Return to Dust MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 21 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Return to Dust provides a potential 2-for-1 value, disrupting opponents by exiling key artifacts or enchantments.
  2. Its versatility in timing allows for instant-speed responses or doubled main-phase impact.
  3. Meticulous mana management is vital due to its specific and relatively high cost.

Text of card

Remove target artifact or enchantment from the game. If you played this spell during your main phase, you may remove up to one other target artifact or enchantment from the game.

Some timelines forever fray, branch, and intermingle. Others end abruptly.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Return to Dust inherently causes card disadvantage for your opponent. With the potential to remove up to two target artifacts or enchantments, this card offer a 2-for-1 deal that can swing the game in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While not a traditional resource accelerator, Return to Dust can be equated to resource acceleration in the form of disruption. By eliminating your opponent’s artifacts or enchantments, you deprive them of resources while maintaining or even increasing your own standing.

Instant Speed: The versatility of Return to Dust shines here – though it is more powerful in your main phase, where it can destroy two targets instead of one, this card can also be cast as an instant. This provides flexibility, allowing the player to manage threats on the opponent’s turn or respond to sudden game state changes.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Return to Dust does not require discarding a card, but the use of this card could lead to a situation where you’re low on resources. Strategically reserving your cards is extremely important when using this card in the gameplay.

Specific Mana Cost: Return to Dust requires a specific manna cost, including two white mana symbols. The specialized requirement may limit decks that can efficiently utilize this card, especially those which don’t primarily focus on white mana generation.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing a total of four mana, including two that must be white, could be seen as a drawback considering there are similar options in the game with less demanding mana requirements. If your deck is not tailored to generate ample white mana, you may find the necessity of keeping four mana open for Return to Dust somewhat restrictive in the early and mid-game scenarios.


Reasons to Include Return to Dust in Your Collection

Versatility: The card Return to Dust stands out for its versatility. This flexible removal card can be played in many types of decks, especially those in which exiling cards from the opponent’s battlefield serves as a key strategic move.

Combo Potential: Return to Dust carries amazing combo potential. Its ability to remove not just one, but two opponent’s cards if played in main phase gives it synergy with strategies designed to control the board by eliminating opponents’ strategies.

Meta-Relevance: If the current gameplay of Magic: The Gathering involves a lot of artifact or enchantment based control or combo strategies, the immediate and effective removal service provided by Return to Dust can decimate your opponent’s strategy, making it a highly relevant card in most MTG metas.


How to beat

Return to Dust is a unique entrant in the field of artifact or enchantment removal spells in Magic: The Gathering. Comparable spells include Disenchant and Naturalize, both of which destroy a target artifact or enchantment. However, Return to Dust sets itself apart with its Exile mechanic – a strong advantage in meta where cards have graveyard interaction.

Comparable is Krosan Grip, with its Split Second, preventing reactions. But, Krosan Grip only destroys, while Return to Dust exiles. Both come at different costs and speeds, Krosan Grip being an instant, while Return to Dust is a sorcery. If it’s cast during your main phase, Return to Dust can remove up to two targets, providing crucial control potential in certain matches.

Finally, there is Wear // Tear, another flexible removal spell. Like Return to Dust, it can deal with two targets at once, but it doesn’t have the advantage of exiling cards. In essence, the utility and timing of Return to Dust make it proficient in scenarios where traditional destruction or counterspells might not meet the mark. Understanding how to mirror this potency will sharpen your overall strategy and allow impactful turnarounds in the MTG landscape.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG is an art of choice and strategy. Return to Dust is a powerful tool, offering crucial board control and the ability to shift the tides of the game in your favor. It’s important to grasp not just the strength of a card like Return to Dust, but also when and how to play it for maximum effect. Your collection can greatly benefit from its inclusion, especially if the current MTG environment is rife with artifacts and enchantments. Enhance your gameplay by understanding its place in your deck, its impact on the game, and strategies to employ it efficiently. Dive deeper into your MTG journey with us and discover advanced tactics to harness the full potential of Return to Dust.


Cards like Return to Dust

Return to Dust is an alluring choice when considering removal spells in Magic: The Gathering. It falls into the same genre of cards as Crush Contraband, which also targets an artifact or enchantment. However, Return to Dust differs in its ability to remove two cards, albeit only during your turn. Crush Contraband, while lacking this bonus, offers a stable ability to exile, regardless of whose turn it is.

