What is Flashback in MTG?

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There is a concept in it Magic: The Gathering It's called card value where you basically want each of your cards to remove as many of your opponent's cards as possible. Trading a card to one of your opponents (a one-for-one trade) is usually considered the base value you should strive for, but there are keywords that can help tip the scale further in your favor.

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One such keyword is flashback, which allows you to play cards directly from your graveyard for a certain cost. Since most cards end up in your graveyard, this allows each flashback card to be played twice. Here's everything you need to know about flashbacks.

How does flashback work?

Deep analysis card art illustration by Jesper Ejsing
In-depth analysis by Jesper Ejsing

Flashback is an active ability keyword found in instants and spells which allows you to cast that spell directly from your graveyard. After that, the spell is banished, preventing you from continuously casting the card over and over again.

Equivalent to Flashback for permanent cards is called take out from under the soil.

Introduced during the Odyssey block, it was initially marked with a small tombstone Next to the card name as a visual aid, but has since been retired. Flashback timing works like a charmso a flashback spell can only be played when you can normally play a spell.

Flashback cards always have the keyword “flashback” next to their cost —Usually the mana cost is different from the card casting cost Himself, but not always. Flashback costs can range from mana in alternate colors to card casting costs to paying life, hitting or sacrificing creatures, or sacrificing other permanents.

Flashback costs are usually higher than the initial casting cost of the spell, but not necessarily. Some flashback cards are actually cheaper to “play” from the graveyard It is to throw it from your hand.

How to make the most of flashback

Unfaithful Loot card art illustration by Miklós Ligeti
Unfaithful Plunder by Miklos Ligeti

Flashback is one A useful thing to have in almost every deck Because it provides you with something inherently useful: value. When a flashback card is discarded from your hand, it remains in your graveyard ready to be played again after you can pay the flashback cost.

However, several deck strategies take advantage of Flashback's ability to cast directly from your graveyard. Any strategy that puts cards in your graveyardwhether grinding, dredging, digging, discarding or even placing cards directly into your graveyard with the intention of playing them in the future, Benefit from flashback cards.

Unlike most spells, Flashback moments and spells won't be available once you enter your graveyard– They simply charge a different cast fee and are banished after a decision is made.

A great strategy in green and black to exploit flashbacks is to Includes flashback spells in a deck that tries to fill its own graveyard Cards like Grisly Salvage or Satyr Wayfinder make you put cards in your graveyard to revive creatures, and if those cards have flashbacks, it's almost as if you put them into your hand instead.

Another great strategy is to Discard the cards with flashback. Disloyal Loots and Desperate Rampages not only cause you to discard more cards that could potentially flashback, but they themselves must be replayed to fill your graveyard with more flashback cards.

You can even Use flashback on cards that don't have keywords. Cards like Snapcaster Mage, Dralnu, Lich Lord, and Return to the Past bring moments and spells to your graveyard flashback and let you replay them.

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The best card with flashback

Galvanic Repetition card art image by Johann Bodin
Galvanic repetition by Johan Bodin

Flashbacks have been around in Magic: The Gathering for years. With nearly 200 keyword mention cards. We can't flashback every card, but we can point out some highlights.

Draw more with Flashback

Flashback is a great way to give yourself more cards. Normally, a spell that tells you to draw a card is a promise, but cards like Deep analysis and think twice It can give you a double well to draw when your hand is dry.

If you want to pull and throw away, unfaithful plunder and Desperate ravings It has already been mentioned, however Loyal correction It deserves a mention for adding some profit to the mix. Illuminate the future It's also worth mentioning because it offers a more powerful flashback effect if you pay for it Increased ambition.

two for one (or more)

Using one card to kill another card is fine, but using one card to kill two cards is much more efficient. Cards like An ancient grudge, Demolish and rebuild, ray of revelationand Command Chainer They are great for getting out two cards for the price of one.

divine account You can potentially hit even more cards, albeit at the cost of some of your own.

Recycle, reuse, revitalize

Reanimation is a common strategy to pair with flashback cards. Can't stay away, Not burying rituals, Fear of returning, dreams of fear, Wake up to the slaughterand Revival of Sein If they find other cards in your graveyard, they can remove other cards from your graveyard.

Create more creatures

Why make one creature when you can make two? Worms, Visions of glory, Swelling roar, Increase dedicationand Squirrel chatter It generates more available tokens than a normal spell would provide.

Other flashback cards

There are many flashback cards that do not fit into a particular pattern. Galvanic repetition and Increase revenge Copy both spells and effects to increase your efficiency. Chartered courses and Momentary peace It can stop many strategies in their tracks. Seize the day It puts you on the offensive and Cabal therapy Famous for providing a sacrificial outlet on top of the discard.

Flashback cards

Don't have any flashback cards? no problem Check it out Snapcaster Mage, Lear, disciple of the drowned, Catilda and Lear, Dralno, Lich Lord, Dr. Ferrariand Back to the past Everyone can bring moments and magic in your graveyard flashback.

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