Contradict

Instant

Counter target spell.

Draw a card.

Those who question Ojutai may not like the answers they receive.

Controvert

Instant

Counter target spell.

Recover (When a creature is put into your graveyard from the battlefield, you may pay . If you do, return this card from your graveyard to your hand. Otherwise, exile this card.)

Convolute

Instant

Counter target spell unless its controller pays .

The words came to the sorcerer's lips but refused to budge any further.

Coordinated Assault

Instant

Up to two target creatures each get +1/+0 and gain first strike until end of turn.

It's hard to shout "Shields up!" with a javelin in your chest.

Coordinated Barrage

Instant

Choose a creature type. Coordinated Barrage deals damage to target attacking or blocking creature equal to the number of permanents you control of the chosen type.

Corpse Churn

Instant

Put the top three cards of your library into your graveyard, then you may return a creature card from your graveyard to your hand.

"The distraction of your life has ended. Now your service begins."
-Kalitas, thrall of Ulamog

Corpse Lunge

Instant

As an additional cost to cast Corpse Lunge, exile a creature card from your graveyard.

Corpse Lunge deals damage equal to the exiled card's power to target creature.

Corrupted Resolve

Instant

Counter target spell if its controller is poisoned.

"Flesh is a sickness that infects Phyrexia."
-Avaricta, Gitaxian sective

Counterbore

Instant

Counter target spell. Search its controller's graveyard, hand, and library for all cards with the same name as that spell and exile them. Then that player shuffles his or her library.

Counterflux

Instant

Counterflux can't be countered by spells or abilities.

Counter target spell you don't control.

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

Counterlash

Instant

Counter target spell. You may cast a nonland card in your hand that shares a card type with that spell without paying its mana cost.

"Pathetic. Let me show you how it's done."

Countermand

Instant

Counter target spell. Its controller puts the top four cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.

The physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in his mind.

Countersquall

Instant

Counter target noncreature spell. Its controller loses 2 life.

Each of the twenty-three winds of Esper is named and chronicled, and every possible interaction with the flow of magic is exhaustively detailed.

Cower in Fear

Instant

Creatures your opponents control get -1/-1 until end of turn.

"You will fully understand fear when you discover it is the final thing you put your faith in."
-Nicol Bolas

Crackling Doom

Instant

Crackling Doom deals 2 damage to each opponent. Each opponent sacrifices a creature with the greatest power among creatures he or she controls.

Do not fear the lightning. Fear the one it obeys.

Cradle to Grave

Instant

Destroy target nonblack creature that entered the battlefield this turn.

"As the fell soil's appetite grows, it gulps down passersby upon their first footfall."
-Ezrith, druid of the Dark Hours

Crash Landing

Instant

Target creature with flying loses flying until end of turn. Crash Landing deals damage to that creature equal to the number of Forests you control.

"The other guilds think they're untouchable. It's time we brought them back down to earth."
-Ghut Rak, Gruul guildmage

Cremate

Instant

Exile target card from a graveyard.

Draw a card.

"Without a body, the soul is helpless to fight the terms of our contracts."
-Somhaur, Orzhov pontiff

Crimson Wisps

Instant

Target creature becomes red and gains haste until end of turn.

Draw a card.

The whispers are incomprehensible, yet cinders always hear a message of urgency.

Crippling Chill

Instant

Tap target creature. It doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.

Draw a card.

One breath of the geist turns veins to rivers of ice and freezes hearts midbeat.

Crosis's Charm

Instant

Choose one - Return target permanent to its owner's hand; or destroy target nonblack creature, and it can't be regenerated; or destroy target artifact.

Crowd's Favor

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.)

Target creature gets +1/+0 and gains first strike until end of turn. (It deals combat damage before creatures without first strike.)

Cruel Feeding

Instant

Strive - Cruel Feeding costs more to cast for each target beyond the first.

Any number of target creatures each get +1/+0 and gain lifelink until end of turn. (Damage dealt by a creature with lifelink also causes its controller to gain that much life.)

Crush

Instant

Destroy target noncreature artifact.

A golem's hands know no tenderness.

Crushing Pain

Instant - Arcane

Crushing Pain deals 6 damage to target creature that was dealt damage this turn.

It is said that the mere touch of a kami is like embracing the sun itself.

Crushing Vines

Instant

Choose one - Destroy target creature with flying; or destroy target artifact.

"Your veil's curse won't stop me, deathmage. I have taken down countless night hunters and this dark plane is not big enough for you to hide."
-Garruk Wildspeaker, to Liliana Vess

Crypsis

Instant

Target creature you control gains protection from creatures your opponents control until end of turn. Untap it.

Tritons borrow the camouflage of their oceanic prey to become predators on land.

Crypt Incursion

Instant

Exile all creature cards from target player's graveyard. You gain 3 life for each card exiled this way.

The Golgari maze-runner Varolz hungers to prove his fortitude in battle, and his trail of victims feeds other hungers.

Cryptic Command

Instant

Choose two - Counter target spell; or return target permanent to its owner's hand; or tap all creatures your opponents control; or draw a card.

Cunning Strike

Instant

Cunning Strike deals 2 damage to target creature and 2 damage to target player.

Draw a card.

"The opponent who blocks the path, becomes the path."
-Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest

Cursebreak

Instant

Destroy target enchantment. You gain 2 life.

No longer the village pariah. No longer taunted and shamed. Sigrun was finally free.

Curtain of Light

Instant

Cast Curtain of Light only during combat after blockers are declared.

Target unblocked attacking creature becomes blocked. (This spell works on unblockable creatures.)

Draw a card.

"Paint gold upon the wind,
Shape the wind into a shield,
And vanish behind the brightness."
-Snow-Fur, kitsune poet

Cut the Earthly Bond

Instant - Arcane

Return target enchanted permanent to its owner's hand.

"The more kami that passed through the veil that separated them from our world, the weaker that veil became, threatening to tear into tatters at the slightest pressure."
-The History of Kamigawa

Cutthroat Maneuver

Instant

Up to two target creatures each get +1/+1 and gain lifelink until end of turn.

"Our ambition drives us forward. Together we will claim what is ours, no matter who holds it."

Cyclonic Rift

Instant

Return target nonland permanent you don't control to its owner's hand.

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

The Izzet specialize in unnatural disaster.

Cytoshape

Instant

Choose a nonlegendary creature on the battlefield. Target creature becomes a copy of that creature until end of turn.

"Though highly effective at reshaping flesh, these specially bred cytoplasts leave the subject reeking of omnibian mucus."
-Simic research notes

Dampen Thought

Instant - Arcane

Target player puts the top four cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.

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.)

Dance of the Skywise

Instant

Until end of turn, target creature you control becomes a blue Dragon Illusion with base power and toughness 4/4, loses all abilities, and gains flying.

The Ojutai believe in the Great Wheel: those who best serve the dragonlord are destined to be reborn as dragons.

Dangerous Wager

Instant

Discard your hand, then draw two cards.

"C'mon friend, take a turn tossing the knucklebones. What've you got to lose?"
-Tobias, trader of Erdwal

Dark Banishing

Instant

Destroy target nonblack creature. It can't be regenerated.

"Ha, banishment? Be merciful, say ‘death,'
For exile hath more terror in his look,
Much more than death."
-William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Dark Betrayal

Instant

Destroy target black creature.

"You're just like me: ruthless, cunning, and ambitious. Obviously you're a threat."
-Basarios the Blade

Dark Ritual

Instant

Add to your mana pool.

Dark Temper

Instant

Dark Temper deals 2 damage to target creature. If you control a black permanent, destroy the creature instead.

When you've got the temperament of a dragon, every argument is one you'll win.

Dark Withering

Instant

Destroy target nonblack creature.

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

Darkblast

Instant

Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.

Dredge 3 (If you would draw a card, instead you may put exactly three cards from the top of your library into your graveyard. If you do, return this card from your graveyard to your hand. Otherwise, draw a card.)

Darkness

Instant

Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn.

"If I must die, I will encounter darkness as a bride,/ And hug it in my arms." -William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure

Dash Hopes

Instant

When you cast Dash Hopes, any player may pay 5 life. If a player does, counter Dash Hopes.

Counter target spell.

"Focus an enemy's mind on what's already gone, and it's easier to take away more."
-Holux, stronghold racketeer

Dauntless Onslaught

Instant

Up to two target creatures each get +2/+2 until end of turn.

"The people of Akros must learn from our leonin adversaries. If we match their staunch ferocity with our superior faith, we cannot fail."
-Cymede, queen of Akros

Dawn Charm

Instant

Choose one - Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn; or regenerate target creature; or counter target spell that targets you.

