Mark of Eviction 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

Enchant creature At the beginning of your upkeep, return enchanted creature and all Auras attached to that creature to their owners' hands.

Complete guide

Mark of Eviction is a unique blue Aura that provides a slow but repeatable form of board control. By forcing both the creature and all attached Auras back to their owners' hands every turn, it creates a recurring cycle of disruption. This card is perfect for players looking to stall the game or reuse their own 'enters-the-battlefield' abilities.

How the Eviction Works

Mark of Eviction is an Aura that must target a creature as it is cast. Once attached, it sets a delayed trigger that fires at the beginning of your upkeep. When this ability resolves, the enchanted creature is returned to its owner's hand, along with Mark of Eviction itself and any other Auras that were attached to that specific creature.

The Upkeep Resolution

Because the ability triggers at the start of your upkeep, you have a brief window to respond before the creature disappears. If the creature leaves the battlefield before the trigger resolves, Mark of Eviction will simply be put into the graveyard as a state-based action because it is no longer enchanting a legal permanent. However, if the trigger resolves successfully, everything moves to the hand simultaneously.

Strategic Timing and Common Mistakes

A common mistake is forgetting that this card returns to your hand as well. While this means you have to pay the mana to cast it again, it also means your opponent cannot easily destroy the Aura on their turn to stop the effect. It is also important to note that this does not destroy the creature; it bypasses 'Indestructible' but can be stopped by 'Hexproof' if you cannot target the creature to begin with.

When to Play It

Use Mark of Eviction to keep your opponent's most expensive threat off the board. Since you get the Aura back, you can keep casting it on whatever creature they play next. It is also highly effective in decks that benefit from re-playing their own creatures to trigger abilities again and again.

Interaction examples

Slow Motion Removal

You cast Mark of Eviction on your opponent's largest creature. During your next upkeep, the trigger goes on the stack. When it resolves, the creature returns to your opponent's hand and Mark of Eviction returns to your hand. You can now cast it again on the same creature if they replay it, or pick a new target.

Bypassing Noncreature Restrictions

Mystic Remora

If your opponent has Mystic Remora, they may draw a card when you cast Mark of Eviction unless you pay {4}. However, once Mark of Eviction is on the battlefield, its return ability is a triggered ability, not a spell. Returning the creature to the hand each turn does not trigger the Remora's card-draw effect.

Interacting with Saga Timings

Urza's Saga

If your opponent turns Urza's Saga into a creature (via other effects), and you apply Mark of Eviction, the Saga will return to their hand during your upkeep. This resets the lore counters, preventing them from reaching the third chapter to search for an artifact, and forces them to spend their land play for the turn to put the Saga back out.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.