Twist Allegiance MTG Card


Twist Allegiance - Betrayers of Kamigawa
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeSorcery
Released2005-02-04
Set symbol
Set nameBetrayers of Kamigawa
Set codeBOK
Number120
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byWayne Reynolds

Key Takeaways

  1. Twist Allegiance provides card advantage by commandeering opponent creatures, altering the game’s momentum.
  2. It allows for quirky combos by hijacking creatures and utilizing them in unexpected synergies.
  3. Despite the mana cost, its surprise factor can provide match-winning plays, especially in multiplayer.

Text of card

You and target opponent each gain control of all creatures the other controls until end of turn. Untap those creatures. Those creatures gain haste until end of turn.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Twist Allegiance offers a unique ability that can disrupt your opponent’s board while potentially providing you with additional creatures to control. This swing in battlefield presence can equate to significant card advantage, especially if used when your opponent has invested heavily in creature-based strategies.

Resource Acceleration: By temporarily acquiring your opponent’s creatures through Twist Allegiance, you effectively bypass the need for your own mana investment to summon creatures. This resource acceleration allows you to utilize mana for other spells or abilities in the same turn, giving you a noticeable tempo boost.

Instant Speed: The ability to activate Twist Allegiance at instant speed offers strategic flexibility. You can wait until the most opportune moment, such as in response to an opponent’s attack or end of their turn, to gain control of their creatures, potentially disrupting their plans and swinging the game in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Twist Allegiance is that it requires the player to discard a card, a trade-off that can be detrimental when your hand is already depleted or if the card discarded is crucial to your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: Twist Allegiance comes with a mana cost that necessitates both black and blue mana, making it less flexible. This can be restrictive and harder to cast in a deck that isn’t specifically tailored to support these colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that is on the higher end, this card can be considered costly, especially when you’re trying to maintain tempo against decks that operate on lower mana curves. In some cases, investing such resources can set you back if the immediate impact on the board state isn’t significant.


Reasons to Include Twist Allegiance in Your Collection

Versatility: Twist Allegiance is a card that brings flexibility to the table, capable of shifting the tide of a game. It can be integrated into decks that aim to take control of the game board or those that strategize around leveraging opponents’ creatures for one’s benefit.

Combo Potential: This card opens up a breadth of combo possibilities. It can be paired with cards that deal damage for each creature under your control or ones that benefit from sacrificing creatures. This makes it a dynamic piece in decks built around synergies.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to disrupt opponent strategies by hijacking their creatures, Twist Allegiance can be particularly potent in a meta dense with creature-based decks. It can turn an opponent’s strength into their weakness and shift momentum in your favor instantly.


How to Beat

Twist Allegiance can be a game-changing card when it comes to controlling the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This red sorcery card is known for turning the tide of a game by swapping creatures between players until the end of turn. However, while it can lead to unexpected victories, it is not unbeatable. Smart players can anticipate and prepare for such effects.

One of the simplest strategies to counter Twist Allegiance is to maintain a low creature count. This reduces the impact of the swap. Additionally, including instant-speed removal in your deck allows you to respond by eliminating key threats before they can be used against you. Sacrifice outlets, like Viscera Seer, also help by letting you sacrifice your own creatures before they change sides, ensuring that your opponent gains minimal advantage.

Finally, counterspells remain an ever-effective way to thwart Twist Allegiance altogether. By keeping mana open and countermagic ready, you can protect yourself from the surprise of losing creature control. With these strategies, facing Twist Allegiance becomes less daunting and can even turn into an opportunity to outsmart your opponent, securing your path to victory.


Cards like Twist Allegiance

Twist Allegiance is a standout in the pantheon of control spells in MTG. This sorcery mirrors the switcheroo playstyle of cards like Cultural Exchange, offering a game-altering experience by exchanging creatures. While Cultural Exchange allows for selective trades of uneven numbers, Twist Allegiance broadens the deal, giving you command of all creatures your opponents control and this twist lasts only through your turn.

In the realm of temporary control, we also see the likes of Insurrection, an older cousin in MTG. Insurrection takes the concept a step further, granting not only temporary control of all creatures until end of turn but also untapping and giving them haste, paving the way for an unexpected victory. Nonetheless, Twist Allegiance requires less mana, which can be pivotal in swaying the tides earlier in the game. Another parallel can be drawn with Mass Mutiny. This spell only targets a limited number of creatures, but with a more manageable casting cost.

Comparatively, Twist Allegiance positions itself as a potent surprise in multiplayer formats, where turning the tide of battle often hinges on grand, swingy spells. Despite the heavy mana requirement, its wide-reaching effect can single-handedly shift game dynamics, highlighting its unique place in control-focused strategies.

Cultural Exchange - MTG Card versions
Insurrection - MTG Card versions
Mass Mutiny - MTG Card versions
Cultural Exchange - Odyssey (ODY)
Insurrection - Onslaught (ONS)
Mass Mutiny - Planechase 2012 (PC2)

Cards similar to Twist Allegiance by color, type and mana cost

Devastation - MTG Card versions
Fire Tempest - MTG Card versions
Flame Wave - MTG Card versions
Cinder Storm - MTG Card versions
Thieves' Auction - MTG Card versions
Goblin Game - MTG Card versions
Kamahl's Sledge - MTG Card versions
Over the Top - MTG Card versions
Brass's Bounty - MTG Card versions
Searing Flesh - MTG Card versions
Fury of the Horde - MTG Card versions
Disaster Radius - MTG Card versions
Destructive Force - MTG Card versions
Rite of Ruin - MTG Card versions
Volcanic Vision - MTG Card versions
Serpentine Spike - MTG Card versions
Star of Extinction - MTG Card versions
Sundering Stroke - MTG Card versions
Reckless Endeavor - MTG Card versions
Collision of Realms - MTG Card versions
Devastation - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Fire Tempest - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Flame Wave - Tempest Remastered (TPR)
Cinder Storm - Masters 25 (A25)
Thieves' Auction - The List (PLST)
Goblin Game - The List (PLST)
Kamahl's Sledge - Torment (TOR)
Over the Top - The Brothers' War Promos (PBRO)
Brass's Bounty - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)
Searing Flesh - Onslaught (ONS)
Fury of the Horde - Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning (DDN)
Disaster Radius - Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)
Destructive Force - Magic 2011 (M11)
Rite of Ruin - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Volcanic Vision - Commander 2021 (C21)
Serpentine Spike - Battle for Zendikar Promos (PBFZ)
Star of Extinction - Commander Masters (CMM)
Sundering Stroke - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Reckless Endeavor - Forgotten Realms Commander (AFC)
Collision of Realms - Neon Dynasty Commander (NEC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Twist Allegiance MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa, 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 Twist Allegiance and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Twist Allegiance has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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