Expansion // Explosion 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
Copy target instant or sorcery spell with mana value 4 or less. You may choose new targets for the copy. Explosion deals X damage to any target. Target player draws X cards.
Complete guide
Expansion // Explosion is a versatile split card that offers both early-game utility and a late-game finishing blow. Whether you are copying a cheap spell to gain an advantage or spending a massive amount of mana to incinerate an opponent and refill your hand, understanding its timing and targeting is key.
Understanding the Two Halves
As a split card, Expansion // Explosion gives you the choice to cast one side or the other. Expansion costs two hybrid Blue/Red mana and copies an instant or sorcery with mana value 4 or less. Explosion, on the other hand, is a high-cost finisher that scales with X, dealing damage to one target while forcing a player to draw cards. Note that while in your hand, library, or graveyard, the card has a combined mana value of 9, but on the stack, it only has the characteristics of the half you chose to cast.
How it Resolves Step by Step
When you cast Expansion, you must target an instant or sorcery spell currently on the stack with mana value 4 or less. Upon resolution, a copy of that spell is created on the stack under your control, and you may choose new targets for that copy. If you cast Explosion, you choose two targets: one for the damage and one player to draw cards. If one target becomes illegal before resolution (such as a creature gaining Hexproof), the other effect still happens as normal. The spell only fails to resolve if both targets become illegal.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A frequent error involves mana values. Expansion can only copy spells with a mana value of 4 or less; if a spell has X in its cost, X counts toward that mana value while it is on the stack. Additionally, you cannot choose new modes for a copied modal spell, nor can you change how damage is divided if the original spell divided damage among multiple targets. Remember that copying a spell is not the same as 'casting' it, so abilities that trigger on casting won't trigger for the copy created by Expansion.
When to Play Expansion // Explosion
Expansion is best used defensively to copy an opponent's counterspell or offensively to double a removal spell or draw spell. Explosion is your late-game mana sink. It is most effective when X is large enough to remove a significant threat or finish off an opponent, while simultaneously drawing you enough cards to ensure you maintain control of the match.
Interaction examples
Force of WillYour opponent casts a spell, and you respond with a threat. They cast Force of Will targeting your threat. Even though Force of Will was cast for its alternative cost (exiling a card), its mana value is 5. Because 5 is greater than 4, Expansion cannot target Force of Will. You must ensure the spell you wish to copy has a mana value of 4 or less regardless of what was actually paid to cast it.
MisdirectionIf you cast a spell and your opponent casts Misdirection to change your spell's target, Misdirection has a mana value of 5. Just like with Force of Will, Expansion cannot copy Misdirection. However, if they used a spell with mana value 4 or less to interfere, you could use Expansion to copy their spell and change the copy's target to target their original spell, effectively neutralizing their play.
You have 10 mana available and cast Explosion where X is 6. You target your opponent for 6 damage and yourself to draw 6 cards. If your opponent tries to give themselves protection from Red, they become an illegal target. However, because you are also a target (for the draw effect), the spell still resolves: you draw 6 cards, even though no damage is dealt to the opponent.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Expansion // Explosion
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If one of Explosion's two targets becomes illegal, the other is affected as appropriate.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
The copy will have the same targets as the spell it's copying unless you choose new ones. You may change any number of the targets, including all of them or none of them. If, for one of the targets, you can't choose a new legal target, then it remains unchanged (even if the current target is illegal).
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If the spell that's copied is modal (that is, it says "Choose one —" or the like), the copy will have the same mode or modes. You can't choose different ones.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If the spell that's copied has an X whose value was determined as it was cast (like Banefire does), the copy will have the same value of X.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
If the spell has damage divided as it was cast, the division can't be changed (although the targets receiving that damage still can). The same is true of spells that distribute counters.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
The controller of a copy can't choose to pay any alternative or additional costs for the copy. However, effects based on any alternative or additional costs that were paid for the original spell are copied as though those same costs were paid for the copy.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
Any choices made as a spell resolves won't have been made yet once it's copied. Any such choices will be made separately as the copy resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
If you copy a spell, you control the copy. It will resolve before the original spell does.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #9· Wizards of the Coast
Expansion can copy any instant or sorcery spell with an appropriate mana value, not just one with targets.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #10· Wizards of the Coast
If a spell has
in its mana cost, include the value chosen for that X when determining the mana value of that spell.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #11· Wizards of the Coast
The copy is created on the stack, so it's not "cast." Abilities that trigger when a player casts a spell won't trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #12· Wizards of the Coast
Split cards have two card faces on a single card. The characteristics of the half you didn't cast are ignored while the spell is on the stack.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #13· Wizards of the Coast
Each split card is a single card. For example, if you discard a split card, you've discarded one card, not two. If an effect counts the number of sorcery cards in your graveyard, Assault // Battery counts once, not twice.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #14· Wizards of the Coast
Each split card has two names. If an effect instructs you to choose a card name, you may choose one of those names, but not both.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #15· Wizards of the Coast
A split card's characteristics are a combination of its two halves while it is not on the stack. For example, Assault // Battery has a mana value of 5 while it is in your library. If an effect allows you to search your library for a card with mana value 4 or less, you can't find Assault // Battery.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #16· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect allows you to cast a spell with certain characteristics, consider only the characteristics of the half you're casting. For example, if an effect allows you to cast a sorcery spell with mana value 2 or less from among cards in your graveyard, you could cast Assault this way, but not Battery.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #17· Wizards of the Coast
If you copy a spell that's half of a split card, the copy copies that same half. For example, if you copy Assault, the copy is also Assault, not Battery.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #18· Wizards of the Coast
To cast a split card, choose one of its halves to cast. There's no way to cast both halves of this split card.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Narset's Reversal + Expansion // Explosion
- 1Cast any instant or sorcery by paying its mana cost.
- 2Holding priority, cast Expansion by paying its mana cost, targeting the instant or sorcery cast in step 1.
- 3Cast Narset's Reversal by paying
, copying Expansion targeting the spell cast in step 1 and returning the original Expansion to your hand. - 4Cast Expansion by paying its mana cost, copying the copy of Expansion, targeting the copy of Expansion.
- 5Resolve the copy of Expansion, creating a copy of Expansion targeting the copy of Expansion.
- 6Repeat step 5.
Adaptive Training Post + Expansion // Explosion
- 1Cast the additional instant or sorcery by paying its mana cost.
- 2If Adaptive Training Post had two charge counters on it, it triggers, putting a charge counter on it.
- 3Holding priority, activate Adaptive Training Post by removing three charge counters from it, copying the next instant or sorcery spell you cast this turn.
- 4Cast Expansion by paying its mana cost, targeting the spell cast in step 1.
- 5Adaptive Training Post triggers, copying Expansion, with the copy targeting the original Expansion.
- 6Resolve the copy of Expansion, copying the original Expansion, with the copy targeting the original Expansion.
- 7Repeat step 5.
Alania, Divergent Storm + Expansion // Explosion
- 1Cast the additional sorcery by paying its mana cost.
- 2Alania triggers; choose not to have an opponent draw a card.
- 3Holding priority, cast Expansion by paying
, targeting the additional sorcery. - 4Alania triggers, causing an opponent to draw a card and you to copy Expansion, with the copy targeting the original Expansion.
- 5Resolve the copy of Expansion, copying the original Expansion, with the copy targeting the original Expansion.
- 6Repeat step 5.
Expansion // Explosion + Twincast
- 1Cast any other instant and/or sorcery spell, or wait for an opponent to cast one.
- 2Holding priority, cast Expansion by paying , copying the next instant or sorcery spell you cast with mana value four or less.
- 3Cast Twincast by paying , targeting the instant or sorcery spell cast in step 1.
- 4The delayed trigger from Expansion triggers, copying Twincast, with the copy targeting the original Twincast.
- 5Resolve the copy of Twincast, copying Twincast, with the copy targeting the original Twincast.
- 6Repeat step 5.
Kalamax, the Stormsire + Expansion // Explosion
- 1Cast any sorcery by paying its mana cost.
- 2Holding priority, cast Expansion by paying its mana cost.
- 3Kalamax's first and second abilities trigger.
- 4Resolve the first ability, creating a copy of Expansion and choosing to copy the original Expansion.
- 5Resolve the second ability, putting a +1/+1 counter on Kalamax.
- 6Resolve the Expansion copy, creating a copy of Expansion.
- 7Kalamax's second ability triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on itself.
- 8Repeat from step 6 any number of times.
Pyromancer's Goggles + Expansion // Explosion
- 1Cast any instant or sorcery with mana value 4 or less by paying its mana cost.
- 2Holding priority, activate Pyromancer's Goggles by tapping it, adding
. - 3Cast Expansion by paying its mana cost, targeting the instant or sorcery cast in step 1.
- 4Pyromancer's Goggles triggers, copying Expansion, with the copy targeting the original Expansion.
- 5Resolve the copy of Expansion, creating a copy of Expansion targeting the original Expansion.
- 6Repeat step 5.
Prismari, the Inspiration + Expansion // Explosion
- 1Cast any other instant or sorcery by paying its mana cost.
- 2Holding priority, cast Expansion by paying its mana cost, targeting the instant or sorcery cast in step 1.
- 3Expansion's storm ability triggers, creating at least one copy of Expansion targeting the original Expansion
- 4Resolve a copy of Expansion, copying Expansion targeting the original Expansion
- 5Repeat step 4.
Expansion // Explosion + Fork
- 1Cast any other instant and/or sorcery spell, or wait for an opponent to cast one.
- 2Holding priority, cast Expansion by paying , copying the next instant or sorcery spell you cast with mana value four or less.
- 3Cast Fork by paying , targeting the instant or sorcery spell cast in step 1.
- 4The delayed trigger from Expansion triggers, copying Fork, with the copy targeting the original Fork.
- 5Resolve the copy of Fork, copying Fork, with the copy targeting the original Fork.
- 6Repeat step 5.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Expansion // Explosion
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