Repeal MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 10 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Repeal excels at providing card advantage while disrupting opponents, a fundamental aspect in control strategies.
  2. The card’s flexibility from instant speed casting can significantly alter game outcomes when timed correctly.
  3. Repeal’s mana cost may limit its use in non-blue or multicolor decks, thereby affecting deck-building choices.

Text of card

Return target nonland permanent with converted mana cost X to its owner's hand. Draw a card.

"Your deed cannot be undone. You, however, can be." —Agosto, Azorius imperator


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Repeal provides the dual benefit of temporarily removing a threat and drawing a card, thereby not losing any card economy in the process. This can often lead to gaining an upper hand in card count over the opponent, a key factor in winning games.

Resource Acceleration: While Repeal doesn’t directly accelerate resources in terms of mana, it effectively slows down the opponent’s board development. This time bought can be critical in setting up your own board and finding the necessary resources to take control of the game.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Repeal at instant speed means it can be woven into your strategy at the most opportune moment. Whether it’s during the combat phase to remove a buffed creature or in response to an ability activation, Repeal’s timing can be as impactful as the effect itself.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Repeal does not require a specific card discard, it is worth mentioning that some control cards in similar slots might necessitate discarding as part of their cost, putting Repeal at an advantage in this respect.

Specific Mana Cost: This instant card requires blue mana in its casting cost, which may not blend well in multicolor decks that are not heavily blue. Therefore, Repeal’s adherence to a specific mana type can sometimes restrict deck-building flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Depending on the target’s converted mana cost (CMC), Repeal’s effectiveness can vary. For low CMC targets, it’s efficient, but for higher CMCs, the overall cost to return a permanent and draw a card can become significant, thus potentially making it less attractive compared to other lower-cost removal or bounce spells.


Reasons to Include Repeal in Your Collection

Versatility: Repeal is a utility card that fits seamlessly into a wide array of blue-based decks. Its ability to return a nonland permanent to its owner’s hand while drawing a card makes it a flexible response to an ever-changing battlefield.

Combo Potential: This card excels in decks that capitalize on casting multiple spells in a single turn or that have synergies with drawing cards. It can also reset your own permanents for value or to save them from removal.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where low-cost permanents and tokens are prevalent, Repeal serves as an efficient answer to disrupt an opponent’s tempo while maintaining card flow for the player. It’s a card that adapts well to various opponent strategies, keeping your deck competitive.


How to beat

Repeal is a versatile blue instant in Magic: The Gathering that allows players to return target nonland permanent to its owner’s hand and draw a card. The card’s casting cost is X and a single blue mana, where X is the converted mana cost of the target. Skilled players utilize Repeal for its flexibility, handling an array of threats by adjusting the value of X to suit the situation.

To effectively counteract Repeal, consider the timing of your plays. Since it’s an instant, it can disrupt your strategy during your turn if you’re unprepared. To circumvent this, baiting out the spell with less crucial permanents can be effective, preserving your more valuable cards for later plays. Additionally, applying pressure through aggressive early plays can limit your opponent’s capacity to efficiently use their mana, thereby reducing the impact of their Repeal. Finally, having spells or abilities that grant hexproof or indestructibility can protect your key permanents from being returned to your hand, securing your board position against Repeal’s bounce effect.

Smart deck building and strategic gameplay are essential when facing cards like Repeal. Being aware of its presence in the meta allows you to anticipate and mitigate its effect, ensuring that your permanents remain on the battlefield and continue to press your advantage.


Cards like Repeal

Repeal holds its own as a versatile tool in the world of Magic: The Gathering. This instant-speed spell not only returns a nonland permanent to its owner’s hand but also draws a card, distinguishing itself from other bounce spells. In comparison, Unsummon is a simplistic alternative that bounces creatures for one blue mana, yet it doesn’t offer card draw like Repeal does.

Another spell to consider is Into the Roil. It provides a similar bounce and draw mechanism, but it allows targeting any nonland permanent regardless of its converted mana cost (CMC) for an additional kicker cost. Cyclonic Rift stands out with its ability to bounce all nonland permanents your opponents control at overload cost, though at a significantly higher mana requirement and without the draw effect available at lower casting cost.

Evaluating these different spells, Repeal’s combination of targeted bounce and card draw at a potentially low cost based on the CMC of the target provides a strategic edge in controlling the pace of the game and maintaining card advantage.

Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Into the Roil - MTG Card versions
Cyclonic Rift - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Into the Roil - Zendikar (ZEN)
Cyclonic Rift - Return to Ravnica (RTR)

Cards similar to Repeal by color, type and mana cost

Ancestral Recall - MTG Card versions
Jump - MTG Card versions
Sleight of Mind - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Siren's Call - MTG Card versions
Power Sink - MTG Card versions
Blue Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Magical Hack - MTG Card versions
Twiddle - MTG Card versions
Riptide - MTG Card versions
Mind Bend - MTG Card versions
Spell Blast - MTG Card versions
Denied! - MTG Card versions
Hydroblast - MTG Card versions
Whispers of the Muse - MTG Card versions
Ertai's Trickery - MTG Card versions
Force Spike - MTG Card versions
Opt - MTG Card versions
Envelop - MTG Card versions
Brainstorm - MTG Card versions
Ancestral Recall - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Jump - Magic 2010 (M10)
Sleight of Mind - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Unsummon - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Siren's Call - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Power Sink - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Blue Elemental Blast - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Magical Hack - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Twiddle - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Riptide - The Dark (DRK)
Mind Bend - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Spell Blast - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Denied! - Unglued (UGL)
Hydroblast - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Whispers of the Muse - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Ertai's Trickery - Planeshift (PLS)
Force Spike - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Opt - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Envelop - Judgment (JUD)
Brainstorm - Warhammer 40,000 Commander (40K)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Repeal MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Guildpact, 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 Repeal and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Repeal Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 2006-02-03 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 545432015normalblackAnthony Palumbo
22006-02-03GuildpactGPT 322003normalblackDan Scott
32014-09-05Duel Decks: Speed vs. CunningDDN 722015normalblackAnthony Palumbo
42015-05-22Modern Masters 2015MM2 562015normalblackAnthony Palumbo
52015-11-13Commander 2015C15 1042015normalblackAnthony Palumbo
62017-11-17Iconic MastersIMA 702015normalblackDan Scott
72021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 3171997normalblackDan Scott
82023-07-18Historic Anthology 7HA7 42015normalblackDan Scott
92024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 602015normalblackDan Scott
102024-02-23Ravnica: Clue EditionCLU 942015normalblackDan Scott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Repeal has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Repeal 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 creature on the battlefield has in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0.
2021-03-19 If the target permanent is an illegal target by the time Repeal tries to resolve, the spell doesn’t resolve. You don’t draw a card.
2021-03-19 The mana value of a token that isn’t a copy of another object is 0. A token that is a copy of another object has the same mana cost as that object.

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