Analogous to this is Dissipate, a card known for its powerful exile mechanic. While it targets only spells, and not enchantments or artifacts like Return to Dust, it delivers instantly and efficiently – an often deciding factor in gameplay. When we view Wear and Tear, a split card making waves in the MTG circle, we find another comparison. Though it lacks the exile mechanic, it has flexibility, capable of destroying an artifact and an enchantment with ease.

In summary, evaluating card abilities and making value assessments puts Return to Dust in a firm position within removal spells in Magic: The Gathering due to its dual exile potential and its tactical advantages.

Crush Contraband - MTG Card versions
Dissipate - MTG Card versions
Crush Contraband - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)
Dissipate - Mirage (MIR)

Cards similar to Return to Dust by color, type and mana cost

Rapid Fire - MTG Card versions
Congregate - MTG Card versions
Reverent Mantra - MTG Card versions
Sivvi's Ruse - MTG Card versions
Mirror Strike - MTG Card versions
Surprise Deployment - MTG Card versions
Ray of Distortion - MTG Card versions
Chastise - MTG Card versions
Akroma's Will - MTG Card versions
Semester's End - MTG Card versions
Recuperate - MTG Card versions
Solidarity - MTG Card versions
Altar's Light - MTG Card versions
Aether Shockwave - MTG Card versions
Divine Verdict - MTG Card versions
Angel's Mercy - MTG Card versions
Eyes in the Skies - MTG Card versions
Inspired Charge - MTG Card versions
Comeuppance - MTG Card versions
Scale Blessing - MTG Card versions
Rapid Fire - Legends (LEG)
Congregate - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Reverent Mantra - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Sivvi's Ruse - Nemesis (NEM)
Mirror Strike - Prophecy (PCY)
Surprise Deployment - Planeshift (PLS)
Ray of Distortion - Odyssey (ODY)
Chastise - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Akroma's Will - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)
Semester's End - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)
Recuperate - Scourge (SCG)
Solidarity - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Altar's Light - Mirrodin (MRD)
Aether Shockwave - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Divine Verdict - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)
Angel's Mercy - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Eyes in the Skies - Modern Masters 2017 (MM3)
Inspired Charge - March of the Machine (MOM)
Comeuppance - Commander 2014 (C14)
Scale Blessing - Dragons of Tarkir (DTK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Return to Dust MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Time Spiral, 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 Return to Dust and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Return to Dust Magic the Gathering card was released in 17 different sets between 2006-10-06 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 861042015normalblackWayne Reynolds
22006-10-06Time SpiralTSP 392003normalblackWayne Reynolds
32011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 282003normalblackWayne Reynolds
42014-11-07Commander 2014C14 852015normalblackWayne Reynolds
52017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 202015normalblackWayne Reynolds
62017-08-25Commander 2017C17 702015normalblackWayne Reynolds
72018-08-09Commander 2018C18 712015normalblackWayne Reynolds
82020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 432015normalblackWayne Reynolds
92020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 6232015normalblackWayne Reynolds
102020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 3832015normalblackWayne Reynolds
112021-02-05Kaldheim CommanderKHC 322015normalblackWayne Reynolds
122021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 372015normalblackWayne Reynolds
132021-04-23Commander 2021C21 1002015normalblackWayne Reynolds
142021-09-24Midnight Hunt CommanderMIC 922015normalblackWayne Reynolds
152023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 2022015normalblackWayne Reynolds
162023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 522015normalblackWayne Reynolds
172023-08-04Commander Masters Art SeriesACMM 342015art_seriesborderless
182023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 6282015normalborderlessDermot Power
192023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 2112015normalblackPierre Loyvet
202023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 8022015normalblackPierre Loyvet
212023-11-17The Lost Caverns of Ixalan CommanderLCC 1362015normalblackAnato Finnstark

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Return to Dust has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-03-19 If a spell or ability copies Return to Dust, the copy exiles only the first target artifact or enchantment. This is because the copy wasn't cast at all.
2021-03-19 Return to Dust can always target a second artifact or enchantment; it just won't exile it if it's not your main phase when you cast Return to Dust.

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