Dazzling Reflection

Instant

You gain life equal to target creature's power. The next time that creature would deal damage this turn, prevent that damage.

"The light of a felidar's horns can give even an Eldrazi pause."
-Zarra, lullmage

Dead (Dead/Gone)

Instant

Dead deals 2 damage to target creature.

Death Denied

Instant - Arcane

Return X target creature cards from your graveyard to your hand.

Takenuma was filled with a chorus of moans, shrieks, and wails. Some came from the living, some from the dying, and some, most horribly, from the dead.

Death of a Thousand Stings

Instant - Arcane

Target player loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.

At the beginning of your upkeep, if you have more cards in hand than each opponent, you may return Death of a Thousand Stings from your graveyard to your hand.

Death Rattle

Instant

Delve (You may exile any number of cards from your graveyard as you cast this spell. It costs less to cast for each card exiled this way.)

Destroy target nongreen creature. It can't be regenerated.

Death Wind

Instant

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

Leukin stared at the smoldering angel feathers. "Run!" he screamed to his patrol. "We don't stand a chance!"

Defend the Hearth

Instant

Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to players this turn.

The defenders said not a word. Their shields, spears, and stances were warning enough.

Defiant Strike

Instant

Target creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn.

Draw a card.

"Stand where the whole battle can see you. Strike so they'll never forget."
-Anafenza, khan of the Abzan

Deflecting Palm

Instant

The next time a source of your choice would deal damage to you this turn, prevent that damage. If damage is prevented this way, Deflecting Palm deals that much damage to that source's controller.

Deflection

Instant

Change the target of target spell with a single target.

Up and down,
over and through,
back around-
the joke's on you.

Deglamer

Instant

Choose target artifact or enchantment. Its owner shuffles it into his or her library.

The more pleasant an illusion's garb, the more indecent its form laid bare.

Deicide

Instant

Exile target enchantment. If the exiled card is a God card, search its controller's graveyard, hand, and library for any number of cards with the same name as that card and exile them, then that player shuffles his or her library.

"It is done."
-Elspeth

Delay

Instant

Counter target spell. If the spell is countered this way, exile it with three time counters on it instead of putting it into its owner's graveyard. If it doesn't have suspend, it gains suspend. (At the beginning of its owner's upkeep, remove a counter from that card. When the last is removed, the player plays it without paying its mana cost. If it's a creature, it has haste.)

Deluge

Instant

Tap all creatures without flying.

"From the sea came all life, and to the sea it will return. The sooner the better."
-Emperor Aboshan

Demystify

Instant

Destroy target enchantment.

Behind every mage is a trail of shattered lies.

Deprive

Instant

As an additional cost to cast Deprive, return a land you control to its owner's hand.

Counter target spell.

"That would have brought shame to you as a mage. Tell you what-I'll keep your secret."
-Noyan Dar, Tazeem lullmage

Desertion

Instant

Counter target spell. If an artifact or creature spell is countered this way, put that card onto the battlefield under your control instead of into its owner's graveyard.

First the insult, then the injury.

Desperate Ravings

Instant

Draw two cards, then discard a card at random.

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

Her mind was quite gone, yet she spoke nothing but truth.

Desperate Ritual

Instant - Arcane

Add to your mana pool.

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.)

Destructive Revelry

Instant

Destroy target artifact or enchantment. Destructive Revelry deals 2 damage to that permanent's controller.

"Stoke a fire hot enough and you'll never run out of things to burn."
-Xenagos, the Reveler

Devour Flesh

Instant

Target player sacrifices a creature, then gains life equal to that creature's toughness.

His twisted mind concluded that if he was what he ate, and he wanted to stay human, . . .

Devour in Shadow

Instant

Destroy target creature. It can't be regenerated. You lose life equal to that creature's toughness.

"Feel the burn of the mists. Master them. They will devour your enemies."
-Geth, keeper of the Vault

Devouring Light

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.)

Exile target attacking or blocking creature.

Into the light the good are welcomed, and with the light the evil are banished.

Devouring Rage

Instant - Arcane

As an additional cost to cast Devouring Rage, you may sacrifice any number of Spirits.

Target creature gets +3/+0 until end of turn. For each Spirit sacrificed this way, that creature gets an additional +3/+0 until end of turn.

Dig Through Time

Instant

Delve (Each card you exile from your graveyard while casting this spell pays for .)

