Turn the Tables MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Instant |
| Released | 2004-02-06 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Darksteel |
| Set code | DST |
| Number | 18 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Christopher Moeller |
Key Takeaways
- Instantly redirects damage, potentially turning a losing position into a winning one with a single card play.
- Requires strategic hand management, balancing its powerful effect with the risk of losing other resources.
- Perfect for decks that value versatility and surprise, it’s a strong counter to aggressive strategies.
Text of card
All combat damage that would be dealt to you this turn is dealt to target attacking creature instead.
"Your arrogance is my best weapon."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When you play Turn the Tables, you not only nullify the damage you would take but also redirect it, creating significant shifts in life totals. This switch can be equivalent to gaining a substantial amount of life points while also dealing that amount to an opponent, effectively swinging the game in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: Although Turn the Tables does not directly produce mana or resources, its potential in changing the state of the game can lead to resource advantages. By preserving your life total and dealing damage to your opponent, you maintain board presence without the need to spend additional resources on defense or recovery.
Instant Speed: The real strength of Turn the Tables lies in its ability to disrupt your opponent’s plans completely at instant speed. You can wait until the very last moment before your opponent’s damage is dealt, catch them by surprise, and flip the expected outcome of their attack or damage-dealing spell.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: For those strategizing their gameplay, Turn the Tables comes with a stipulation that may throw a wrench in the works. Piloting a deck with this card requires the readiness to part with another valuable card from your hand, which could deplete your vital resources at critical moments.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost is not only specific but diverse, necessitating a combination of white and other colors. This could limit its inclusion only in decks prepared to accommodate such mana diversity, potentially excluding it from mono-color strategies that might benefit from its effects.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Weighing in at a substantial mana investment, Turn the Tables may not always be the most mana-efficient play available. For its cost, a discerning player must consider alternative cards that could provide a similarly powerful impact on the board or in their favor at a lower mana cost.
Reasons to Include Turn the Tables in Your Collection
Versatility: Turn the Tables brings an element of surprise to the battlefield, allowing you to redirect harm intended for you onto your adversaries. This switcheroo effect can seamlessly integrate into both defensive and aggressive strategies, making it a flexible pick for various deck builds.
Combo Potential: When paired with cards that benefit from being the target of spells or abilities, Turn the Tables triggers those synergies while protecting your life total. It energizes well with cards designed to turn defense into offense, offering innovative combo opportunities.
Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment where direct damage and targeted removal are prevalent, Turn the Tables can significantly disrupt your opponents’ plans. By reflecting their strategies, it keeps your pivotal creatures safe and maintains the equilibrium on the battlefield, ensuring relevance in diverse metagames.
How to beat
Turn the Tables is a noteworthy card that can surprise opponents in Magic: The Gathering by reversing combat damage. Despite its potential to shift the tide of battle, there are strategies to mitigate its effect. Key to overcoming this card is anticipation. Be wary of untapped mana and a full hand, which could indicate your opponent is holding back this trick. Using spells that grant hexproof to your creatures can shield them from Turn the Tables’ effect.
Furthermore, cards that limit spell casting to only the caster’s turn, such as Teferi, Time Raveler, can neutralize Turn the Tables by preventing its cast during combat. Efficient removal spells to clear the battlefield before attacking, like Fatal Push or Path to Exile, reduce the impact Turn the Tables might have by ensuring that the combat damage it intends to redirect is minimal.
Ultimately, while Turn the Tables can flip a game on its head, proper foresight and strategic play can easily counteract this card’s potential. Recognizing the moments and preparations your opponent makes before they unleash this card will help maintain control over the battlefield.
Cards like Turn the Tables
Turn the Tables is an impactful card in the realm of Magic: The Gathering that stirs up the dynamics of combat. It finds its peers in cards like Comeuppance and Mirror Strike, which serve to redirect damage from players or permanents back to their sources. Where Turn the Tables shines is in its ability to not just redirect the damage from one source, but it switches potential combat damage from all opponents’ attacking creatures. This can lead to massive swings in a player’s favor.
A card like Reflect Damage mirrors this redirecting technique but is limited to a single source of damage. While Turn the Tables requires a significant mana investment, it offers a broader sweep, which might be the difference between a narrow escape and a decisive victory. In the same breath, Reins of Power is a spell that changes the tide of combat phases by swapping creature control, yet it lacks the straightforward defensive power of Turn the Tables.
In the landscape of strategic defensive spells, Turn the Tables stands out for players who thrive on turning an opponent’s offensive push into an opportunity for surprising counters. The card’s broad effect gives it a unique standing when compared with similar MTG strategies.
Cards similar to Turn the Tables by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Turn the Tables MTG card by a specific set like Darksteel, 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 the Tables 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 the Tables has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Turn the Tables card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-12-01 | If the targeted creature has been removed from combat but is still on the battlefield, the damage will be redirected. |
| 2004-12-01 | If the targeted creature isn’t on the battlefield when the combat damage would be dealt, the damage isn’t redirected. |
