Arcane Infusion is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Look at the top four cards of your library. You may reveal an instant or sorcery card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order. Flashback(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Complete guide
Arcane Infusion is a versatile Izzet instant that helps you dig through your deck for the perfect answer. Whether you need to find a reactive spell or a game-ending sorcery, this card provides value twice thanks to its flashback ability. It is a staple for decks that rely on high spell density and graveyard synergy.
What it Does
Arcane Infusion allows you to look at the top four cards of your library to find an instant or sorcery card. You can choose to reveal one such card and add it to your hand, ensuring you maintain card quality throughout the game. The remaining cards are tucked away at the bottom of your library in a random order, preventing you from knowing the exact sequence of your upcoming draws.
Resolving Arcane Infusion
When the spell resolves, you look at the top four cards; this action does not count as drawing. If you find multiple instants or sorceries, you can only pick one. If you find none, or choose not to take one, all four cards go to the bottom. Finally, if you cast this via flashback, the card is exiled immediately upon leaving the stack, regardless of whether it was countered or finished its effect.
Common Mistakes
Players often forget that the flashback cost is an alternative cost; the mana value of the spell remains 2 even if you pay 5 mana to cast it from the graveyard. Additionally, remember that you must reveal the card you choose so your opponents can verify it is an instant or sorcery. Lastly, once you start resolving the spell, no one can interject until you have finished putting the rest of the cards on the bottom of your library.
When to Play it
As an instant, Arcane Infusion is best played at the end of your opponent's turn. This allows you to keep your mana open for potential interaction while giving you the best information on what kind of spell you need to find for your next turn. The flashback ability is excellent for the late game when you have excess mana and need to refill your hand.
Interaction examples
Chaos WarpYou cast Arcane Infusion at the end of your opponent's turn. Among the top four cards, you see a Land, two Creatures, and Chaos Warp. You reveal Chaos Warp to your opponent, put it into your hand, and put the other three cards on the bottom of your library in a random order.
CounterspellYou cast Arcane Infusion from your graveyard by paying its flashback cost of {3}{U}{R}. Your opponent casts Counterspell to stop it. Because you cast it using flashback, Arcane Infusion is moved from the stack to the exile zone instead of returning to the graveyard, even though it never resolved.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Arcane Infusion
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
A spell cast using flashback will always be exiled afterward, whether it resolves, is countered, or leaves the stack in some other way.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If a card with flashback is put into your graveyard during your turn, you can cast it if it's legal to do so before any other player can take any actions.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
You can cast a spell using flashback even if it was somehow put into your graveyard without having been cast.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
You must still follow any timing restrictions and permissions, including those based on the card's type. For instance, you can cast a sorcery using flashback only when you could normally cast a sorcery.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost (such as a flashback cost) you're paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell is determined only by its mana cost, no matter what the total cost to cast the spell was.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
"Flashback [cost]" means "You may cast this card from your graveyard if the resulting spell is an instant or sorcery spell by paying [cost] rather than paying its mana cost" and "If the flashback cost was paid, exile this card instead of putting it anywhere else any time it would leave the stack."
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Arcane Infusion
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.