Turn Against MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Devoid |
| Released | 2015-10-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Battle for Zendikar |
| Set code | BFZ |
| Number | 135 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Chris Rallis |
Key Takeaways
- Turn Against provides instant control of creatures, disrupting opponents and potentially swinging games.
- It’s a strategic pick for red-based decks, enabling versatile and surprising plays.
- Similar cards offer varying speeds and effects, though Turn Against remains efficient for its cost.
Text of card
Devoid (This card has no color.) Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn.
"No, don't! Nal, it's me—"
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The tactical utility of Turn Against lies in its ability to temporarily seize control of an opponent’s creature. This not only disrupts their board presence but also potentially gives you an extra attacker or blocker, turning the tide of the game to your favor. By doing so, it can create a swing in card advantage as you effectively deny your opponent their resources while utilizing them for your own strategy.
Resource Acceleration: While Turn Against does not directly accelerate your resources in the traditional sense, the strategic advantage gained from commandeering a key creature can accelerate your game plan. In essence, it temporarily grants you additional resources by giving you access to an opponent’s creature, which can enable more aggressive plays or defensive maneuvers, depending on the situation.
Instant Speed: The fact that Turn Against can be cast at instant speed is a significant strength. This allows you to wait until the most opportune moment—such as during the combat phase or in response to an opponent’s action—to disrupt their plans. Instant speed casts provide great flexibility, as you can retain mana for other spells and react swiftly to the evolving game state, making it a versatile tool in many MTG decks.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Turn Against requires careful hand management since, in some scenarios, activating its ability can mean having to part with valuable cards from your hand. This can leave you vulnerable, especially when your resources are already dwindling during late-game situations.
Specific Mana Cost: Turn Against commands a precise combination of mana, including both red and generic. This inflexibility can hinder deck building, as you’ll need to ensure that your mana base can consistently produce the necessary red mana when the card is needed most.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is on the higher end for its temporary control effect, Turn Against may not always present the best value. For the same or less mana investment, you might access similar effects or permanent solutions that offer a more sustainable board presence or longer-term advantage.
Reasons to Include Turn Against in Your Collection
Versatility: Turn Against boasts a level of adaptability that allows it to slip into various deck archetypes. It’s a surprise element in any red-based strategy, turning foes into temporary allies without warning.
Combo Potential: This card opens the door for immediate two-for-one scenarios on the battlefield. By commandeering an opponent’s creature at a critical moment, you can create favorable trades or disrupt combos, positioning yourself for a pivotal game swing.
Meta-Relevance: In a gaming environment dominated by creature-focused decks, Turn Against provides a unique edge. It can temporarily hijack high-value targets, disrupting opponent’s plans and potentially leading to devastating turns in your favor.
How to beat
Turn Against stands out in MTG as a disruptive spell, capable of momentarily commandeering an opponent’s creature during a critical phase of gameplay. This spell seizes control of a creature and grants it haste until end of turn, often turning the tides of battle unexpectedly. While powerful, there are strategies to mitigate its impact.
One effective approach to counter is maintaining mana for instant-speed removal or counter spells, ensuring the hijacked creature can be swiftly dealt with. Counterspell or Murderous Rider are examples of such measures. Another tactic involves minimizing the number of valuable targets by not overextending creatures onto the battlefield or by using creatures that have hexproof or shroud, thus eluding Turn Against entirely.
In essence, playing around Turn Against hinges on strategic foresight and maintaining the ability to react. Identifying the critical junctures when your opponent might deploy Turn Against and aligning your play to withstand its effect is essential. This way, the temporary theft yields minimal advantage, preserving your board state and maintaining the upper hand in the clash.
Cards like Turn Against
Turn Against stands out in the vast landscape of control spells in Magic: The Gathering. It’s akin to Act of Treason, which also temporarily wrests control of an opponent’s creature. The distinction lies in Turn Against’s instant speed, allowing for surprise plays and combat trickery. Act of Treason, restricted to sorcery speed, lacks this tactical flexibility.
Another relative is Harness by Force, which shares the trait of seizing creatures but with an added Strive mechanic, enabling the control of multiple creatures at a progressively higher cost. While this scales up the potential impact, Turn Against excels in its simplicity and lower cost for single-target control. Next in line is Ray of Command, which also grants instant-speed control along with untapping and giving the creature haste, though it carries a higher mana cost than Turn Against.
Upon comparison, Turn Against proves to be an efficient choice within its category, offering players an unexpected edge during crucial moments, confirming its utility in a variety of MTG decks that prioritize tactical control of the battlefield.
Cards similar to Turn Against by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Turn Against MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar, 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 Turn Against and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Turn Against has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Turn Against card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2015-08-25 | A card with devoid is just colorless. It’s not colorless and the colors of mana in its mana cost. |
| 2015-08-25 | Cards with devoid use frames that are variations of the transparent frame traditionally used for Eldrazi. The top part of the card features some color over a background based on the texture of the hedrons that once imprisoned the Eldrazi. This coloration is intended to aid deckbuilding and game play. |
| 2015-08-25 | Devoid works in all zones, not just on the battlefield. |
| 2015-08-25 | Gaining control of a creature doesn’t cause you to gain control of any Auras or Equipment attached to it. |
| 2015-08-25 | If a card loses devoid, it will still be colorless. This is because effects that change an object’s color (like the one created by devoid) are considered before the object loses devoid. |
| 2015-08-25 | Other cards and abilities can give a card with devoid color. If that happens, it’s just the new color, not that color and colorless. |
| 2015-08-25 | Turn Against can target any creature, even one that’s untapped or one you already control. |
