Returned Pastcaller MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Spirit Cleric |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Released | 2021-04-23 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Strixhaven: School of Mages |
| Set code | STX |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 224 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Grzegorz Rutkowski |
Text of card
Flying When Returned Pastcaller enters the battlefield, return target Spirit, instant, or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand.
Lorehold spirit statues are not forbidden from raising statues of their own.
Cards like Returned Pastcaller
The Returned Pastcaller is an intriguing card that possesses the ability to fetch a card back from the graveyard when it enters the battlefield. It resembles other cards with graveyard retrieval capabilities such as Gravedigger. Gravedigger also allows a player to return a creature card from their graveyard to their hand upon entry, but it lacks the Pastcaller’s additional powers and versatility.
Another card in this discussion is Eternal Witness, which has solidified its place in many decks for its ability to recover any card from the graveyard, not just creature cards, making it an incredibly flexible option. However, Returned Pastcaller gains an edge with its second ability, allowing for dual utility since it can function both as an impactful creature on the board and as a resource recovery tool. Additionally, Baloth Null shares a resemblance, bringing two creature cards back from the graveyard to the hand, but it does so at a higher mana cost and without the added zombie subtype synergy that Returned Pastcaller offers.
When evaluating the utility against similar creature cards with graveyard recovery powers, Returned Pastcaller carves out a niche in both zombie decks and strategies that benefit from its multifaceted role, making it a potentially valuable addition to any Magic: The Gathering lineup.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Returned Pastcaller excels at card advantage by allowing you to return a key creature card from your graveyard to your hand, ensuring that you have access to your game-changing creatures when you need them the most.
Resource Acceleration: This card grants an immediate boost in board presence by enabling you to cast a smaller creature from your graveyard as well, effectively giving you a two-for-one deal and accelerating your resource development.
Instant Speed: The versatility of instant speed casting makes Returned Pastcaller a formidable tool. You can end your opponent’s turn with a surprise play, disrupting their strategy and keeping them guessing about your next move.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Returned Pastcaller card necessitates the discarding of another card, potentially depleting your hand when you need to maintain card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: With its particular mana combination requirement – both black and green – this card might not seamlessly fit into decks that aren’t tailored to a Golgari strategy.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a mana value of five, the Returned Pastcaller has a hefty casting cost which could be a setback in faster-paced games where efficiency is key.
Reasons to Include Returned Pastcaller in Your Collection
Versatility: Returned Pastcaller is versatile with its dual nature. It provides value upon entry with its ability to return a creature card from your graveyard to your hand, making it a useful asset in a variety of decks that aim to recycle creatures for repeated benefits.
Combo Potential: Its unearth ability adds another layer of depth, giving it the potential to be part of explosive one-turn combos. It can temporarily return to the battlefield to provide a crucial effect or attack before it’s exiled, making it highly synergistic in decks designed to utilize the graveyard.
Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-shifting meta landscape, Returned Pastcaller finds relevance in environments where games tend to stretch into longer battles. The card’s utility in recurring key creatures gives you a persistent edge, making it an excellent choice for strategies that capitalize on incremental advantages.
How to beat
Returned Pastcaller marks its presence in the MTG realm as a versatile card, intriguing for its capability to recur creatures from the graveyard to the hand. It’s akin to other resurrection spells like Unearth, which provides a temporary return, or Eternal Witness that grants the retrieval of any card. What sets Returned Pastcaller apart is its dual utility as both a creature and revival engine.
Defeating this card involves a strategy to preemptively disrupt graveyard synergies. Cards like Rest in Peace or Scavenging Ooze serve as perfect foils, stripping away the critical resource Returned Pastcaller depends on. Additionally, instant removal spells that can target the Pastcaller before its effect activates, like Fatal Push or Path to Exile, prove effective in circumventing the advantage it offers.
Ultimately, understanding the mechanics surrounding graveyard-based strategies is key to overcoming the potential value Returned Pastcaller brings to the battlefield. Utilizing graveyard hate or timely removal, opponents can ensure that Returned Pastcaller’s influence is short-lived, maintaining control over the game’s momentum and preventing the card from fully realizing its recursive potential.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Returned Pastcaller MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Returned Pastcaller 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 Returned Pastcaller has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |