Transcantation 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
Target instant or sorcery spell becomes a copy of Lightning Bolt. Its controller may choose new targets for it.
Complete guide
Transcantation is a fascinating red instant that allows you to fundamentally rewrite the magic your opponents are weaving. By turning any instant or sorcery into a Lightning Bolt, you can transform a game-ending threat into a simple burn spell. This versatile card serves as both a defensive tool and a way to redirect aggression.
What Transcantation Does
Transcantation targets an instant or sorcery spell on the stack and forces it to become a copy of Lightning Bolt. The affected spell loses all its original characteristics, including its name, mana cost, and text, and adopts the properties of Lightning Bolt: an instant costing {R} that deals 3 damage to any target. Because the spell's effects change, its controller is allowed to choose new targets for this new version of the spell.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, Transcantation is cast targeting a spell on the stack. Upon resolution, the target spell becomes Lightning Bolt. Crucially, as the spell transforms, it initially loses all its previous targets. The spell's controller must then choose a new target for the Lightning Bolt effect. If they fail to choose a valid target, the spell will not resolve and will be put into the graveyard without effect.
Important Rulings and Interactions
When a spell becomes a copy of Lightning Bolt via Transcantation, any additional or alternative costs paid for the original spell, such as Buyback or Flashback, no longer apply to the resolution. The spell is now strictly a Lightning Bolt. Once the spell resolves or leaves the stack, it returns to its original characteristics in the graveyard. Remember that while the spell's mana cost changes to {R} on the stack, this does not affect how much mana was already spent to cast it.
When to Play Transcantation
Transcantation is best used when your opponent attempts to cast a high-impact spell that you cannot otherwise counter. It is particularly effective against spells that don't target, as you force them to target something (possibly one of their own creatures). It is also a great way to save your permanents from powerful removal by turning that removal into a manageable 3 damage.
Interaction examples
Chaos WarpYour opponent casts Chaos Warp to tuck your commander into your library. You respond by casting Transcantation targeting Chaos Warp. Chaos Warp loses its ability to shuffle your permanent and becomes a Lightning Bolt instead. Your opponent may now choose a new target to deal 3 damage to, and your commander stays safely on the battlefield.
Deflecting SwatYou cast Transcantation on an opponent's powerful sorcery, turning it into a Lightning Bolt. Your opponent chooses you as the new target for that damage. You can then cast Deflecting Swat to change the target of that new Lightning Bolt to a creature your opponent controls, using their transformed spell against them.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Transcantation
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Any additional effects that happen while a spell is resolving based on additional or alternative costs, such as buyback and flashback, won’t happen.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Lightning Bolt is an instant with mana cost
and the ability “Lightning Bolt deals 3 damage to any target.”No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
The target spell loses all characteristics printed on the card and has only Lightning Bolt’s characteristics. These become the spell’s copiable values. Once it resolves, it’s put into its owner’s graveyard and has its normal characteristics again.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
As the spell becomes Lightning Bolt, it stops having any targets. If the spell’s controller doesn’t change the spell’s target so it has one, the spell won’t resolve.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Transcantation
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.