Disappearing Act MTG Card


Disappearing Act - Kaladesh
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Released2016-09-30
Set symbol
Set nameKaladesh
Set codeKLD
Number43
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byAnthony Palumbo

Key Takeaways

  1. Disappearing Act offers card advantage and the chance to reuse powerful permanents with enter-the-battlefield effects.
  2. Cost and specific blue mana requirement may limit the card’s inclusion in diversely colored decks.
  3. Unique effects provide versatility and combo potential, thus causing substantial metagame relevance.

Text of card

As an additional cost to cast Disappearing Act, return a permanent you control to its owner's hand. Counter target spell.

"Baral took my family from me back then. I'd do anything to face him now." —Chandra Nalaar


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Disappearing Act is used to its fullest, it can result in gaining a card over your opponent. Bouncing your own permanent with an enter-the-battlefield effect back to your hand means you can play it again for value, while denying your opponent their own board presence.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly increasing resources, Disappearing Act can indirectly accelerate your game plan. By returning a high-value permanent to your hand, you can redeploy it for its benefits, effectively getting more from the same card.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Disappearing Act at instant speed provides flexibility in gameplay. You get to decide whether to disrupt an opponent’s end-of-turn plans or wait to see if they commit a more pressing threat to the board, allowing for optimal timing and strategic depth.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Disappearing Act requires the player to return a permanent they control back to their hand, which could set back their board presence and overall game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a blue mana cost, thereby potentially restricting its seamless inclusion in multicolored decks or those that don’t focus on blue mana resources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its combined mana value, players may find Disappearing Act on the pricier side for a counter effect, especially when compared to other counter spells in the game that may cost less and offer similar or additional benefits without necessitating a return of a permanent as part of its cost.


Reasons to Include Disappearing Act in Your Collection

Versatility: Disappearing Act offers dual functionalities as both a counter and means to return a permanent to your hand, which can be crucial for protecting your key pieces or reusing enter-the-battlefield effects.

Combo Potential: This card opens up opportunities for combos by allowing you to reuse your own permanents with beneficial enter-the-battlefield triggers or to save them from removal while disrupting your opponent’s plays.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames heavy on stack-based interactions or where countering key spells can swing the game, Disappearing Act can play a pivotal role. Its ability to impact the board while countering makes it relevant in diverse play environments.


How to beat

Disappearing Act is a unique countermeasure in the Magic: The Gathering arsenal. It requires careful timing and strategy to outmaneuver. Unlike traditional counterspells that outright nullify a spell, Disappearing Act also necessitates the return of a permanent you control to your hand. This resetting of the board state can work to your advantage or detriment, depending on the permanents at play.

When confronting Disappearing Act, it’s essential to bait this spell out early or when your opponent’s return cost is high. Deploying non-critical spells or those with beneficial enter-the-battlefield effects can lure out Disappearing Act and render its secondary effect a boon for you instead. Also, keeping instantaneous removal or bounce spells can stop your opponent from capitalizing on their returned permanents, neutralizing the temporary setback. This way, Disappearing Act becomes less of a surprise and more of a strategic footnote in your route to victory.

Ultimately, predicting and playing around your opponent’s Disappearing Act by manipulating the timing and value of permanents on the board can swing the game in your favor, minimizing its impact and maximizing your position in the duel.


Cards like Disappearing Act

Disappearing Act holds a unique place in the strategic tapestry of Magic: The Gathering. This spell echoes the functionality of cards like Essence Flux, which also allows for a creature to dodge spells or leave the battlefield momentarily. However, Disappearing Act notably includes a trade-off: the player must return a permanent they control to their hand to cast this spell. Essence Flux lacks this return-to-hand requirement but does not provide the card draw that Disappearing Act offers upon resolution.

When we look towards cards like Unsummon, we observe ease of use due to its lower casting cost, rapidly returning a creature to its owner’s hand. However, it misses out on the card draw Disappearing Act provides, potentially making it less advantageous in the long run. Then there is Venser, Shaper Savant—a versatile pick that combines the benefits of returning spells or creatures while offering a body on the board. It, too, lacks the card draw but compensates with its creature form.

Despite the similarities, Disappearing Act’s blend of defensive tactics and card advantage gives it an edge in situations where resourcefulness is key. Within the versatile world of Magic: The Gathering, this makes Disappearing Act a compelling choice for decks that value flexibility and card economy.

Essence Flux - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Venser, Shaper Savant - MTG Card versions
Essence Flux - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)
Unsummon - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Venser, Shaper Savant - Future Sight (FUT)

Cards similar to Disappearing Act by color, type and mana cost

Mana Short - MTG Card versions
Psionic Blast - MTG Card versions
Capsize - MTG Card versions
Forbid - MTG Card versions
Frantic Search - MTG Card versions
Exclude - MTG Card versions
Crystal Spray - MTG Card versions
Hibernation - MTG Card versions
Circular Logic - MTG Card versions
Keep Watch - MTG Card versions
Archmage's Charm - MTG Card versions
Commander's Insight - MTG Card versions
Ixidor's Will - MTG Card versions
Catalog - MTG Card versions
Thirst for Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Murmurs from Beyond - MTG Card versions
Venser's Diffusion - MTG Card versions
Dream Fracture - MTG Card versions
Oona's Grace - MTG Card versions
Cancel - MTG Card versions
Mana Short - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Psionic Blast - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Capsize - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Forbid - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Frantic Search - Wilds of Eldraine Commander (WOC)
Exclude - Invasion (INV)
Crystal Spray - Invasion (INV)
Hibernation - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Circular Logic - World Championship Decks 2003 (WC03)
Keep Watch - Judgment (JUD)
Archmage's Charm - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Commander's Insight - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Ixidor's Will - Onslaught (ONS)
Catalog - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Thirst for Knowledge - World Championship Decks 2004 (WC04)
Murmurs from Beyond - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Venser's Diffusion - Future Sight (FUT)
Dream Fracture - Eventide (EVE)
Oona's Grace - Eventide (EVE)
Cancel - Ixalan (XLN)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Disappearing Act MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh, 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 Disappearing Act and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Disappearing Act has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks