Badlands RevivalHow it works & interactions with other cards

Dual Targets and Flexibility

Badlands Revival allows you to choose up to two targets as you cast it: one creature card to return to the battlefield and one permanent card to return to your hand. Because both targets use the 'up to one' phrasing, you can cast the spell even if you only have a creature in your graveyard, only a non-creature permanent, or even with no targets at all if you simply need to trigger a spell-casting ability. If you choose two targets and one becomes illegal before resolution, the other will still be affected as normal.

Resolution Breakdown

When Badlands Revival resolves, the effects happen in the order they are printed on the card. First, the targeted creature card is moved from your graveyard directly to the battlefield under your control. Immediately following this, the targeted permanent card is moved from your graveyard to your hand. Both actions happen during the resolution of the spell, and no player can take actions between these two movements.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is forgetting that the second target must be a 'permanent card.' This includes creatures, lands, artifacts, enchantments, and planeswalkers, but excludes instants and sorceries. Additionally, keep in mind that if you target the same creature card for both effects, you must choose which one happens; however, since the creature moves to the battlefield first, it will no longer be in the graveyard to be returned to your hand.

Strategic Timing

As a sorcery, you generally want to use Badlands Revival during your main phase to re-establish your board presence. It is particularly effective after a board wipe or a self-mill effect. By bringing a threat back to the field and a utility land or another threat to your hand, you force your opponent to deal with two different layers of value simultaneously.

Interaction examples

Recovering from a Wipe

With a creature and a land in your graveyard, you cast Badlands Revival. You target the creature to return to the battlefield and the land to return to your hand. Upon resolution, you gain a blocker and ensure your next land drop, all for one spell.

Chaining Value with Expertise

Rishkar's Expertise

If you control a large creature and cast Rishkar's Expertise, you draw cards and then may cast a spell with mana value 5 or less for free. Since Badlands Revival costs 5 mana, you can cast it immediately to bring back a creature that died earlier in the turn, maximizing your momentum.

Mana Ramp and Recovery

Skyshroud Claim

Early in the game, you use Skyshroud Claim to pull two Forests onto the battlefield. Later, if one of those Forests is destroyed by an opponent's effect, you can use the second mode of Badlands Revival to return that Forest card to your hand while simultaneously reanimating a fallen threat.