Return to the Earth MTG Card
2015-01-23 - Number 135
2018-06-08 - Number 210
2019-11-07 - Number 1311
2020-09-26 - Number BBD-210
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Destroy target artifact, enchantment, or creature with flying.
"Dragons are feared for their breath and their bite, but it is their wings that make them unconquerable. Bring them to earth, and they die like any other beast." —Kassur, Sultai hunter
Cards like Return to the Earth
Return to the Earth is a versatile choice among removal spells in Magic: The Gathering. When scouting the battlefield for cards with parallel utility, you might consider cards like Plummet, which also serves the purpose of destroying creatures with flying. However, Return to the Earth takes it a step further by offering the ability to target not just creatures but also enchantments and artifacts, providing a broader range of targets.
Another card that arises in discussions of comparable utility is Naturalize. With the simple task of destroying artifacts and enchantments, it’s a staple in green sideboards. While it doesn’t address creatures, the lower mana cost of Naturalize presents a trade-off for its narrower scope. Crushing Vines enters the fray as well, delivering a choice to destroy either a creature with flying or an artifact, hence straddling the line between the scope of Plummet and Return to the Earth but at an increased cost.
Ultimately, evaluating these cards side by side unveils Return to the Earth’s expansive range of targets, securing its position as a multifaceted answer to several types of threats found across tables in Magic: The Gathering, while acknowledging the context-dependent trade-offs each similar card brings to the game.
Cards similar to Return to the Earth by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Return to the Earth offers a unique form of card advantage by providing an answer to four different types of threats: flying creatures, enchantments, artifacts, and planeswalkers. This versatility ensures that the card can almost always be relevant and impact the board when played, thus generating value.
Resource Acceleration: While Return to the Earth doesn’t directly accelerate resources in terms of mana, it can indirectly influence resource acceleration by removing key artifacts or enchantments that opponents may be using for their acceleration strategies. This disruption can slow opponents down, keeping you at a competitive pace or even ahead in the resource game.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Return to the Earth at instant speed gives it strategic depth, allowing players to respond to immediate threats or use it during an opponent’s turn to maximize mana efficiency. This flexibility in timing can lead to powerful plays that protect your interests while hindering an opponent’s plans.
Card Cons
Specific Mana Cost: Return to the Earth requires a specific combination of mana to cast, including one green mana. This may potentially restrict its inclusion in multicolored decks that cannot reliably generate the required mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing four mana, two of which are generic and one that must be green, the spell’s casting cost is somewhat high for its effect. There are more cost-efficient alternatives for removing flying creatures or enchantments in the game.
Discard Requirement: This card doesn’t have a discard requirement, this section is not applicable to Return to the Earth as the card does not necessitate discarding as part of its casting cost or effect. Players can focus on its in-game utility without the concern of losing additional hand resources.
Reasons to Include Return to the Earth in Your Collection
Versatility: Return to the Earth is a card that can be a crucial component in a variety of decks. Its ability to target creatures with flying, enchantments, or artifacts makes it a multifaceted answer to many threats, ensuring your deck can adapt to different opponents with ease.
Combo Potential: For decks that thrive on card synergies, particularly in green and multi-color builds, this card disrupts opponents’ combos while opening up interactions on your side of the battlefield, perhaps by clearing the way for your own aerial threats or benefiting from enchantment/artifact removal.
Meta-Relevance: With a constantly evolving competitive scene, Return to the Earth has its place as a sideboard card, or even main deck choice, in an environment where flyers, enchantments, and artifacts are prevalent, giving you an edge when facing commonly played strategies.
How to beat
Return to the Earth serves as a versatile utility card in the realms of MTG, adept at removing airborne threats alongside artifacts and enchantments. To outmaneuver this card, strategic deck-building is essential. Start by diversifying your threats. Rather than relying heavily on flyers, artifacts, or enchantments, incorporate a blend of creature types and spells. This prevents Return to the Earth from being overly disruptive and ensures that you always have a board presence.
Additionally, employing instant speed spells that can protect or regenerate your key pieces can deflect the impact of Return to the Earth. Reactive cards like Blossoming Defense or Eerie Interlude can save your important creatures or enchantments while maintaining your momentum. Furthermore, prioritizing low-cost or high-value permanents can mitigate the card’s effect. Since Return to the Earth costs four mana, using cost-efficient permanents ensures that even if they are removed, you retain a mana advantage.
Understanding Return to the Earth’s strengths and limitations is crucial to counter it effectively. By diversifying threats and including protective measures in your deck, you position yourself favorably against potential disruption, maintaining your grip on the game against this multifaceted removal option.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Return to the Earth MTG card by a specific set like Fate Reforged and Battlebond, 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 Return to the Earth 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
Printings
The Return to the Earth Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2015-01-23 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Mark Winters.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-01-23 | Fate Reforged | FRF | 135 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Winters | |
| 2 | 2018-06-08 | Battlebond | BBD | 210 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Winters | |
| 3 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1311 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Winters | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | BBD-210 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Winters |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Return to the Earth has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |