Writ of Return MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeSorcery
Abilities Cipher

Key Takeaways

  1. Enhances card advantage by recovering valuable creatures from the graveyard to the hand, ready for re-play.
  2. Can be cast at instant speed, providing flexibility and the element of surprise during complex game states.
  3. Despite discard and mana restrictions, its versatility and combo potential make it a meta-relevant addition.

Text of card

Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped. Cipher (Then you may exile this spell card encoded on a creature you control. Whenever that creature deals combat damage to a player, its controller may cast a copy of the encoded card without paying its mana cost.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Writ of Return fits into decks that focus on squeezing the most out of each card. This spell provides exceptional card advantage by bringing back creatures from the graveyard to your hand. It effectively allows you to reuse your most powerful monsters or gain back those that have been strategically sacrificed earlier in the game. It’s like having a second chance to deploy your key pieces, which in MTG, can often mean the difference between victory and defeat.

Resource Acceleration: In the grand scheme of MTG, timing is everything. While Writ of Return does not directly ramp up your mana resources like some green spells, it does rapidly accelerate your resource deployment by immediately making your creatures available for a comeback. This enhances your resource pool since the creatures returned to your hand are ready to be played again, potentially leading to a significant shift in the board state.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Writ of Return at instant speed provides a tactical edge, allowing you to react to your opponent’s moves spontaneously. Whether it’s during their end step or in response to a threat, the flexibility this instant speed affords can catch your opponent off guard. This grants you the leverage to adapt to evolving game states and capitalize on opportune moments with a well-timed graveyard retrieval.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Writ of Return necessitates the discarding of another card as part of its casting cost. This can be particularly taxing in game situations where hand size is already compromised or each card in hand is vital to your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: To unleash its potential, Writ of Return requires a precise combination of mana colors. This restriction can deter players from incorporating it into multi-colored decks, as it might not align seamlessly with their mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When it comes to reanimation spells, Writ of Return’s mana cost is on the higher end. For its mana expenditure, players might expect a more impactful effect or might prefer other cards that offer similar outcomes without the steep cost.


Reasons to Include Writ of Return in Your Collection

Versatility: Writ of Return is a flexible card that can be slipped into a variety of decks that aim to recur valuable creatures from their graveyard. Its adaptability makes it a fine addition for any player focusing on graveyard manipulation strategies.

Combo Potential: This card creates opportunities to re-establish powerful combos by retrieving key creatures from your graveyard with ease. Its ability to repeatedly set up synergistic creature interactions can be a game-changer.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where creatures are being constantly removed, Writ of Return proves its worth by bringing back high-impact creatures to regain a strategic edge, making it a relevant tool in many meta scenarios.


How to beat

Writ of Return is a spell that can catch players off guard, bringing creatures back from the graveyard to the battlefield. Tackling this, it’s essential to preemptively control your opponent’s graveyard. Cards with graveyard hate abilities, such as Relic of Progenitus or Scavenging Ooze, are perfect counters. They can exile key creatures before Writ of Return has a chance to work its magic.

Counterspells also offer a straightforward solution. Having a Mana Leak or Negate ready when your opponent attempts to cast Writ of Return can neutralize its effect entirely. Another strategy involves using instant-speed removal such as Path to Exile or Assassin’s Trophy, which can be used in response to Writ of Return, thus ensuring the creature does not stick around for long.

Moreover, staying vigilant with hand disruption plays a crucial role. Discard spells like Thoughtseize can preemptively remove Writ of Return from your opponent’s hand, while Leyline of the Void offers a more permanent solution to exile graveyard cards. Preventing Writ of Return from tipping the scales in your opponent’s favor is about keeping their graveyard clear and being ready to respond with the right answers.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive into the finesse of Writ of Return and amplify your MTG deck’s potential. Harnessing this card’s power lays a foundation for strategic comebacks, turning the tides when you play it just right. Infuse your game with the essence of resourceful gameplay by adopting practices to optimize the retrieval abilities Writ of Return provides. For players eager to sharpen their understanding and bolster their game with graveyard manipulation, learning the ins and outs of Writ of Return is key. Ready for an edge that could redefine your game? Explore with us and reinvent your path to victory.


Cards like Writ of Return

Writ of Return is a niche card that echoes the mechanics and utility of reanimation spells within Magic: The Gathering. It finds its kinship with cards such as Unearth, which allows for the return of a small creature from your graveyard to the battlefield. Unearth is more restrictive in the creature’s casting cost it can target, but it makes up for this limitation by offering a lower casting cost and cycling ability.

Cards like Zombify also share the reanimation trait, bringing back any creature at the cost of four mana. While Zombify doesn’t have the additional exile effect at the end of turn like Writ of Return, it gives the creature a more permanent status on the battlefield. Similarly, Animate Dead stands out with its ability to resurrect creatures while attaching itself as an Aura, influencing the creature’s power and toughness.

Evaluating these options shows that Writ of Return can hold its place in MTG, especially for temporary battlefield advantages or surprise tactics. The trade-off between permanence and immediate impact makes it a card worth considering in decks that rely on enter-the-battlefield or leave-the-battlefield triggers.

Unearth - MTG Card versions
Zombify - MTG Card versions
Animate Dead - MTG Card versions
Unearth - MTG Card versions
Zombify - MTG Card versions
Animate Dead - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Writ of Return by color, type and mana cost

Reign of Terror - MTG Card versions
Soul Shred - MTG Card versions
Living Death - MTG Card versions
Soul Feast - MTG Card versions
Dregs of Sorrow - MTG Card versions
Haunting Echoes - MTG Card versions
Beacon of Unrest - MTG Card versions
Coveted Prize - MTG Card versions
Final Punishment - MTG Card versions
Sever Soul - MTG Card versions
Mind Sludge - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Bidding - MTG Card versions
Aether Snap - MTG Card versions
Vicious Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Dance of Shadows - MTG Card versions
Brainspoil - MTG Card versions
Head Games - MTG Card versions
Rise from the Grave - MTG Card versions
Voices from the Void - MTG Card versions
Promise of Power - MTG Card versions
Reign of Terror - MTG Card versions
Soul Shred - MTG Card versions
Living Death - MTG Card versions
Soul Feast - MTG Card versions
Dregs of Sorrow - MTG Card versions
Haunting Echoes - MTG Card versions
Beacon of Unrest - MTG Card versions
Coveted Prize - MTG Card versions
Final Punishment - MTG Card versions
Sever Soul - MTG Card versions
Mind Sludge - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Bidding - MTG Card versions
Aether Snap - MTG Card versions
Vicious Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Dance of Shadows - MTG Card versions
Brainspoil - MTG Card versions
Head Games - MTG Card versions
Rise from the Grave - MTG Card versions
Voices from the Void - MTG Card versions
Promise of Power - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Writ of Return MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and New Capenna Commander, 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 Writ of Return and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Writ of Return Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-04-29 and 2022-04-29. Illustrated by Kai Carpenter.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 999272015NormalBlackKai Carpenter
22022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 1432015NormalBlackKai Carpenter
32022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 422015NormalBlackKai Carpenter

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Writ of Return has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-04-29 If a creature with an encoded card deals combat damage to more than one player simultaneously (perhaps because some of the combat damage was redirected), the triggered ability will trigger once for each player it deals combat damage to. Each ability will create a copy of the exiled card and allow you to cast it.
2022-04-29 If another player gains control of the creature, that player will control the triggered ability. That player will create a copy of the encoded card and may cast it.
2022-04-29 If the creature leaves the battlefield, the exiled card will no longer be encoded on any creature. It will stay exiled.
2022-04-29 If the spell with cipher doesn't resolve, none of its effects will happen, including cipher. The card will go to its owner's graveyard and won't be encoded on a creature.
2022-04-29 If you choose not to cast the copy, or you can't cast it (perhaps because there are no legal targets available), the copy will cease to exist the next time state-based actions are performed. You won't get a chance to cast the copy at a later time.
2022-04-29 The copy of the card with cipher is created in and cast from exile.
2022-04-29 The exiled card with cipher grants a triggered ability to the creature it's encoded on. If that creature loses that ability and subsequently deals combat damage to a player, the triggered ability won't trigger. However, the exiled card will continue to be encoded on that creature.
2022-04-29 The spell with cipher is encoded on the creature as part of that spell's resolution, just after the spell's other effects. That card goes directly from the stack to exile. It never goes to the graveyard.
2022-04-29 You can choose only a creature to encode the card onto.
2022-04-29 You cast the copy of the card with cipher during the resolution of the triggered ability. Ignore timing restrictions based on the card's type.
2022-04-29 You choose the creature as the spell resolves. The cipher ability doesn't target that creature.