Look at the top seven cards of your library. Put two of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.

Diminish

Instant

Target creature becomes 1/1 until end of turn.

"‘That was a narrow escape!' said Alice, a good deal frightened at the sudden change, but very glad to find herself still in existence."
-Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Dimir Charm

Instant

Choose one - Counter target sorcery spell; or destroy target creature with power 2 or less; or look at the top three cards of target player's library, then put one back and the rest into that player's graveyard.

"Dangerous to recognize. Deadly not to."
-Lazav

Disarm

Instant

Unattach all Equipment from target creature.

"Be thankful I left you your clothes."

Discombobulate

Instant

Counter target spell. Look at the top four cards of your library, then put them back in any order.

"I said ‘pick his brain,' not ‘tear off his head.'"
-Riptide Project researcher

Disdainful Stroke

Instant

Counter target spell with converted mana cost 4 or greater.

"You are beneath contempt. Your lineage will be forgotten."

Disembowel

Instant

Destroy target creature with converted mana cost X.

"We thought we found the victim's clothes lumped in the street. As it turned out, it was the victim, insides sucked out-just a sack of skin and robes."
-Agrus Kos

Disenchant

Instant

Destroy target artifact or enchantment.

Disfigure

Instant

Target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn.

"Brave scar or unfortunate tale? It all depends on your pain threshold."

Dismal Failure

Instant

Counter target spell. Its controller discards a card.

"Two magi could trade spells all day and never crown a victor. The real battle is not one of power but of will. If your confidence breaks, so too shall you."
-Venser

Dismember

Instant

( can be paid with either or 2 life.)

Target creature gets -5/-5 until end of turn.

"You serve Phyrexia. Your pieces would better serve Phyrexia elsewhere."
-Azax-Azog, the Demon Thane

Dismiss

Instant

Counter target spell.

Draw a card.

"There is nothing you can do that I cannot simply deny."
-Ertai, wizard adept

Disorient

Instant

Target creature gets -7/-0 until end of turn.

"If it has a brain, even a primitive one, we can most surely scramble it."
-Garild, merfolk mage

Dispatch

Instant

Tap target creature.

Metalcraft - If you control three or more artifacts, exile that creature.

Venser wondered if it could still be called a teleportation spell if the destination is oblivion.

Dispel

Instant

Counter target instant spell.

"Civilization will subsume us unless we overwhelm it instead."
-Speaker Zegana

Dispense Justice

Instant

Target player sacrifices an attacking creature.

Metalcraft - That player sacrifices two attacking creatures instead if you control three or more artifacts.

The Accorders never strike first, but they always strike back.

Disperse

Instant

Return target nonland permanent to its owner's hand.

Most casualties of the power struggle between vedalken and Neurok didn't die on the field of battle; they merely disappeared.

Display of Dominance

Instant

Choose one -

• Destroy target blue or black noncreature permanent.

• Permanents you control can't be the targets of blue or black spells your opponents control this turn.

Disrupting Shoal

Instant - Arcane

You may exile a blue card with converted mana cost X from your hand rather than pay Disrupting Shoal's mana cost.

Counter target spell if its converted mana cost is X.

Dissipate

Instant

Counter target spell. If that spell is countered this way, exile it instead of putting it into its owner's graveyard.

"This abomination never belonged in our world. I'm merely setting it free."
-Dierk, geistmage

Dissolve

Instant

Counter target spell. Scry 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card on the bottom of your library.)

"You thought only the gods could stop you?"

Divine Deflection

Instant

Prevent the next X damage that would be dealt to you and/or permanents you control this turn. If damage is prevented this way, Divine Deflection deals that much damage to target creature or player.

Divine Offering

Instant

Destroy target artifact. You gain life equal to its converted mana cost.

"The Phyrexians are vulnerable. Do not despair. We will prevail!"
-Juryan, rebel leader

Divine Verdict

Instant

Destroy target attacking or blocking creature.

"Guilty."

Dizzy Spell

Instant

Target creature gets -3/-0 until end of turn.

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.)

Dogpile

Instant

Dogpile deals damage to target creature or player equal to the number of attacking creatures you control.

There is no shelter from this storm, its rain of fists, or the thunderous cackles of bloodlust.

Domineering Will

Instant

Target player gains control of up to three target nonattacking creatures until end of turn. Untap those creatures. They block this turn if able.