Recalibrate MTG Card
2021-06-18 - Number 57
2021-08-26 - Number 235
2021-06-18 - Number 17
2021-06-18 - Number 17s
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Key Takeaways
- Recalibrate allows precise library management, offering card advantage and strategic draw filtering.
- The card can be restrictive due to specific mana needs and potential card disadvantage.
- Despite its mana cost, its flexibility makes it an adaptable choice for many MTG decks.
Text of card
Return target creature to its owner's hand. If you've discarded a card this turn, draw a card.
"Trial 991: Still encountering issues with accidental aetherization. Maybe if we widen the dimensional matrix to 0.7?" —Izzet research notes
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Recalibrate shines in providing card advantage by letting you seamlessly replace it with another option from your library, effectively narrowing down your draw to the perfect card for the situation at hand.
Resource Acceleration: This spell facilitates resource acceleration by scrying before the draw, allowing for better planning of future turns and ensuring that you sustain momentum without losing pace.
Instant Speed: Its instant speed capability offers the flexibility to adjust your game plan on the fly, react to opponents’ moves, and keep your strategy concealed until the moment is just right.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: If Recalibrate necessitates the discard of a card, it can be detrimental when your hand is already depleted or you’re holding key cards for strategic plays.
Specific Mana Cost: Recalibrate may require a precise combination of mana types, potentially restricting its integration in multi-colored decks or those relying on a different mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given its mana demands, Recalibrate may present as too costly when compared to other options that achieve similar effects or offer greater versatility at a lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include Recalibrate in Your Collection
Versatility: Recalibrate shines for its ability to adapt to various gameplay scenarios, whether you’re tweaking it for aggressive, control, or combo builds. This card can address multiple board states effectively, making it a utility player in diverse decks.
Combo Potential: Its knack for tuning spells or affecting permanents opens possibilities for combing with cards that capitalize on casting non-creature spells or manipulating counters; think proliferate mechanics or spell-copying strategies as fertile ground for synergy.
Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to adjust to the currents of the ever-shifting game environment, Recalibrate holds its ground firmly within decks that require a rapid response to opponents’ threats or strategies, thereby maintaining relevance regardless of the prevailing meta.
How to Beat
Recalibrate is a novel twist on the usual arsenal of countermeasures found in the strategic depths of MTG. Primarily aimed at disrupting your opponent’s finely laid plans, Recalibrate offers players a way to adjust strategies mid-game. Unlike some reactive cards that merely hinder, Recalibrate literally resets the blueprint, forcing opponents to reconsider their tactics.
As many seasoned players may note, counterspells like Counterspell or Negate offer blanket denial against threats at a moment’s notice, obstructing an opponent’s play without prejudice. Recalibrate, on the other hand, caters to a more nuanced approach, allowing players to shuffle an offending spell into its owner’s library. This not only stifles the immediate threat but also injects a dose of unpredictability into the matchup.
Maneuvering around Recalibrate requires a strategy that anticipates potential redirects. Adopting a deck with multiple redundancies or employing spells that can be cast from places other than the hand might effectively dilute Recalibrate’s influence. In essence, by ensuring that your key spells are not the linchpin to your overall strategy, you limit the impact that a single Recalibrate can have on your path to victory.
Cards like Recalibrate
Recalibrate introduces an intriguing dynamic to the Magic: The Gathering counter spell arsenal. It shares traits with the likes of Mana Leak, a staple in many blue decks for its ability to disrupt an opponent’s spell unless they pay additional mana. Unlike Mana Leak, Recalibrate offers a unique advantage by providing the player with a Scry 1 ability, allowing for better deck manipulation and future planning.
Comparably, Spell Pierce is a force in terms of cost efficiency, with only a single blue mana required to potentially counter non-creature spells, unless the caster pays 2 more. What sets Recalibrate apart, however, is its broader scope, giving it the edge over Spell Pierce when countering creature spells as well. Essence Scatter stands in contrast to Recalibrate, targeting exclusively creature spells with its direct counter, but without the Scry bonus, providing less strategic depth than Recalibrate.
Overall, although each card brings something distinct to the table, Recalibrate finds its niche with its versatile counterspell capability complemented by the strategic advantage of the Scry 1, marking its value in a Magic: The Gathering player’s deck where control and foresight are paramount.
Cards similar to Recalibrate by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Recalibrate // Recalibrate MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons 2 Art Series and Modern Horizons 2, 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 Recalibrate // Recalibrate 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 Recalibrate // Recalibrate Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-06-18 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Volkan Baǵa.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Modern Horizons 2 Art Series | AMH2 | 17 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Volkan Baǵa | ||
| 2 | 2021-06-18 | Modern Horizons 2 | MH2 | 57 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Volkan Baǵa | |
| 3 | Modern Horizons 2 Art Series | AMH2 | 17s | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Volkan Baǵa | ||
| 4 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 235 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Volkan Baǵa |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Recalibrate has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
