Retraced Image MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Released | 2002-02-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Torment |
| Set code | TOR |
| Number | 46 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Greg Staples |
Text of card
Reveal a card in your hand, then put that card into play if it has the same name as a permanent in play.
An army from a soldier, a flock from a bird, a school from a fish . . . a profit from an atrocity.
Cards like Retraced Image
Retraced Image holds a unique position within Magic: The Gathering as an enabler for card advantage and library manipulation. Its closest relatives are cards such as Visions of Beyond, also designed for drawing cards, yet Retraced Image adds a layer of board presence by allowing you to play a land or creature card from your hand if it shares a name with a card on the battlefield.
Here we can draw parallels to Selective Memory, which allows players to search their library for any number of nonland cards and exile them. While offering a different approach to refining your deck, it lacks the immediate on-the-field advantage granted by Retraced Image. Another notable comparison is with Enlightened Tutor, which lets players search for an artifact or enchantment card. While it doesn’t immediately affect the board state or hand like Retraced Image, it provides specificity and planning for future turns.
These subtle differences in gameplay implications underline Retraced Image’s versatility in setting up duplicates for immediate use, contrasting with other cards’ focus on long-term strategy or mass deck filtering without immediate board or hand impact.
Cards similar to Retraced Image by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Retraced Image has the potential to put a land card onto the battlefield, which serves both as card advantage and smooths out your land drops. This can be particularly relevant in formats where land drops are pivotal for maintaining momentum in the game.
Resource Acceleration: By enabling you to put an additional land card into play, Retraced Image can accelerate your resources. This can be critical early on, as it allows you to play higher-cost cards sooner than your opponent, potentially giving you the upper hand.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Retraced Image at instant speed allows you to react to the state of the game effectively. You’re able to leave mana open for other spells and abilities, then play Retraced Image at the most opportune moment, often at the end of your opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When you play Retraced Image, it necessitates that you discard another card, potentially putting you at a card disadvantage especially if your hand is already depleted of options.
Specific Mana Cost: Retraced Image’s mana cost demands one blue, which might not always align with your deck’s color scheme, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring two mana in total, one of them specifically being blue, makes Retraced Image a commitment. Given this cost, some players might prefer alternatives that offer more flexibility or immediate board presence.
Reasons to Include Retraced Image in Your Collection
Versatility: Retraced Image stands out due to its ability to seamlessly integrate into a spectrum of decks, especially ones that require a quick setup. By placing a land or a creature with the same name from your hand onto the battlefield, it can accelerate your game plan significantly.
Combo Potential: This card also offers combo potential as it can quickly duplicate key creatures or lands, aligning with strategies that capitalize on specific permanents’ presence. This can be a stepping stone to executing your win condition sooner than expected.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that values rapid board development or needs specific lands for pivotal spells, Retraced Image delivers an efficient solution. Its capacity to influence early-game dynamics makes it a worthy addition to collections poised to address and adapt to evolving gameplay environments.
How to beat
Retraced Image is a unique blue spell in the enchanting world of Magic: The Gathering that lets players put a card onto the battlefield if they have a matching card on their battlefield. This quirky clone mechanic can nudge the tides of play in your opponent’s favor, especially if they replicate a high-value permanent. To outmaneuver this spell, keen strategy is required.
One effective tactic is to limit the options available on your battlefield. Prioritize removing creatures and other permanents that could potentially be mirrored by Retraced Image. Efficient removal spells, counterspells, or hand disruption techniques can interfere with your opponent’s ability to cast or benefit from this spell. By keeping the battlefield clear of key permanents, or by holding up counter magic specifically for the Retraced Image, you can neutralize its cloning trick and maintain control of the game. Preparedness and adaptability are essential when facing off against this deceptive illusion.
Ultimately, it’s about understanding the critical moments and permanents in your matchup. Identifying and disrupting the synergy that Retraced Image relies on will give you the upper hand, ensuring that your opponent’s imagined victories remain nothing more than a mirage.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Retraced Image MTG card by a specific set like Torment, 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 Retraced Image 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Retraced Image has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |