Comparative Analysis

Instant

Surge (You may cast this spell for its surge cost if you or a teammate has cast another spell this turn.)

Target player draws two cards.

"Our time grows short. If we wish to vanquish the Eldrazi, we must unlock the hedrons' secrets."
-Jace Beleren

Commune with Lava

Instant

Exile the top X cards of your library. Until the end of your next turn, you may play those cards.

Atarka conquered Qadat, the Fire Rim, long ago, winning over its efreet with a promise to spread the glory of fire to all the world.

Common Bond

Instant

Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.

Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.

Wolf riders hone their skills traversing the perilous rooftops, each dizzying step bringing elf and wolf closer together.

Commando Raid

Instant

Until end of turn, target creature you control gains "When this creature deals combat damage to a player, you may have it deal damage equal to its power to target creature that player controls."

Commandeer

Instant

You may exile two blue cards from your hand rather than pay Commandeer's mana cost.

Gain control of target noncreature spell. You may choose new targets for it. (If that spell is an artifact, enchantment, or planeswalker, the permanent enters the battlefield under your control.)

Comeuppance

Instant

Prevent all damage that would be dealt to you and planeswalkers you control this turn by sources you don't control. If damage from a creature source is prevented this way, Comeuppance deals that much damage to that creature. If damage from a noncreature source is prevented this way, Comeuppance deals that much damage to the source's controller.

Comet Storm

Instant

Multikicker (You may pay an additional any number of times as you cast this spell.)

Choose target creature or player, then choose another target creature or player for each time Comet Storm was kicked. Comet Storm deals X damage to each of them.

Combust

Instant

Combust can't be countered by spells or abilities.

Combust deals 5 damage to target white or blue creature. The damage can't be prevented.

Colossal Might

Instant

Target creature gets +4/+2 and gains trample until end of turn.

"Never corner a barbarian. You become the path of least resistance."
-Sarkhan Vol

Colossal Heroics

Instant

Strive - Colossal Heroics costs more to cast for each target beyond the first.

Any number of target creatures each get +2/+2 until end of turn. Untap those creatures.

Collected Company

Instant

Look at the top six cards of your library. Put up to two creature cards with converted mana cost 3 or less from among them onto the battlefield. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.

Many can stand where one would fall.

Collateral Damage

Instant

As an additional cost to cast Collateral Damage, sacrifice a creature.

Collateral Damage deals 3 damage to target creature or player.

It is much easier to create fire than to contain it.

Coffin Purge

Instant

Exile target card from a graveyard.

Flashback (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)

Cobra Trap

Instant - Trap

If a noncreature permanent under your control was destroyed this turn by a spell or ability an opponent controlled, you may pay rather than pay Cobra Trap's mana cost.

Put four 1/1 green Snake creature tokens onto the battlefield.

Coat with Venom

Instant

Target creature gets +1/+2 and gains deathtouch until end of turn. (Any amount of damage it deals to a creature is enough to destroy it.)

"Every Silumgar blade carries the blessing of our dragonlord."
-Xathi the Infallible

Clutch of the Undercity

Instant

Return target permanent to its owner's hand. Its controller loses 3 life.

Transmute (, Discard this card: Search your library for a card with the same converted mana cost as this card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library. Transmute only as a sorcery.)

Cloudshift

Instant

Exile target creature you control, then return that card to the battlefield under your control.

"Even storm clouds bow to worship Avacyn."
-Elder Rimheit

Clockspinning

Instant

Buyback (You may pay an additional as you cast this spell. If you do, put this card into your hand as it resolves.)

Choose a counter on target permanent or suspended card. Remove that counter from that permanent or card or put another of those counters on it.

Clinging Mists

Instant

Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn.

Fateful hour - If you have 5 or less life, tap all attacking creatures. Those creatures don't untap during their controller's next untap step.

Clear

Instant

Destroy target enchantment.

Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

Cleansing Beam

Instant

Radiance - Cleansing Beam deals 2 damage to target creature and each other creature that shares a color with it.

"Justice is toothless without punishment. Righteousness cannot succeed without the suffering of the guilty."
-Razia

Clairvoyance

Instant

Look at target player's hand.

Draw a card at the beginning of the next turn's upkeep.

"As we followed the ice wall, we had the distinct feeling of being watched. Many of the party wanted to turn back."
-Disa the Restless, journal entry

Circular Logic

Instant

Counter target spell unless its controller pays for each card in your graveyard.

Madness (If you discard this card, you may cast it for its madness cost instead of putting it into your graveyard.)

Cinder Cloud

Instant

Destroy target creature. If a white creature dies this way, Cinder Cloud deals damage to that creature's controller equal to the creature's power.

Chronostutter

Instant

Put target creature into its owner's library second from the top.

Timing is everything.

Chorus of Might

Instant

Until end of turn, target creature gets +1/+1 for each creature you control and gains trample.

"In each of us is the strength of all of us."
-Trostani

Chord of Calling

Instant

Convoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for or one mana of that creature's color.)

Search your library for a creature card with converted mana cost X or less and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.

Choking Vines

Instant

Cast Choking Vines only during the declare blockers step.

X target attacking creatures become blocked. Choking Vines deals 1 damage to each of those creatures. (This spell works on unblockable creatures.)

Choking Tethers

Instant

Tap up to four target creatures.

Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

When you cycle Choking Tethers, you may tap target creature.

Choking Fumes

Instant

Put a -1/-1 counter on each attacking creature.

"Fall to your knees and welcome our embrace."
-Qal-Sha, Priest of Norn

Chill to the Bone

Instant

Destroy target nonsnow creature.

"Thick hides and layered armor won't help when I freeze you from the inside out."
-Heidar, Rimewind master

Chill Haunting

Instant

As an additional cost to cast Chill Haunting, exile X creature cards from your graveyard.

Target creature gets -X/-X until end of turn.

Chemister's Trick

Instant

Target creature you don't control gets -2/-0 until end of turn and attacks this turn if able.

Overload (You may cast this spell for its overload cost. If you do, change its text by replacing all instances of "target" with "each.")

Chastise

Instant

Destroy target attacking creature. You gain life equal to its power.

"Why do we pray to the Ancestor? Because She listens."
-Mystic elder

Charge Across the Araba

Instant - Arcane

Sweep - Return any number of Plains you control to their owner's hand. Creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn for each Plains returned this way.

Char

Instant

Char deals 4 damage to target creature or player and 2 damage to you.

Izzet mages often acquire their magic reagents from dubious sources, so the potency of their spells is never predictable.

Chaotic Strike

Instant

Cast Chaotic Strike only during combat after blockers are declared.

Flip a coin. If you win the flip, target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.

Draw a card.

Chaotic Backlash

Instant

Chaotic Backlash deals damage to target player equal to twice the number of white and/or blue permanents he or she controls.

The concept of thoughtweft fascinates the Nighthearth cult. Imagine, bringing agony to an entire people by torturing just one.

Chaoslace

Instant

Target spell or permanent becomes red. (Its mana symbols remain unchanged.)

Chaos Warp

Instant

The owner of target permanent shuffles it into his or her library, then reveals the top card of his or her library. If it's a permanent card, he or she puts it onto the battlefield.

Chaos Charm

Instant

Choose one - Destroy target Wall; or Chaos Charm deals 1 damage to target creature; or target creature gains haste until end of turn.

Chant of Vitu-Ghazi

Instant

Convoke (Each creature you tap while casting this spell reduces its cost by or by one mana of that creature's color.)

Prevent all damage that would be dealt by creatures this turn. You gain life equal to the damage prevented this way.

Channel Harm

Instant

Prevent all damage that would be dealt to you and permanents you control this turn by sources you don't control. If damage is prevented this way, you may have Channel Harm deal that much damage to target creature.

Change of Heart

Instant

Buyback (You may pay an additional as you cast this spell. If you do, put this card into your hand as it resolves.)

Target creature can't attack this turn.

Chandra's Outrage

Instant

Chandra's Outrage deals 4 damage to target creature and 2 damage to that creature's controller.

Chandra never believed in using her "inside voice."

Chandra's Fury

Instant

Chandra's Fury deals 4 damage to target player and 1 damage to each creature that player controls.

"I asked if they wanted to do things the easy way. I meant easy for me."

Chameleon Blur

Instant

Prevent all damage that creatures would deal to players this turn.

"Sometimes the best plan is neither fighting nor running."
-Freyalise

Chain Stasis

Instant

You may tap or untap target creature. Then that creature's controller may pay . If the player does, he or she may copy this spell and may choose a new target for that copy.

"Here we go again."
-Kakra, Sea Troll

Chain of Vapor

Instant

Return target nonland permanent to its owner's hand. Then that permanent's controller may sacrifice a land. If the player does, he or she may copy this spell and may choose a new target for that copy.

Chain of Silence

Instant

Prevent all damage target creature would deal this turn. That creature's controller may sacrifice a land. If the player does, he or she may copy this spell and may choose a new target for that copy.

Chain of Plasma

Instant

Chain of Plasma deals 3 damage to target creature or player. Then that player or that creature's controller may discard a card. If the player does, he or she may copy this spell and may choose a new target for that copy.

Cerulean Wisps

Instant

Target creature becomes blue until end of turn. Untap that creature.

Draw a card.

"If you see ghostly lights by the river, eat three twigs of marshroot to ward off kelpies."
-Kithkin superstition

Cerebral Vortex

Instant

Target player draws two cards, then Cerebral Vortex deals damage to that player equal to the number of cards he or she has drawn this turn.

Izzet brains and Izzet boilers: contents under pressure.

Center Soul

Instant

Target creature you control gains protection from the color of your choice until end of turn.

Rebound (If you cast this spell from your hand, exile it as it resolves. At the beginning of your next upkeep, you may cast this card from exile without paying its mana cost.)

Celestial Purge

Instant

Exile target black or red permanent.

"A world without evil? Boring. Give me vile fiends to smite and banish any day."
-Sarlena, paladin of the Northern Verge

Celestial Flare

Instant

Target player sacrifices an attacking or blocking creature.

"You were defeated the moment you declared your aggression."-Gideon Jura

Cease-Fire

Instant

Target player can't cast creature spells this turn.

Draw a card.

When the crimson fades from the magical embers, a final wisp of smoke will rise. Soon after, hostilities will begin anew.

Cauldron Haze

Instant

Choose any number of target creatures. Each of those creatures gains persist until end of turn. (When it dies, if it had no -1/-1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control with a -1/-1 counter on it.)

Cauldron Dance

Instant

Cast Cauldron Dance only during combat.

Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. That creature gains haste. Return it to your hand at the beginning of the next end step.

You may put a creature card from your hand onto the battlefield. That creature gains haste. Its controller sacrifices it at the beginning of the next end step.

Catalog

Instant

Draw two cards, then discard a card.

Though those who study are as many as the hairs on an ox, those who succeed are as rare as unicorns' horns.
-Chinese proverb

Carrion Call

Instant

Put two 1/1 green Insect creature tokens with infect onto the battlefield. (They deal damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.)

The natural order is out of order.

Carrion

Instant

As an additional cost to cast Carrion, sacrifice a creature.

Put X 0/1 black Insect creature tokens onto the battlefield, where X is the sacrificed creature's power.

King or herder, the maggots care not.

Carom

Instant

The next 1 damage that would be dealt to target creature this turn is dealt to another target creature instead.

Draw a card.

Her enemy's strength is her own.

Careful Consideration

Instant

Target player draws four cards, then discards three cards. If you cast this spell during your main phase, instead that player draws four cards, then discards two cards.

"Sages who take the time to verify their sources are rewarded for their diligence."
-Jhoira, to Teferi

Carbonize

Instant

Carbonize deals 3 damage to target creature or player. That creature can't be regenerated this turn. If the creature would die this turn, exile it instead.

Captain's Maneuver

Instant

The next X damage that would be dealt to target creature or player this turn is dealt to another target creature or player instead.

Sisay discovered that the mirrored hull of the Weatherlight could be used as a defensive weapon.

Capsize

Instant

Buyback (You may pay an additional as you cast this spell. If you do, put this card into your hand as it resolves.)

Return target permanent to its owner's hand.

Canopy Claws

Instant

Target creature loses flying until end of turn.

Flashback (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)

Cankerous Thirst

Instant

If was spent to cast Cankerous Thirst, you may have target creature get -3/-3 until end of turn. If was spent to cast Cankerous Thirst, you may have target creature get +3/+3 until end of turn. (Do both if was spent.)

Nothing warms the bark on a chilly day like a draught of elf.

Candles' Glow

Instant - Arcane

Prevent the next 3 damage that would be dealt to target creature or player this turn. You gain life equal to the damage prevented this way.

Splice onto Arcane (As you cast an Arcane spell, you may reveal this card from your hand and pay its splice cost. If you do, add this card's effects to that spell.)

Cancel

Instant

Counter target spell.

Camouflage

Instant

Cast Camouflage only during your declare attackers step.

This turn, instead of declaring blockers, each defending player chooses any number of creatures he or she controls and divides them into a number of piles equal to the number of attacking creatures for whom that player is the defending player. Creatures he or she controls that can block additional creatures may likewise be put into additional piles. Assign each pile to a different one of those attacking creatures at random. Each creature in a pile that can block the creature that pile is assigned to does so. (Piles can be empty.)

Call to Heel

Instant

Return target creature to its owner's hand. Its controller draws a card.

On Bant, a sigil is both a prize of honor and a bond of duty. The one who bears it may be called to fulfill that charge at any moment.

Call to Glory

Instant

Untap all creatures you control. Samurai creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn.

"General Takeno glared at us as if we were the enemy. ‘The day is not over yet,' he shouted, ‘and unless you have a nezumi's heart, you will stand and fight'"
-Battle of Akagi River: A Survivor's Tale

Call for Blood

Instant - Arcane

As an additional cost to cast Call for Blood, sacrifice a creature.

Target creature gets -X/-X until end of turn, where X is the sacrificed creature's power.

Cackling Flames

Instant

Cackling Flames deals 3 damage to target creature or player.

Hellbent - Cackling Flames deals 5 damage to that creature or player instead if you have no cards in hand.

"I like a little entertainment with my dinner."
-Rakdos

Cackling Counterpart

Instant

Put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of target creature you control.

Flashback (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)

Cabal Ritual

Instant

Add to your mana pool.

Threshold - Add to your mana pool instead if seven or more cards are in your graveyard.

"Each syllable chills your veins. Each word rattles your mind."
-Cabal Patriarch

Butcher's Glee

Instant

Target creature gets +3/+0 and gains lifelink until end of turn. Regenerate it. (Damage dealt by a creature with lifelink also causes its controller to gain that much life.)

The Crave made Kneecleaver think she was bigger than the dragon.

Burst of Strength

Instant

Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature and untap it.

"Our fight is not about territory or revenge. It is about freedom, plain and simple."
-Ruric Thar, Ghor-Clan chieftain

Burst of Energy

Instant

Untap target permanent.

"I stand ready to die for our world. Who will stand with me?"
-Radiant, archangel

Burst Lightning

Instant

Kicker (You may pay an additional as you cast this spell.)

Burst Lightning deals 2 damage to target creature or player. If Burst Lightning was kicked, it deals 4 damage to that creature or player instead.

Burnt Offering

Instant

As an additional cost to cast Burnt Offering, sacrifice a creature.

Add X mana in any combination of and/or to your mana pool, where X is the sacrificed creature's converted mana cost.

"My foes serve me twice: in dying, and in death."
-Lim-Dûl, the Necromancer

Burnout

Instant

Counter target instant spell if it's blue.

Draw a card at the beginning of the next turn's upkeep.

"GOTCHA!"
-Jaya Ballard, Task Mage

Burning Oil

Instant

Burning Oil deals 3 damage to target attacking or blocking creature.

Flashback (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)

Every now and then, a devil's prank can give you a good idea.

Burn the Impure

Instant

Burn the Impure deals 3 damage to target creature. If that creature has infect, Burn the Impure deals 3 damage to that creature's controller.

Flame doesn't kneel to Phyrexia.

Burn Away

Instant

Burn Away deals 6 damage to target creature. When that creature dies this turn, exile all cards from its controller's graveyard.

"Your corruption will burn, serpent, until there is nothing left to defile."
-Asmala, bloodfire mystic

Burn (Turn/Burn)

Instant

Burn deals 2 damage to target creature or player.

Fuse (You may cast one or both halves of this card from your hand.)

Burden of Greed

Instant

Target player loses 1 life for each tapped artifact he or she controls.

"The one who dies with the most toys is still dead."
-Geth, keeper of the Vault

Bull Rush

Instant

Target creature gets +2/+0 until end of turn.

"It's gone mad! Loose the chains and save what you can!"

Brute Strength

Instant

Target creature gets +3/+1 and gains trample until end of turn.

It's not the size of the rock. It's how badly you want to lift it.

Brute Force

Instant

Target creature gets +3/+3 until end of turn.

Blood, bone, and sinew are magnified, as is the rage that drives them. The brain, however, remains unchanged-a little bean, swinging by a strand in a cavernous, raving head.

Brutal Expulsion

Instant

Devoid (This card has no color.)

Choose one or both -

• Return target spell or creature to its owner's hand.

• Brutal Expulsion deals 2 damage to target creature or planeswalker. If that permanent would be put into a graveyard this turn, exile it instead.

Broken Visage

Instant

Destroy target nonartifact attacking creature. It can't be regenerated. Put a black Spirit creature token with that creature's power and toughness onto the battlefield. Sacrifice the token at the beginning of the next end step.

Broken Ambitions

Instant

Counter target spell unless its controller pays . Clash with an opponent. If you win, that spell's controller puts the top four cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard. (Each clashing player reveals the top card of his or her library, then puts that card on the top or bottom. A player wins if his or her card had a higher converted mana cost.)

Bring Low

Instant

Bring Low deals 3 damage to target creature. If that creature has a +1/+1 counter on it, Bring Low deals 5 damage to it instead.

"People are often humbled by the elements. But the elements, too, can be humbled."
-Surrak, khan of the Temur

Brimstone Volley

Instant

Brimstone Volley deals 3 damage to target creature or player.

Morbid - Brimstone Volley deals 5 damage to that creature or player instead if a creature died this turn.

Brightstone Ritual

Instant

Add to your mana pool for each Goblin on the battlefield.

Wizards fought over the stone to exploit its power. Goblins fight over it because it's shiny.

Breath of Malfegor

Instant

Breath of Malfegor deals 5 damage to each opponent.

The blood of the demons quickened as their master rose over the battlefield. The blood of the angels also quickened: here was the chance to finally end the war started millennia ago.

Break Open

Instant

Turn target face-down creature an opponent controls face up.

There are two ways to resolve puzzling situations: thoughtful contemplation or force. After thoughtful contemplation, most barbarians choose force.