Retrace
| Retrace | |
|---|---|
| Keyword Ability | |
| Type | Static |
| Introduced | Eventide |
| Last used | Lost Caverns Commander |
| Reminder Text | Retrace (You may cast this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card as an additional cost to cast it.) |
| Storm Scale | 7[1] |
| Statistics |
15 cards  6.7%  13.3%  13.3%  20%  13.3%  6.7%  6.7%  6.7%  6.7%  6.7% |
| Scryfall Search | |
| keyword:"Retrace" | |
Retrace is a keyword ability that allows the player to cast the card from their graveyard for its mana cost plus the additional cost of discarding a land. All spells with the native ability Retrace are instants or sorceries.
History
Retrace was introduced in Eventide.[2] Maro has deemed it a 7 on the Storm Scale due to the repetition of play and developmental issues.[3] While not necessarily related in origin, Jump-start corrects some of these issues by only letting it "flash back" once, allowing for a higher impact spells.
Much later, it reappeared on the planeswalker card Wrenn and Six and the sorcery card Throes of Chaos in Modern Horizons.[4]
Deeproot Historian from The Lost Caverns of Ixalan/Commander decks grants Retrace, for the first time, to permanents. Specifically, it grants it to Druid and Merfolk spells, which means it also captures some kindred spells.
Rules
From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)
- Retrace
- A keyword ability that lets a player cast a card from their graveyard. See rule 702.81, “Retrace.”
From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)
- 702.81. Retrace
- 702.81a Retrace is a static ability that functions while the card with retrace is in a player’s graveyard. “Retrace” means “You may cast this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card as an additional cost to cast it.” Casting a spell using its retrace ability follows the rules for paying additional costs in rules 601.2b and 601.2f–h.
Rulings
- Casting a card by using its retrace ability works just like casting any other card, with two exceptions: You're casting the card from your graveyard rather than your hand, and you must discard a land card in addition to any other costs.
- A retrace card cast from your graveyard follows the normal timing rules for its card type.
- To cast a retrace card from your graveyard, you must pay its mana cost as well as discard a land card.
- When a retrace card you cast from your graveyard resolves or is countered, it's put back into your graveyard. You may use the retrace ability to cast it again.
- If the active player casts a spell that has retrace, that player may cast that card again after it resolves, before another player can remove the card from the graveyard. The active player has priority after the spell resolves, so they can immediately cast a new spell. Since casting a card with retrace from the graveyard moves that card onto the stack, no one else would have the chance to affect it while it's still in the graveyard.
Example
Example
Flame Jab
Sorcery
Flame Jab deals 1 damage to any target.
Retrace (You may cast this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying its other costs.)
Cards granting Retrace
- Deeproot Historian (merfolk and druids)
- Six (nonland permanents)
- Wrenn and Six (instants and sorceries)
Trivia
- Retrace was featured as rules card 1 of 8 in the Eventide set.
- Flame Jab reuses the art of a Shadowmoor Swamp.[5]
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (2012-11-24). "What is the "Storm Scale" chance of Retrace coming back?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 7, 2008). "Eventide Pool". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (2017-02-15). "Why is retrace a 7 on the storm scale? I really like the mechanic and it doesn't seem as though the cards with it were broken or anything, nor does it seem like it would have a narrow design space.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Matt Tabak (May 31, 2019). "Modern Horizons Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Magic Arcana (July 22, 2008). "Up in Flames". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
External links
- A Planeswalker's Primer for Eventide 3: Retrace (Video). YouTube.