Planar Incision 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
Exile target artifact or creature, then return it to the battlefield under its owner's control with a +1/+1 counter on it.
Complete guide
Planar Incision is a versatile blue instant that allows you to temporarily remove an artifact or creature from reality. By flickering a permanent, you can protect it from danger or reset its state, all while granting it a permanent power boost. This card serves as both a defensive tool and a way to re-trigger powerful entry effects.
What It Does
When you cast Planar Incision, you target a single artifact or creature on the battlefield. The spell exiles that permanent and immediately returns it to the battlefield under its owner's control. Crucially, the permanent returns with a +1/+1 counter on it, regardless of whether it was a creature or an artifact when it left.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, the target is moved to the exile zone, which causes it to lose any attachments like Auras or Equipment. Second, the card returns to the battlefield immediately during the resolution of the spell; it does not wait for the end of the turn. Third, as it enters, it receives a +1/+1 counter. Because it is considered a new object, any spells or abilities previously targeting it will fizzle.
Common Mistakes
Players often forget that the permanent returns under its owner's control, not necessarily the controller's. If you use this on a creature an opponent stole from you, you get it back! Additionally, if you target a non-creature artifact, it still receives the +1/+1 counter, though the counter won't affect anything unless that artifact later becomes a creature.
When to Play It
Use Planar Incision in response to removal spells to make them lose their target. It is also excellent for repeating 'enters-the-battlefield' abilities or removing negative debuffs and damage from your creatures. In a pinch, it can be used to tap down an attacker by flickering them, as they return to the battlefield untapped but with summoning sickness.
Interaction examples
CounterspellIf your opponent casts Counterspell targeting a creature you just played, Planar Incision cannot save that spell because it is still on the stack. However, if they cast Counterspell to stop your Planar Incision, your Planar Incision will be put into the graveyard and its effect will not happen.
An Offer You Can't RefuseIf you cast Planar Incision and your opponent responds with An Offer You Can't Refuse, your spell is countered. You will not exile your creature, but you will create two Treasure tokens instead. This shows that Planar Incision is vulnerable to noncreature countermagic.
If you target your own creature that has been dealt lethal damage this turn, Planar Incision exiles it. When the creature returns, it is a brand new object with no damage marked on it and an additional +1/+1 counter, effectively saving it from death.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Planar Incision
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
No additional ruling has been published for this card.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Dualcaster Mage + Planar Incision
- 1Cast Planar Incision by paying its mana cost.
- 2Holding priority, cast Dualcaster Mage by paying its mana cost.
- 3When Dualcaster Mage enters, it triggers, copying Planar Incision, with the copy targeting Dualcaster Mage.
- 4Resolve the copy of Planar Incision, blinking Dualcaster Mage.
- 5Repeat from step 3.
Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward + Planar Incision + Archaeomancer
- 1Cast Planar Incision by paying its mana cost, blinking Abdel Adrian.
- 2Abdel Adrian leaves the battlefield, returning Archaeomancer and all other cards that were exiled with it to the battlefield.
- 3Abdel Adrian and Archaeomancer trigger.
- 4Resolve the Archaeomancer trigger, returning Planar Incision from your graveyard to your hand.
- 5Holding priority, activate any number of nonland permanents you control by tapping them, adding at least enough mana to cast Planar Incision.
- 6Resolve the Abdel Adrian trigger, exiling Archaeomancer and the mana-producing permanents until Abdel Adrian leaves the battlefield, and creating a 1/1 Soldier creature token for each permanent exiled this way.
- 7Repeat.
Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward + Planar Incision + Restoration Angel
- 1Cast Abdel Adrian either from your hand or from the command zone by paying
and commander tax, if applicable. - 2When Abdel Adrian enters the battlefield, it triggers, exiling Restoration Angel until Abedl Adrian leaves the battlefield and creating a 1/1 Soldier creature token.
- 3Cast Planar Incision by paying its mana cost, blinking Abdel Adrian.
- 4Abdel Adrian leaves and enters the battlefield, causing Restoration Angel to return to the battlefield from exile, and triggering Abdel Adrian and Restoration Angel's enter abilities.
- 5Resolve the Abdel Adrian trigger, exiling Restoration Angel until Abdel Adrian leaves the battlefield and creating a 1/1 Soldier creature token.
- 6Resolve the Restoration Angel trigger, blinking Abdel Adrian.
- 7Repeat from step 4.
Naru Meha, Master Wizard + Planar Incision
- 1Cast Planar Incision by paying its mana cost.
- 2Holding priority, cast Naru Meha by paying its mana cost plus commander tax if applicable
- 3When Naru Meha enters, it triggers, copying Planar Incision, with the copy targeting Naru Meha.
- 4Resolve the copy of Planar Incision, blinking Naru Meha.
- 5Repeat from step 3.
Emet-Selch, Unsundered // Hades, Sorcerer of Eld + Planar Incision
- 1Cast the extra turn spell from your graveyard by paying its mana cost.
- 2Holding priority, cast Planar Incision from your graveyard by paying its mana cost, blinking Hades and causing it to re-enter the battlefield as Emet-Selch.
- 3When Emet-Selch enters the battlefield, it triggers, causing you to loot.
- 4Resolve the extra turn spell, causing you to take an extra turn after this one.
- 5At the beginning of your upkeep during your extra turn, Emet-Selch triggers, transforming itself into Hades.
- 6Repeat.
Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward + Planar Incision + Felidar Guardian
- 1Cast Abdel Adrian either from your hand or from the command zone by paying and commander tax, if applicable.
- 2When Abdel Adrian enters the battlefield, it triggers, exiling Felidar Guardian until Abedl Adrian leaves the battlefield and creating a 1/1 Soldier creature token.
- 3Cast Planar Incision by paying its mana cost, blinking Abdel Adrian.
- 4Abdel Adrian leaves and enters the battlefield, causing Felidar Guardian to return to the battlefield from exile, and triggering Abdel Adrian and Felidar Guardian's enter abilities.
- 5Resolve the Abdel Adrian trigger, exiling Felidar Guardian until Abdel Adrian leaves the battlefield and creating a 1/1 Soldier creature token.
- 6Resolve the Felidar Guardian trigger, blinking Abdel Adrian.
- 7Repeat from step 4.
Preston, the Vanisher + Planar Incision + Felidar Guardian
- 1Cast Planar Incision by paying its mana cost, blinking Felidar Guardian.
- 2Felidar Guardian and Preston trigger.
- 3Resolve the Felidar Guardian trigger, blinking another permanent you control.
- 4Resolve the Preston trigger, creating a token copy of Felidar Guardian that is a 0/1 Illusion.
- 5When the Felidar Guardian token enters the battlefield, it triggers, blinking the nontoken Felidar Guardian.
- 6Repeat from step 2.
Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward + Planar Incision + Mnemonic Wall
- 1Cast Planar Incision by paying its mana cost, blinking Abdel Adrian.
- 2Abdel Adrian leaves the battlefield, returning Mnemonic Wall and all other cards that were exiled with it to the battlefield.
- 3Abdel Adrian and Mnemonic Wall trigger.
- 4Resolve the Mnemonic Wall trigger, returning Planar Incision from your graveyard to your hand.
- 5Holding priority, activate any number of nonland permanents you control by tapping them, adding at least enough mana to cast Planar Incision.
- 6Resolve the Abdel Adrian trigger, exiling Mnemonic Wall and the mana-producing permanents until Abdel Adrian leaves the battlefield, and creating a 1/1 Soldier creature token for each permanent exiled this way.
- 7Repeat.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Planar Incision
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.