Refocus MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Refocus provides instant speed flexibility, crucial for responsive and tactical MTG gameplay.
  2. It can double resource generation by untapping creatures with tap abilities.
  3. The card offers a strategic edge by potentially negating opponents’ moves.

Text of card

Untap target creature. Draw a card.

"Before you can open your third eye, you must prove you can open the first two."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Refocus not only untaps a target creature but, because it is cast at instant speed, it can be used strategically in response to an opponent’s actions, potentially negating their plays and keeping your resources ready for further advancement. This responsive play can lead to significant card advantage over the course of a game.

Resource Acceleration: Pairing Refocus with cards that have tap abilities linked to resource generation turns it into a formidable tool for acceleration. It enables a creature to potentially double its output for the turn, propelling you ahead of opponents by giving you access to more mana or other resources than typically available.

Instant Speed: The instant speed of Refocus offers flexibility that is crucial in competitive play. It allows players to wait until the most opportune moment—often the end of an opponent’s turn or during combat—to untap a creature or permanent, ensuring that they maximize their tactical options both defensively and offensively without foregoing a turn’s worth of potential actions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To harness the reshuffling ability of Refocus, a player must forgo holding onto a potentially useful card. This discard condition might set you back if your hand is already running thin.

Specific Mana Cost: A precise mana alignment is mandatory for casting Refocus. This stipulation implies your mana pool needs to have the right color balance, potentially making the card less adaptable across a variety of deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Weighing the cost against its benefits, Refocus commands a certain investment of mana resources. Players might compare it to alternative options and deem the overall expenditure high, considering the effect might not always translate to a decisive advantage in gameplay.


Reasons to Include Refocus in Your Collection

Versatility: Refocus offers an incredible amount of flexibility for blue-based decks. Being able to untap a creature or artifact at instant speed means you can surprise your opponents with untapped blockers or reuse an ability for maximum impact.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, Refocus can be a key component in combo-heavy decks. Imagine using it to untap a mana-generating creature for an explosive turn or to get an additional use out of a powerful artifact. The possibilities are extensive and can elevate your gaming to a new level.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where instant-speed interaction is crucial, Refocus finds its place. Whether it’s navigating through counterspells or giving you the upper hand in a tightly wound match, its relevance in the current competitive scene cannot be denied.


How to beat

Refocus is an intriguing blue instant card in Magic: The Gathering that can often catch players off guard by untapping another target creature or land. This capacity to instantly free up a blocker or mana source can swing the momentum of a game, offering a subtle but potent shift in pace. What’s more, Refocus draws you a card, making it a balanced mix of utility and card advantage.

To effectively counter Refocus, players should optimize the timing of their removal spells and abilities. Consider waiting until the opponent has committed to a play, potentially exhausting their mana pool or resources, before forcing the untap move. This could limit the effectiveness of their untapped asset and reduce the surprise element of the card. Scrutiny over their mana availability is crucial since Refocus only costs two mana, meaning it’s easily slotted into a player’s curve. Players should also contemplate the board state, predicting possible Refocus targets, which can provide strategic leverage by forcing a premature or less impactful play from the opponent.

Understanding and anticipating the strategic deployment of Refocus against you lets you not only mitigate its impact but also strategize around it, keeping your opponent second-guessing their decisions.


BurnMana Recommendations

Refocus is a card that epitomizes strategic depth in MTG. Its ability to untap creatures and draw a card at instant speed keeps you one step ahead, offering both card advantage and the element of surprise. Its potential in resource acceleration can be a game-changer, enabling explosive plays that leave opponents trailing. Adapting to its mana requirements and smartly playing around its discard condition is key. Elevate your blue-based or combo decks with this versatile piece. Discover how Refocus can unlock new levels of gameplay and refine your deck’s performance by diving deeper into our detailed insights.


Cards like Refocus

Refocus stands out in the pool of untap spells in Magic: The Gathering. Its direct counterpart is Twiddle, a classic card that similarly enables a player to tap or untap a single target. However, Twiddle’s power lies in its flexibility as it can also be used offensively to tap an opponent’s asset. Refocus’s edge comes from its draw ability, allowing for a card to be replaced in your hand, maintaining card advantage.

Another similar option is Cerulean Wisps, which not only untaps a creature but also grants it a temporary boost of speed by giving it haste until end of turn. Although it digs into your deck just like Refocus, it is less versatile due to its exclusivity to creatures. Finally, Gigadrowse presents a similar concept but scales with your mana availability, potentially untapping multiple targets. While it offers the potential for a wider impact, it lacks the card draw mechanic that provides additional fuel to the player, one of Refocus’s clear strategic advantages.

Ultimately, Refocus offers a unique blend of utility and card flow, making it a valuable asset in decks looking to optimize their resource management and tempo during the intricacies of Magic: The Gathering gameplay.

Twiddle - MTG Card versions
Cerulean Wisps - MTG Card versions
Gigadrowse - MTG Card versions
Twiddle - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Cerulean Wisps - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Gigadrowse - Guildpact (GPT)

Cards similar to Refocus by color, type and mana cost

Counterspell - MTG Card versions
Hurkyl's Recall - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Sprite // Mesmeric Glare - MTG Card versions
Lat-Nam's Legacy - MTG Card versions
Flash - MTG Card versions
Boomerang - MTG Card versions
Rebound - MTG Card versions
Memory Lapse - MTG Card versions
Hoodwink - MTG Card versions
Tidal Bore - MTG Card versions
Accumulated Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Impulse - MTG Card versions
Cyclonic Rift - MTG Card versions
Thassa's Intervention - MTG Card versions
Metamorphose - MTG Card versions
Echoing Truth - MTG Card versions
Early Frost - MTG Card versions
Mana Leak - MTG Card versions
Remand - MTG Card versions
Vision Skeins - MTG Card versions
Counterspell - Commander Masters (CMM)
Hurkyl's Recall - Antiquities (ATQ)
Hypnotic Sprite // Mesmeric Glare - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Lat-Nam's Legacy - Alliances (ALL)
Flash - Mirage (MIR)
Boomerang - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Rebound - Stronghold (STH)
Memory Lapse - Strixhaven Mystical Archive (STA)
Hoodwink - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Tidal Bore - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Accumulated Knowledge - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Impulse - Game Night: Free-for-All (GN3)
Cyclonic Rift - Commander Masters (CMM)
Thassa's Intervention - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Metamorphose - Scourge (SCG)
Echoing Truth - Modern Masters (MMA)
Early Frost - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Mana Leak - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Remand - Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska (DDM)
Vision Skeins - Commander 2013 (C13)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Refocus MTG card by a specific set like Fate Reforged and Mystery Booster, 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 Refocus and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Refocus Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-01-23 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Kev Walker.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-01-23Fate ReforgedFRF 472015normalblackKev Walker
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 4652015normalblackKev Walker
32020-09-26The ListPLST FRF-472015normalblackKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Refocus has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks