Tune UpHow it works & interactions with other cards

Bringing Back the Gears

When you cast Tune Up, you choose a target artifact card in your graveyard. As the spell resolves, that card is put directly onto the battlefield. If the returned artifact is not a Vehicle, it enters as it normally would. However, if the returned card has the Vehicle subtype, it undergoes a special transformation, becoming an artifact creature in addition to its other types for as long as it remains on the battlefield.

Resolution Step-by-Step

First, you must have a valid target in your graveyard to cast the spell. Second, check if the artifact is a Vehicle as it enters; if it is, the continuous effect that makes it a creature starts applying immediately. This effect does not have a duration, meaning the Vehicle remains a creature even after the turn ends. Third, any 'enters the battlefield' abilities of the artifact will trigger normally during this process.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

One common misconception is that the Vehicle only stays a creature for one turn; unlike the 'Crew' ability, Tune Up's effect is permanent. Another error is forgetting that the artifact creature is subject to summoning sickness if it hasn't been under your control since the beginning of your most recent turn. Lastly, remember that if the target is removed from the graveyard in response to the spell, Tune Up will fail to resolve and stay on the stack before being put into the graveyard.

Strategic Timing

Since Tune Up is a sorcery, you should use it during your main phase to rebuild your board presence. It is exceptionally strong after a board wipe, as it can revive a powerful threat that doesn't require other creatures to function. If you have ways to discard high-cost artifacts early, Tune Up acts as a reliable reanimation tool to cheat them into play.

Interaction examples

Recovering from Total Destruction

Wrath of God

If your opponent casts Wrath of God to destroy all creatures on the battlefield, your artifacts that aren't creatures usually survive. However, if a Vehicle was destroyed while it was a creature, you can use Tune Up on your following turn to bring it back. The Vehicle will return as an artifact creature, immediately replacing the threat you lost.

Layered Reanimation

Sevinne's Reclamation

If you have Sevinne's Reclamation in your graveyard, you can cast it for its Flashback cost to return two permanents with mana value 3 or less to the battlefield. One of those targets could be Tune Up if it were a permanent, but since Tune Up is a sorcery, you cannot target it with Reclamation. Instead, use Reclamation to bring back small utility artifacts, and save Tune Up for your larger, high-impact Vehicles to maximize your mana efficiency.