Unnatural SummonsHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Unnatural Summons is a sorcery that costs 1GU to cast, but features a cost reduction for the player who went second in the game. When it resolves, you manifest dread, which involves looking at the top two cards of your library, putting one onto the battlefield face down as a 2/2 creature, and the other into your graveyard. Finally, the Rebound keyword lets you cast the spell again for free from exile at the beginning of your next upkeep.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, you check if you were the starting player; if not, you pay only GU. Upon resolution, you look at the top two cards of your library. You choose one to manifest dread (putting it face down as a 2/2) and put the other into your graveyard. As the spell finishes resolving, Rebound exiles it instead of putting it into the graveyard. At your next upkeep, you cast it again from exile without paying its mana cost, repeating the manifest dread process, then the card finally goes to your graveyard.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is forgetting that Rebound only triggers if the spell was cast from your hand. If you cast Unnatural Summons from exile or your graveyard via other effects, Rebound will not apply. Additionally, remember that the cost reduction is permanent for the duration of the match; if you weren't the starting player of that specific game, the spell always costs 1 less for you, even when cast multiple times.

When to Play It

This spell is most effective when you need to stabilize your board while filling your graveyard. Since it creates a body and filters your deck, it is excellent for finding specific creatures to turn face up later or for fueling graveyard synergies. Casting it early when you have the discount provides immense tempo advantage.

Interaction examples

Mana Ramping into Manifest

Farseek

On turn two, you cast Farseek to bring an Island into play. On turn three, even if you were the starting player, you have the four mana required to cast Unnatural Summons and still hold up mana for other responses. You manifest dread, and because of Rebound, you will get another creature on turn four without spending any more mana.

Filtering for Lands

Cultivate

If you are struggling to find specific colors, you can use Unnatural Summons to look at the top two cards. If a basic land is there but you'd rather have a creature on board, you can manifest the creature and put the land in the graveyard, then use Cultivate on a later turn to search for the remaining lands you need, ensuring your deck is thinned and your board is protected.