Reciprocate MTG Card
2004-10-01 - Number 40
2011-04-01 - Number 24
2002-06-24 - Number 35164
2005-01-01 - Number 6
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Remove from the game target creature that dealt damage to you this turn.
"Just as the noble soul calls virtue to itself, the evil soul summons harm." —Teachings of Eight-and-a-Half-Tails
Cards like Reciprocate
Reciprocate holds a distinct place in white’s arsenal of removal spells in Magic: The Gathering. It finds a peer in the form of Swords to Plowshares, one of the most iconic removal cards which also exiles a target creature. The trade-off with Swords to Plowshares is that the creature’s controller gains life equal to its power, a downside not present with Reciprocate. Reciprocate is conditionally free – requiring that the creature dealt damage to you this turn – making it a reactive rather than a proactive removal option.
Path to Exile also joins the comparison for its ability to exile any target creature at an efficient cost. Unlike Reciprocate, which demands a specific trigger, Path to Exile is always ready at a moment’s notice, but it does provide the opponent with a basic land card, potentially ramping their mana. Condemn is another notable spell that tucks an attacker away into its owner’s library rather than exiling, offering a slightly different form of control while still being situational.
Analyzing the nuances, Reciprocate stands out for its conditional cost-free nature, suited for players facing aggressive decks where it can act as a precise answer to threats that have just caused harm.
Cards similar to Reciprocate by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Reciprocate offers an edge in combat by providing a clean removal of an attacking creature. This swap in battlefield state often results in card advantage as you’ve dealt with a key piece of your opponent’s strategy without losing a card yourself.
Resource Acceleration: While Reciprocate doesn’t directly generate mana or resources, its low casting cost aids in preserving mana for other spells, effectively accelerating your access to larger spells or abilities earlier than your opponent.
Instant Speed: As an instant, Reciprocate gives players the flexibility to respond to threats at a moment’s notice. This can disrupt opponents’ plans, allowing you to wait until just the right moment during combat to remove an attacking creature, thereby maintaining the element of surprise and tactical advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Engaging with Reciprocate requires a strategic hand, as you must discard another card to use its benefits. This condition can prove to be tricky, especially when your hand size is already dwindling, potentially forcing you to let go of valuable resources.
Specific Mana Cost: Tailored for white mana decks, Reciprocate’s casting cost is strictly white. This requirement can pose a limitation, making it less versatile for multi-colored or colorless decks that may struggle to consistently produce the required mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering its cost, Reciprocate joins the ranks of spells at similar mana points. However, for three mana, some players might expect an immediate and more impactful board presence, leading them to opt for alternatives that provide more bang for their buck in a competitive environment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Reciprocate is a highly flexible card that can be slotted into defensive strategies as well as more proactive ones. It shines in a variety of game scenarios, making it a useful tool against a broad range of creatures.
Combo Potential: This card’s potential to remove a threat without any mana cost the turn your creature is dealt damage makes it an excellent combo piece. It partners well with effects that prevent or redirect damage, allowing you to orchestrate advantageous board states.
Meta-Relevance: Given its low cost of entry and ability to deal with big threats in creature-heavy metas, Reciprocate holds its ground as a relevant card in many competitive formats. Its application in sideboards or even main decks can give players an edge in the current landscape of the game.
How to beat
Reciprocate is a unique card that can present a significant challenge to many strategies in Magic: The Gathering. It offers an efficient way to deal with creatures that have dealt damage, exiling them without any chance for regeneration. To outmaneuver this reactive card, players should build their plays around it, anticipating its low-cost exile ability.
One effective strategy is to diversify threats on the battlefield, ensuring not all creatures can be targeted, or mimic the effect with cards that offer indestructible or hexproof abilities. It’s also prudent to bait out Reciprocate early in the game, if possible, or rely on spells that resurrect creatures from the graveyard to bring them back even if they do get exiled. In addition, implementing non-creature sources of damage or effects that can negate white spells or target protection can also help to navigate around Reciprocate’s limitations. Finally, keeping in mind its white mana constraint can aid in predicting when it might be played, adjusting your approach in terms of tempo and creature deployment accordingly.
Overall, adapting your playstyle to either avoid or mitigate the impact of Reciprocate can help maintain an advantage, ensuring that this potent removal card doesn’t disrupt your path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Reciprocate MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Champions of Kamigawa, 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 Reciprocate and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
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Printings
The Reciprocate Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2004-10-01 and 2011-04-01. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 35164 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jim Murray | ||
| 2 | 2004-10-01 | Champions of Kamigawa | CHK | 40 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Pat Lee | |
| 3 | Magic Player Rewards 2005 | P05 | 6 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jim Murray | ||
| 4 | 2011-04-01 | Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons | DDG | 24 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Pat Lee |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Reciprocate has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |