Time Spiral - MTG Card versions
Reset - MTG Card versions
Twiddle - MTG Card versions
Time Spiral - Urza's Saga (USG)
Reset - Legends (LEG)
Twiddle - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Turnabout by color, type and mana cost

Deflection - MTG Card versions
Ray of Command - MTG Card versions
Inspiration - MTG Card versions
Quash - MTG Card versions
Foil - MTG Card versions
Thwart - MTG Card versions
Repel - MTG Card versions
Plagiarize - MTG Card versions
Fact or Fiction - MTG Card versions
Cryptic Command - MTG Card versions
Urza's Command - MTG Card versions
Wheel and Deal - MTG Card versions
Gifts Ungiven - MTG Card versions
Fold into Aether - MTG Card versions
Part the Veil - MTG Card versions
Surging Aether - MTG Card versions
Careful Consideration - MTG Card versions
Gifts Given - MTG Card versions
Discombobulate - MTG Card versions
Permafrost Trap - MTG Card versions
Deflection - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Ray of Command - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Inspiration - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Quash - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Foil - Prophecy (PCY)
Thwart - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Repel - Odyssey (ODY)
Plagiarize - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Fact or Fiction - The Brothers' War Commander (BRC)
Cryptic Command - Amonkhet Invocations (MP2)
Urza's Command - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Wheel and Deal - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Gifts Ungiven - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Fold into Aether - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Part the Veil - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Surging Aether - Coldsnap (CSP)
Careful Consideration - Modern Masters (MMA)
Gifts Given - Happy Holidays (HHO)
Discombobulate - Tenth Edition (10E)
Permafrost Trap - Worldwake (WWK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Turnabout MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and IDW Comics Inserts, 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 Turnabout and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Turnabout Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-10-12Urza's SagaUSG 1051997normalblackHeather Hudson
22012-01-01IDW Comics InsertsPIDW 92003normalblackDan Scott
32014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 992015normalblackSteve Prescott
42023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 702015normalblackHeather Hudson
52023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 2951997normalblackHeather Hudson
62024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 4521997normalblackDan Scott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Turnabout has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2022-12-08 You decide on resolution if you are tapping or untapping, and which kind of permanent you are affecting.

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