Clear the StageHow it works & interactions with other cards

Dual Targeting and Requirements

When you cast Clear the Stage, you must choose a target creature on the battlefield to receive -3/-3. You may also choose up to one target creature card in your graveyard at this time. Note that you can choose a graveyard target even if you do not currently control a creature with power 4 or greater; the game checks if you meet the power requirement only during the spell's resolution.

Resolution Step-by-Step

First, the target creature on the battlefield gets -3/-3 until end of turn. Immediately after this, the game checks if you control a creature with power 4 or greater. If you do, you may return the targeted creature card from your graveyard to your hand. It is important to note that the check happens before state-based actions are checked, meaning the creature receiving -3/-3 is still on the battlefield during the check, even if its toughness is 0 or less.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is thinking that if the creature receiving -3/-3 was your only creature with power 4 or greater, you lose the recursion. However, because the check happens before the creature dies from having 0 toughness, it still counts toward the requirement. Additionally, if the creature on the battlefield becomes an illegal target (for example, by gaining Hexproof), the spell still resolves for the graveyard target as long as that target is still legal.

Strategic Timing

Since this is an instant, it serves as a great combat trick or end-of-turn value play. If you anticipate your opponent using removal like Deadly Rollick on your large creatures, you can cast Clear the Stage in response to ensure you have a target in the graveyard and a high-power creature still on the field to trigger the recursion effect.

Interaction examples

Securing the Recurison

Fell the Profane // Fell Mire

You have a creature card in your graveyard and you control a 4/4 creature. You cast Clear the Stage targeting an opponent's 3/3 and the creature card in your graveyard. Your opponent responds with Fell the Profane to destroy your 4/4. When Clear the Stage resolves, it gives the opponent's creature -3/-3. Then it checks if you control a creature with power 4 or greater. Since your 4/4 is gone, you do not get to return the card from your graveyard to your hand.

Handling Removal in Response

Deadly Rollick

You cast Clear the Stage targeting an opponent's creature and a creature card in your graveyard. Your opponent casts Deadly Rollick to exile their own creature in response to prevent it from being the target. When Clear the Stage tries to resolve, the first target is illegal, but the spell still resolves for the graveyard target. If you still control a creature with power 4 or greater, you successfully return the card from your graveyard to your hand.