Quicksilver Geyser MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2011-02-04
Set symbol
Set name	Mirrodin Besieged
Set code	MBS
Number	30
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Erica Yang

Key Takeaways

Offers instant-speed disruption, setting back opponents by bouncing two permanents and opening strategic plays.
Resource-heavy at five mana with specific color requirements, making it less adaptable in some decks.
Versatile in bounce-focused decks with combo potential and relevance in permanent-heavy metagames.

Text of card

Return up to two target nonland permanents to their owners' hands.

"Phyrexians are tenacious. That's not the same thing as clever." —Tezzeret

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Quicksilver Geyser comes with the tactical edge of disrupting multiple targets, effectively undoing your opponent’s setup while maintaining your own board state. This can be particularly effective if you redirect pivotal threats or potential combos, forcing your opponent to waste resources and turns re-establishing their field.

Resource Acceleration: Though Quicksilver Geyser itself is not a direct source of mana, it has the potential to free up your mana resources by returning mana-intensive permanents back to the owner’s hand. This can indirectly accelerate your resource availability as your opponent may need to reinvest their mana to replay their cards.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Quicksilver Geyser at instant speed vastly increases its strategic value. It provides you with the flexibility to wait until the most opportune moment, such as during your opponent’s end step or in response to an enemy activation, to maximize disruption and maintain the element of surprise. This reactive potential can make it a powerful tool in the right situations.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Quicksilver Geyser doesn’t explicitly require you to discard cards, bouncing multiple nonland permanents back to their owner’s hand could inadvertently pressure you to discard if you exceed your maximum hand size by the end of the turn.

Specific Mana Cost: Quicksilver Geyser requires both blue mana specifically and five mana total, making it somewhat restrictive for multicolored decks that may struggle to consistently meet the blue mana requirement.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card comes with a relatively steep mana investment considering its effect. Haymaker strategies capable of returning or neutralizing multiple threats often have more cost-effective alternatives available.

Reasons to Include Quicksilver Geyser in Your Collection

Versatility: Quicksilver Geyser can seamlessly transition into various deck builds, particularly those that aim to manipulate the field and favor bouncing spells. It offers the flexibility to disrupt opponent strategies by targeting and returning multiple permanents to their owner’s hand.

Combo Potential: This card opens up opportunities for combinations, especially in decks that capitalize on casting spells with bounce effects. Pairing Quicksilver Geyser with cards that trigger upon casting or permanents leaving the battlefield can set the stage for powerful plays and unexpected turnarounds.

Meta-Relevance: It holds its own in a meta that’s filled with heavy permanent-based strategies or creature-focused decks. By providing a temporary reset on opponents’ threats, Quicksilver Geyser can operate as an effective tool to swing the momentum of the game in your favor, making it a card worth considering for your arsenal.

How to beat

Quicksilver Geyser is an intriguing instant in the MTG universe, known for its subtle power in disrupting the battlefield. This card allows a player to return up to two target nonland permanents to their owner’s hands, presenting a challenge to opponents who rely on setting up a strong board presence. To navigate against Quicksilver Geyser, the key is to anticipate the potential disruption and maintain a diverse set of threats.

One strategy is to deploy low-cost creatures or permanents that have beneficial enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effects. This turns the Geyser’s setback into an advantage for you, as you get another use out of your ETB effects upon recasting the creature. Moreover, holding up mana for counterspells can ensure your vital pieces remain on the board, effectively negating the tempo loss against a Quicksilver Geyser play. Finally, instant-speed removal or protection spells allow you to respond to the Geyser activation, saving key permanents from being returned to your hand and allowing you to maintain your board state.

In essence, while Quicksilver Geyser can be a versatile and unexpected obstacle, a strategic deck build and careful playstyle can readily turn the tides in your favor, securing your position in the game against such surprises.

Cards like Quicksilver Geyser

Quicksilver Geyser brings a unique twist to the realm of bounce spells within Magic: The Gathering, allowing the return of not just one but two target permanents to their owner’s hands. When looking at other cards that offer similar effects, Capsize is often a go-to for its buyback ability, although it targets only a single permanent. While more mana-intensive on the upfront without buyback, Quicksilver Geyser’s ability to potentially disrupt two targets concurrently offers a strategic edge – notably in multiplayer formats.

Comparatively, Into the Roil presents itself as another bounce alternative. It costs less and has the added benefit of kicking for a card draw, yet it’s limited to targeting a single nonland permanent. Echoing Truth deserves a mention too; it might cost one mana less than Quicksilver Geyser, and while it has the potential to sweep all copies of a nonland permanent, its effectiveness wanes when diverse threats are on the board. It lacks the straightforward double-target impact that Quicksilver Geyser could produce.

The balance between mana cost, targeting flexibility, and additional effects is critical in evaluating these bounce options. While Quicksilver Geyser may fall on the higher end mana-wise, its dual-target capability clearly positions it as a contender for player preference, particularly when seeking to control the board state with a single spell.

Cards similar to Quicksilver Geyser by color, type and mana cost

Mysteries of the Deep - MTG Card versions

Intellectual Offering - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Quicksilver Geyser MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin Besieged, 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 Quicksilver Geyser and other MTG cards: