Repeal 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
Return target nonland permanent with mana value X to its owner's hand. Draw a card.
Complete guide
Repeal is a versatile blue instant that provides both tempo and card advantage by bouncing a threat while replacing itself in your hand. Because its cost scales with the target's mana value, it can be an efficient answer to low-cost permanents or a late-game solution for larger threats. Understanding the specific timing and targeting requirements of this spell is key to maximizing its value.
How It Works
Repeal requires you to choose a value for X when you cast it. This value must exactly match the mana value of the target nonland permanent. Once it resolves, the permanent returns to its owner's hand, and you draw a card. Note that for permanents with {X} in their mana cost while on the battlefield, X is treated as 0. Similarly, most tokens have a mana value of 0, meaning Repeal can remove them for just one blue mana ({X}=0).
Resolution Step-by-Step
First, you choose a target and pay {X}{U}. Upon resolution, the game checks if the target is still legal (i.e., it hasn't left the battlefield or gained protection). If the target is legal, it is moved to its owner's hand. Immediately following the bounce, you perform the 'Draw a card' instruction. If the target becomes illegal before resolution, the entire spell fails to resolve, and you do not draw a card.
Common Pitfalls
The most frequent mistake involves losing the card draw. Because Repeal targets a permanent, the spell will 'fizzle' if that target is no longer there or is an invalid target when Repeal tries to resolve. This means if an opponent uses an effect to sacrifice their permanent or give it hexproof in response, you lose both the bounce effect and the card draw. Always ensure your target is likely to remain on the board.
Strategic Timing
Repeal is best used to reset tokens or to tempo out an opponent's key piece while keeping your hand full. Since it is an instant, you can cast it during your opponent's end step to clear a blocker or at the beginning of combat to remove an attacker. It is also a great response to an opponent attempting to enchant or equip a creature, as removing the creature in response will cause their spell or ability to fail.
Interaction examples
An Offer You Can't RefuseIf your opponent has a Treasure token generated by An Offer You Can't Refuse, you can cast Repeal with X=0. You pay only one blue mana. The Treasure token (mana value 0) is returned to the hand—which causes it to cease to exist—and you draw a card for a very low investment.
CounterspellIf you cast Repeal targeting a creature and your opponent responds with Counterspell, Repeal is moved to the graveyard without resolving. Because the spell was countered, none of its effects happen: the creature remains on the battlefield and you do not draw a card.
Suppose you cast Repeal targeting an opponent's creature. In response, the opponent uses an ability to sacrifice that creature. When Repeal attempts to resolve, it finds its target is missing. The spell is removed from the stack without effect, meaning you do not get to draw a card.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Repeal
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If the target permanent is an illegal target by the time Repeal tries to resolve, the spell doesn't resolve. You don't draw a card.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If a permanent on the battlefield has
in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
The mana value of a token that isn't a copy of another object is 0. A token that is a copy of another object has the same mana cost as that object.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Repeal
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.