Swerve MTG Card


Swerve - Shards of Alara
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Released2008-10-03
Set symbol
Set nameShards of Alara
Set codeALA
Number200
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byKarl Kopinski

Key Takeaways

  1. Swerve turns opponent’s spells against them, offering significant card advantage and controlling the flow of the match.
  2. Its unique instant-speed ability can surprise adversaries, shifting momentum swiftly in the caster’s favor.
  3. Although powerful, Swerve’s specific mana cost and potential hand management impact could be strategic drawbacks.

Text of card

Change the target of target spell with a single target.

"We can't beat the necromancers in numbers or raw power. We must beat them with ingenuity and timing." —Rannon, Vithian holdout


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Swerve alters the landscape of any match by allowing you to redirect a target of a spell that an opponent controls, effectively turning their resources against them and potentially negating the need for additional cards to counter or mitigate the original spell’s effect.

Resource Acceleration: While Swerve itself does not directly provide resource acceleration, its low mana cost and efficiency can preserve your own resources. Saving heavier counterspells for more critical threats, Swerve maintains your pace without sacrificing tempo.

Instant Speed: The capability to cast Swerve at instant speed gives you the tactical flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s plays during their turn, keeping them off-balance. It acts as a surprise element that can shift the game’s momentum in your favor at a moment’s notice.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Swerve card itself does not require a discard, but its strategic value might pressure the player to hold onto specific cards to maximize its utility, leading to a tighter hand management.

Specific Mana Cost: Swerve requires both blue and red mana, making it less flexible for inclusion in decks that do not run these colors synergistically or as part of a multicolor strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For an instant that simply redirects a single spell, the two mana cost (one blue, one red) might compete with other instant-speed options that either counter or provide additional effects beyond redirection.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Swerve shines in any deck that focuses on having a reactive game plan. With its ability to change the target of single-target spells, it can turn an opponent’s removal, burn, or even beneficial spells such as enchantments or buffs against them, fitting seamlessly into counter-strategy builds.

Combo Potential: This card is an excellent tool for players looking to craft combos that capitalize on the casting and targeting of spells. Swerve amplifies this strategy, enabling savvy players to disrupt opponents’ actions or even use their spells to bolster their own board state.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment packed with high-value instants and sorceries, Swerve asserts its significance. It’s most potent in metas where pinpoint disruption can swing the tide of a game, making it an ace up your sleeve against finely tuned decks heavy on targeted spells.


How to beat

Swerve is a unique instant card in Magic the Gathering that offers players the ability to change targets of spells with single targets, turning a game on its head with precise timing. This control card is typically seen in blue and red decks, known for their trickery and tactics. To outsmart a player using Swerve, you need a deep understanding of the stack and the types of spells you’re casting. Cards that cannot be countered or spells with multiple targets are your best weapons against Swerve. One strategy is to bait your opponent into using Swerve prematurely, allowing for a more critical spell to resolve later. Including instants that can counteract non-creature spells provides another safeguard, ensuring your key spells hit their intended marks.

Moreover, holding back on casting important single-target spells when you suspect the opponent has mana open for a Swerve can force them into a less advantageous position. This simple yet effective approach can disrupt an opponent’s strategy, mitigating the impact of their potential counters and turning the tide of the match in your favor. Understanding when to apply pressure and when to hold back is essential in overcoming the hurdles presented by reactive cards like Swerve.


Cards like Swerve

Swerve finds its niche in the realm of Magic: The Gathering as a clever trick to disrupt opponents’ plans. With a close resemblance to cards such as Redirect, which also changes the target of spells, Swerve offers this tactical advantage at instant speed for a mere two mana. Unlike Redirect, which can alter the target of any spell, Swerve is more focused—it only redirects spells with a single target, adding a layer of strategy to its use.

Another comparable card is Misdirection, a free alternative if you’re willing to exile a blue card from your hand. Though this can be a zero-cost gamechanger, Swerve’s reliably low casting cost and its place in the “counter-war” arsenals make it a favorite for players who prefer a consistent defense over potential high-stake plays. Rebuff the Wicked is another one in the arsenal; it protects your permanents but does not offer the flexibility of targeting opponent’s spells like Swerve does.

Ultimately, Swerve is a valuable asset, offering precision and unexpected shifts in the battle’s tide with ease of inclusion in a variety of decks. Its impact on gameplay and strategic depth solidify its standing as a distinctive and resourceful card in the competitive scene.

Redirect - MTG Card versions
Misdirection - MTG Card versions
Rebuff the Wicked - MTG Card versions
Redirect - Magic 2011 (M11)
Misdirection - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Rebuff the Wicked - Planar Chaos (PLC)

Cards similar to Swerve by color, type and mana cost

Jilt - MTG Card versions
Galvanic Iteration - MTG Card versions
Izzet Charm - MTG Card versions
Leap of Flame - MTG Card versions
Inside Out - MTG Card versions
Desperate Ravings - MTG Card versions
Chemister's Trick - MTG Card versions
Mindswipe - MTG Card versions
Teach by Example - MTG Card versions
Arcane Infusion - MTG Card versions
Fires of Victory - MTG Card versions
Accident-Prone Apprentice // Amphibian Accident - MTG Card versions
Run for Your Life - MTG Card versions
Jilt - Apocalypse (APC)
Galvanic Iteration - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)
Izzet Charm - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Leap of Flame - Guildpact (GPT)
Inside Out - Eventide (EVE)
Desperate Ravings - The List (PLST)
Chemister's Trick - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Mindswipe - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Teach by Example - Strixhaven: School of Mages (STX)
Arcane Infusion - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)
Fires of Victory - Dominaria United (DMU)
Accident-Prone Apprentice // Amphibian Accident - Alchemy: Wilds of Eldraine (YWOE)
Run for Your Life - Doctor Who (WHO)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Swerve MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara, 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 Swerve and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Swerve has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Swerve card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2008-10-01 If a spell targets multiple things, you can’t target it with Swerve, even if all but one of those targets has become illegal.
2008-10-01 If a spell targets the same player or object multiple times, you can’t target it with Swerve.
2008-10-01 If you cast Swerve on a spell that targets a spell on the stack (like Cancel does, for example), you can’t change that spell’s target to itself. You can, however, change that spell’s target to Swerve. If you do, that spell won’t resolve when it tries to resolve because Swerve will have left the stack by then.
2008-10-01 Swerve targets only the spell whose target will be changed. It doesn’t directly affect the original target of that spell or the new target of that spell.
2008-10-01 You don’t choose the new target for the spell until Swerve resolves. You must change the target if possible. However, you can’t change the target to an illegal target. If there are no legal targets, the target isn’t changed. It doesn’t matter if the original target of that spell has somehow become illegal.
2010-03-01 An Aura spell on the stack targets the object or player which it will enchant upon entering the battlefield. Thus, an Aura spell is a “spell with a single target”, which means you may use Swerve to change that target. Doing so will cause it to enter the battlefield enchanting the new target rather than the original one.

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