Word of Undoing MTG Card
1995-06-03 - Number 108
2007-09-10 - Number 56
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Return target creature to owner's hand. Return any white enchantments you own on that creature to your hand.
"It was in Urza's journals that I finally found the secret at the core of the summonings." —Journal, author unknown
Cards like Word of Undoing
Word of Undoing presents itself as a unique spell in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, closely related to other bounce spells designed to return permanents to their owner’s hands. It’s similar to Unsummon, a card that also targets creatures, but Word of Undoing extends its influence beyond creatures, encompassing all nonland permanents. The broader scope potentially offers greater flexibility against a wider array of threats.
Comparatively, Echoing Truth emerges as another card with a similar effect, targeting not just a single permanent, but all identical ones across the battlefield. While Echoing Truth requires more mana to cast, its ability to address multiple threats of the same name can turn the tide in games with redundant strategies. Another related bounce card is Into the Roil, providing the option for card draw if kicked for an additional cost. This kicker mechanic affords a strategic depth, giving players a chance to go beyond mere bouncing.
Assessing the benefits and applications, Word of Undoing stands out for its cost-efficient and versatile bounce capability that counters single threats, positioning it as a reliable card in Magic: The Gathering when dealing with an opponent’s nonland permanents.
Cards similar to Word of Undoing by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Word of Undoing offers a selective bounce effect that can disrupt your opponent’s board, effectively setting them back and potentially giving you a card advantage. By returning a nonland permanent to its owner’s hand, you can tackle troublesome creatures, artifacts, or enchantments that are impeding your strategy, allowing for a smoother path to victory.
Resource Acceleration: While Word of Undoing itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its low casting cost ensures that its impact on your mana pool remains minimal. This precision enables you to continue developing your board or hold up mana for other crucial spells, maintaining the pace and efficiency of your resource utilization.
Instant Speed: As an instant, Word of Undoing gives you the flexibility to make decisive plays during your opponent’s turn. This can be a powerful surprise tactic to remove an attacker or responder at a critical moment, potentially saving you from lethal damage or disrupting a combo play. Its instant speed also means you can optimally time the casting, ensuring you gain maximum strategic benefit from the spell.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Word of Undoing is the requirement to discard a card. In gameplay, this means you’re sacrificing precious hand resources, potentially losing crucial strategic options for the turn or future plays.
Specific Mana Cost: Word of Undoing carries a specific mana requirement that can be a hurdle in multicolored decks. Since it requires blue mana, players without sufficient blue sources might find it challenging to cast at a crucial moment, making it less flexible compared to colorless options or those with a generic mana cost.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might be considered steep for its effect, Word of Undoing competes with other spells that provide similar or better outcomes for less mana. This factor can make it a less attractive option when deckbuilding as players often seek the most efficient spells for mana expenditure.
Reasons to Include Word of Undoing in Your Collection
Versatility: Word of Undoing offers an exceptional degree of adaptability for any deck that could use a cost-efficient bounce spell. Its ability to target any permanent makes it a flexible option in various game scenarios.
Combo Potential: This card shines in situations where you need to disrupt an opponent’s board or protect your own assets. It can be a useful part of a combo that aims to temporarily remove obstacles or reuse your own enter-the-battlefield effects.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where tempo plays a significant role, Word of Undoing can act as a strategic tool to shift the pace of the game, making it relevant in many MTG meta strata. It can set back an opposing player’s momentum or negate a major threat for a low mana cost.
How to beat
Word of Undoing presents an intriguing dynamic in the field of bounce spells within Magic the Gathering. Its primary appeal comes from its ability to return a target nonland permanent to its owner’s hand at the cost of just a single blue mana. This presents a strategic advantage in temporary removal, but like all cards, it has its vulnerabilities.
To counteract Word of Undoing, it’s essential to plan for permanents that can withstand being returned to your hand. Cards with enter the battlefield effects or other cast triggers can capitalize on being bounced. Alternatively, strategies that contain instant-speed reactive measures, like those which counter spells, ensure Word of Undoing loses its potency. Moreover, considering its limitation in only targeting nonland permanents provides a window to construct decks less reliant on those card types, thus mitigating the impact even further when facing this spell.
Overall, understanding the intricacies of your deck’s interaction with bounce spells is paramount. Include cards that benefit from being returned to hand or diversify with permanent types less affected, and you’ll effectively reduce the effectiveness of Word of Undoing in your matches, keeping your gameplay fluid and resilient against such targeted removal.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Word of Undoing MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Masters Edition, 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 Word of Undoing 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 Word of Undoing Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2007-09-10. Illustrated by Christopher Rush.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995-06-03 | Ice Age | ICE | 108 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Christopher Rush | |
| 2 | 2007-09-10 | Masters Edition | ME1 | 56 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Christopher Rush |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Word of Undoing has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |