Dramatic Reversal

Strategies it goes well with

• The Isochron Scepter loop. Each pass costs {2} and untaps everything, so nonland sources making three or more mana net at least one mana per pass. The mana is colored if the rocks or dorks make colored mana.
• Storm count and cast triggers. Each copy from the Scepter is cast, so every pass adds to the storm count and triggers cards like Aetherflux Reservoir.
• A one-shot ritual. Cast from hand after tapping your rocks, it untaps them for another round of mana. If the untapped nonland sources make three or more mana, it is a net gain, and it also untaps creatures that attacked.

How it does in Commander

As the commander

Dramatic Reversal is an instant, so it can never be a commander. It is played in the 99 of blue decks, almost always next to Isochron Scepter.

In the 99

It belongs in blue decks running a dense package of mana rocks, ideally with Isochron Scepter and a way to spend unlimited mana. Without the Scepter it is a modest ritual that depends on how many rocks you have out.

Formats it's strong in

• cEDH and Bracket 4 rock-heavy decks. Those decks already run Sol Ring, Mana Vault and similar rocks, so the Scepter loop is a combo assembled from cards that are in the deck anyway.
• Blue artifact decks. More nonland mana sources means more mana per pass, and more mana when Reversal is cast as a plain ritual.

Formats it's weak in

• Decks with few mana rocks. Below three mana from nonland sources, the Scepter loop does not net mana, and the card untaps very little on its own.
• Bracket 1 to 3 tables. With Isochron Scepter in the deck it is a fast two-card infinite, which those brackets either exclude or limit to the late game.

Synergistic cards

Isochron Scepter ↗

The other half. It casts a copy of the imprinted Reversal for {2} and untaps itself with every copy.

Grim Monolith ↗

Taps for {C}{C}{C} on its own, so it covers the full three mana the loop needs with one card. It is a Game Changer.

Aetherflux Reservoir ↗

Every copy cast gains you life equal to the spells cast this turn. Once you have 50 or more life, pay 50 to deal 50 damage to any target, and repeat.

Thrasios, Triton Hero ↗

A commander that turns unlimited mana into cards: {4} per activation scries, then puts a land onto the battlefield or draws a card.

Is it worth the price?

Dramatic Reversal is inexpensive. It has been reprinted at common, most recently in Avatar: The Last Airbender Eternal, and the regular printings sell for very little. It is an easy card to own if you are building the Scepter combo.

Current printings and prices →

Frequently asked questions