Reptilian Reflection MTG Card
2020-04-24 - Number 132
2022-12-02 - Number 588
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
Key Takeaways
- Reptilian Reflection provides dual advantage as enchantment and creature, enhancing cycling decks notably.
- Strategically adept, it offers quick creature transformation, posing a challenge for unprepared opponents.
- The card’s mana requirements and activation condition may restrict deck-building flexibility and consistency.
Text of card
Whenever you cycle a card, you may have Reptilian Reflection become a 5/4 Dinosaur creature with trample and haste in addition to its other types until end of turn.
Danger often lurks in the allure of crystal shards.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When paired with a cycling deck, Reptilian Reflection can give you a significant edge by transforming into a potent creature, effectively turning a cycle into a duel threat on the board.
Resource Acceleration: This enchantment works wonders with cards that allow you to untap lands or generate additional mana, giving you the leeway to cast more spells or use more abilities while maintaining pressure with a 5/4 creature.
Instant Speed: Reptilian Reflection activates at instant speed whenever you cycle a card, providing a surprise blocker or attacker that can catch opponents off guard, especially during their combat phase. This quick adaptation from a passive enchantment to an aggressive creature can turn the tide of a match swiftly.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Reptilian Reflection necessitates that players discard a card to activate its transformation effect. This condition can set players back, particularly when their hand is sparse or when each card holds significant strategic value for upcoming turns.
Specific Mana Cost: Locked into a red mana requirement, Reptilian Reflection may not seamlessly integrate into multi-colored or non-red centric decks. This requisite potentially hinders deck flexibility and may not appeal to those favoring a wider array of colors in their play style.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card demands a total of three mana, with two being general and one specifically red. This cost is considerable, considering that the card itself does not impact the board immediately without an additional discard. Players might find alternative cards that either cost less or provide immediate effect without additional prerequisites.
Reasons to Include Reptilian Reflection in Your Collection
Versatility: Reptilian Reflection offers a unique approach to deckbuilding, as it doubles as both an enchantment and a creature. This card can seamlessly fit into decks that take advantage of cycling mechanics or seek alternate win conditions. It’s flexible enough to synergize with various strategies.
Combo Potential: This card shines in decks that aim to maximize the cycling ability. With the right combination of cards, Reptilian Reflection can transform into a creature at instant speed, often catching opponents off guard and paving the way for surprise attacks or defensive maneuvers.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where agility and adaptability are crucial, Reptilian Reflection holds its ground. Its ability to quickly become a creature in response to the constantly changing battlefield makes it a relevant choice in various meta environments, especially those favoring aggro or tempo strategies.
How to Beat Reptilian Reflection
Reptilian Reflection is an intriguing card that transforms into a creature with each cycle or discard, making it a challenge to tackle in the MTG arena. To beat this card, it’s essential to prevent it from becoming a creature in the first place. This can be done by countering cycling triggers and focusing on hand disruption to deplete the opponent’s options to cycle.
Removal spells that target enchantments can also prove invaluable. Look to include cards such as Naturalize or Disenchant in your sideboard as they are perfect for dealing with troublesome non-creature permanents like Reptilian Reflection. Additionally, playing around the card requires a strategic approach, considering your moves to avoid setting off its transformation during your opponent’s turn.
Ultimately, by controlling your opponent’s hand and the board, and having the right removal tools handy, you can minimize the impact of Reptilian Reflection and maintain the upper hand in your matches.
Cards like Reptilian Reflection
The unique dynamics of Reptilian Reflection have raised eyebrows among MTG aficionados. This particular card echoes characteristics observed in other shape-shifting cards like Mirage Mirror. Mirage Mirror shares the chameleon-like ability to copy other permanents, although it does so at a more flexible and immediate pace, not requiring a trigger like Reptilian Reflection does with cycling. Despite this, Reptilian Reflection boasts an added aggressive benefit, turning into a creature that can attack on the same turn.
Another card worth mentioning is Bloodforged Battle-Axe, which doesn’t transform like Reptilian Reflection but multiplies with combat damage, creating copies of itself — exemplifying the potential for exponential growth in your arsenal. On the contrary, Reptilian Reflection swings in with consistent power and can be a recurring surprise each turn.
In the realm of MTG, when comparing the novelty and strategic applications, Reptilian Reflection stands out for its combative edge and cycling synergy, providing a solid option for players who seek to add a versatile and formidable asset to their decks, particularly in strategies emphasizing cycling or aggressive tactics.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Reptilian Reflection MTG card by a specific set like Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Reptilian Reflection and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Reptilian Reflection Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-04-24 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Antonio José Manzanedo.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2020-04-24 | Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths | IKO | 132 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Antonio José Manzanedo | |
| 2 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 588 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Antonio José Manzanedo |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Reptilian Reflection 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 Reptilian Reflection card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-04-17 | Some cards with cycling have an ability that triggers when you cycle them, and some cards have an ability that triggers whenever you cycle any card. These triggered abilities resolve before you draw from the cycling ability. |
| 2020-04-17 | Triggered abilities from cycling a card and the cycling ability itself aren’t spells. Effects that interact with spells (such as that of Cancel) won’t affect them. |
| 2020-04-17 | You can cycle a card even if it has a triggered ability from cycling that won’t have a legal target. This is because the cycling ability and the triggered ability are separate. This also means that if either ability is countered (with Disallow, for example), the other ability will still resolve. |