Wash Out MTG Card


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

Key Takeaways

  1. Wash Out provides substantial card advantage by disrupting opponent strategies and board setup.
  2. Instant speed casting of Wash Out allows for surprise plays and interaction during an opponent’s turn.
  3. Versatility and meta relevance make Wash Out a valuable addition to control-oriented decks.

Text of card

Return all permanents of the color of your choice to their owners' hands.

"Rest now. You've neither won nor lost, but this battle is over for you just the same." —Teferi


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The nuanced design of Wash Out provides a significant tactical edge by potentially returning multiple targets to an opponent’s hand. This effect can quickly shift the flow of the game, resulting in substantial card advantage when it disrupts your opponent’s carefully laid plans.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly accelerating resources, using Wash Out can set back your opponents while you maintain board presence. This form of indirect resource acceleration ensures you stay ahead on mana usage and board position, being crucial for sustained dominance in the match.

Instant Speed: The versatility of Wash Out is amplified by its instant speed, allowing strategic players to wait for the opportune moment to cast it. This can thwart enemy combos, protect your assets during the opponent’s turn, or simply be the surprise element that shifts the balance in your favor at a moment’s notice.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike some flexible control tools, Wash Out does not come with an optional discard ability to modify its impact on the game. Your hand remains unchanged, potentially missing out on strategic discards that could fuel other aspects of your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: Wash Out’s mana cost demands one blue and three other mana, which can be restrictive in multicolored decks that might struggle with color fixing or prefer to keep mana open for spells with more versatile casting costs.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At four mana, Wash Out can be costly for the effect it provides, especially considering that it targets only nonland permanents of a single color. Other board clear options or targeted removal may provide more value or efficiency for the same or lesser mana investment.


Reasons to Include Wash Out in Your Collection

Versatility: Wash Out is an adaptable card versatile enough to slot into numerous blue-based control decks. Its ability to return all permanents of a single color can unexpectedly alter the board state, providing a way to deal with multiple threats at once, regardless of type.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combination with other cards that capitalize on opponents’ spells being returned to their hands. By pairing Wash Out with permanents that punish casting multiple spells or returning cards to hand, players can set up powerful synergistic interactions.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta dense with multicolor decks or where certain colors dominate, Wash Out can act as a powerful reset button. It efficiently mitigates swarm strategies and can be a game-changer in matches where tempo plays a crucial role.


How to beat

Wash Out is an intriguing control card from Magic the Gathering, recognized for its ability to reset the board by returning all permanents of a chosen color back to their owner’s hand. To effectively counter this card, it’s wise to maintain a diversified color palette among your permanents. This strategy ensures that Wash Out cannot eliminate your entire board presence in one sweep. Similarly, employing colorless artifacts or creatures can render Wash Out ineffective against such elements of your strategy.

Another method to outmaneuver Wash Out is by deploying spells and abilities that grant your permanents hexproof or protection from blue, the color of Wash Out. This precautionary measure shields your assets from being targeted. Additionally, playing at instant speed can be a potent tactic, allowing you to wait until Wash Out has resolved before placing new threats on the board, thereby preserving your momentum in the game. Moreover, vigilant mana management can offer opportunities to recast your crucial spells without suffering a significant tempo loss.

In essence, while Wash Out can catch unprepared players off guard and heavily tilt the balance of the game, a well-rounded and adaptive approach to deck building and play style can effectively diminish its impact. As a player, anticipating such board-wiping tactics and preparing countermeasures is a mark of strategic depth in playing Magic the Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

Wash Out represents a pivotal piece for any strategist’s collection in MTG, offering unexpected shifts in control and tempo. If you’re looking to add a layer of surprise to your blue-aligned arsenal, understanding the ins and outs of this card is key. Dive deeper into a sea of possibilities where Wash Out can not only cleanse the board but also set you up for triumphant plays. Navigate through your matches with the finesse of a seasoned tactician and let Wash Out be the wave that turns the tides in your favor. Continue your journey with us to enhance your deck with this dynamic card.


Cards like Wash Out

Wash Out holds a unique position within the realm of board control spells in Magic: The Gathering. As a card that allows players to return all permanents of a color of their choice to their owners’ hands, it can be potent against monocolored strategies. Evacuation is another strong contender in this space, albeit it returns all creatures to owners’ hands without color discrimination. This can be more of a double-edged sword, as it affects the casting player as well.

Look to cards like Cyclonic Rift for a comparison as well. Although it has a higher mana cost for its Overload option, it can effectively clear the entire board of an opponent’s nonland permanents and does so at instant speed. A narrower choice is Inundate, which bounces all nonblue creatures, offering a more selective approach akin to Wash Out, but at a greater mana cost.

Each of these options provides strategic flexibility to players seeking to destabilize opponents’ board presence. Wash Out, with its specific targeting and immediate impact at a pivotal moment, can be an unexpected swing in the tides of battle, distinguishing itself in Magic: The Gathering’s rich tapestry of control spells.

Evacuation - MTG Card versions
Cyclonic Rift - MTG Card versions
Inundate - MTG Card versions
Evacuation - Stronghold (STH)
Cyclonic Rift - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Inundate - Eventide (EVE)

Cards similar to Wash Out by color, type and mana cost

Juxtapose - MTG Card versions
Baki's Curse - MTG Card versions
Touch of Brilliance - MTG Card versions
Polymorph - MTG Card versions
Diminishing Returns - MTG Card versions
Counterintelligence - MTG Card versions
Ransack - MTG Card versions
Rhystic Scrying - MTG Card versions
Dematerialize - MTG Card versions
Deep Analysis - MTG Card versions
Tempted by the Oriq - MTG Card versions
Inscription of Insight - MTG Card versions
Airborne Aid - MTG Card versions
Peer Pressure - MTG Card versions
Mouth to Mouth - MTG Card versions
Sift - MTG Card versions
Distant Melody - MTG Card versions
Sleep - MTG Card versions
Argivian Restoration - MTG Card versions
Vivisection - MTG Card versions
Juxtapose - Masters Edition (ME1)
Baki's Curse - Homelands (HML)
Touch of Brilliance - Portal Second Age (P02)
Polymorph - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Diminishing Returns - Masters Edition (ME1)
Counterintelligence - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Ransack - Starter 1999 (S99)
Rhystic Scrying - Prophecy (PCY)
Dematerialize - Odyssey (ODY)
Deep Analysis - Commander Masters (CMM)
Tempted by the Oriq - Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos (PSTX)
Inscription of Insight - Zendikar Rising (ZNR)
Airborne Aid - Onslaught (ONS)
Peer Pressure - Onslaught (ONS)
Mouth to Mouth - Unhinged (UNH)
Sift - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Distant Melody - Wilds of Eldraine Commander (WOC)
Sleep - Magic 2011 (M11)
Argivian Restoration - The List (PLST)
Vivisection - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wash Out MTG card by a specific set like Invasion and World Championship Decks 2001, 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 Wash Out and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Wash Out Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2000-10-02 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12000-10-02InvasionINV 871997normalblackMatthew D. Wilson
22001-08-08World Championship Decks 2001WC01 ab87bsb1997normalgoldMatthew D. Wilson
32012-01-01IDW Comics InsertsPIDW 152003normalblackVolkan Baǵa
42013-11-01Commander 2013C13 662003normalblackSteven Belledin
52017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 432015normalblackSteven Belledin
62022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 672015normalblackSteven Belledin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wash Out has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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