Scattering Stroke

Instant

Counter target spell. Clash with an opponent. If you win, at the beginning of your next main phase, you may add to your mana pool, where X is that spell's converted mana cost. (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.)

Angelsong

Instant

Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn.

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

Clash of sword and cry of beast fall mute when angels sound the call to prayer.

Resounding Silence

Instant

Exile target attacking creature.

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

When you cycle Resounding Silence, exile up to two target attacking creatures.

Soul's Grace

Instant

You gain life equal to target creature's power.

An avatar he sculpts of fellowship and light.

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.

Gather Specimens

Instant

If a creature would enter the battlefield under an opponent's control this turn, it enters the battlefield under your control instead.

"It's free to do whatever it wants. I've merely told it what that is."
-Xorin, Architect of Will

Resounding Wave

Instant

Return target permanent to its owner's hand.

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

When you cycle Resounding Wave, return two target permanents to their owners' hands.

Spell Snip

Instant

Counter target spell unless its controller pays .

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

"Magic cast through a hand of flesh is just as weak as the flesh itself."
-Lodus of the Ethersworn

Tortoise Formation

Instant

Creatures you control gain shroud until end of turn. (They can't be the targets of spells or abilities.)

At sea, the Jhessian fleet strikes swiftly and decisively. On land, facing the elite cavalry of Valeron, its marines must rely on more cautious strategies.

Ad Nauseam

Instant

Reveal the top card of your library and put that card into your hand. You lose life equal to its converted mana cost. You may repeat this process any number of times.

When the task spilled over into undeath, he stopped calling it his life's work.

Shadowfeed

Instant

Exile target card from a graveyard. You gain 3 life.

"The future is a snake, devouring your life backwards through time. And when you die, believe me, it doesn't stop feeding."
-Sedris, the Traitor King

Magma Spray

Instant

Magma Spray deals 2 damage to target creature. If that creature would die this turn, exile it instead.

"Jund is a wounded world. Beware its searing blood spilling out onto the surface."
-Rakka Mar

Resounding Thunder

Instant

Resounding Thunder deals 3 damage to target creature or player.

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

When you cycle Resounding Thunder, it deals 6 damage to target creature or player.

Skeletonize

Instant

Skeletonize deals 3 damage to target creature. When a creature dealt damage this way dies this turn, put a 1/1 black Skeleton creature token onto the battlefield with ": Regenerate this creature."

Fire burns away both flesh and freedom.

Soul's Fire

Instant

Target creature you control on the battlefield deals damage equal to its power to target creature or player.

An avatar he sculpts of anger and flame.

Resounding Roar

Instant

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

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

When you cycle Resounding Roar, target creature gets +6/+6 until end of turn.

Agony Warp

Instant

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

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

Life's circle has become inverted in Grixis. The same energy is endlessly recycled and becomes more stagnant with each pass.

Bant Charm

Instant

Choose one - Destroy target artifact; or put target creature on the bottom of its owner's library; or counter target instant spell.

Bant is a world where death and chaos hold no sway.

Branching Bolt

Instant

Choose one or both - Branching Bolt deals 3 damage to target creature with flying; and/or Branching Bolt deals 3 damage to target creature without flying.

"Lightning lives in everything, in living flesh and growing things. It must be set free."
-Rakka Mar

Esper Charm

Instant

Choose one - Destroy target enchantment; or draw two cards; or target player discards two cards.

"Thoughts are commodities. Someone will pay a good price for them. Even ones as simplistic as yours . . ."
-Ennor, mentalist

Grixis Charm

Instant

Choose one - Return target permanent to its owner's hand; or target creature gets -4/-4 until end of turn; or creatures you control get +2/+0 until end of turn.

"So many choices. Shall I choose loathing, hate, or malice today?"
-Eliza of the Keep

Hindering Light

Instant

Counter target spell that targets you or a permanent you control.

Draw a card.

Centuries of careful practice have elevated the casting of protective spells to an art form. What little offensive magic remains on Bant stands little chance of breaching them.

Jund Charm

Instant

Choose one - Exile all cards from target player's graveyard; or Jund Charm deals 2 damage to each creature; or put two +1/+1 counters on target creature.

Jund pulses with raw energy, waiting for shamans to shape it into useful form.

Naya Charm

Instant

Choose one - Naya Charm deals 3 damage to target creature; or return target card from a graveyard to its owner's hand; or tap all creatures target player controls.

Deep in nature's core lies a potential unsullied by greed or civilization.

Punish Ignorance

Instant

Counter target spell. Its controller loses 3 life and you gain 3 life.

"Amateurish. Nearsighted. A waste of my time and everyone else's."
-Indra, nullmage of Vectis

Sigil Blessing

Instant

Until end of turn, target creature you control gets +3/+3 and other creatures you control get +1/+1.

"For unwavering commitment and unflinching strength, the Order of the White Orchid confers its sigil. Rise, knight-captain, and do your duty."

Swerve

Instant

Change the target of target spell with a single target.

"We can't beat the necromancers in numbers or raw power. We must beat them with ingenuity and timing."
-Rannon, Vithian holdout

Apostle's Blessing

Instant

( can be paid with either or 2 life.)

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

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.

Due Respect

Instant

Permanents enter the battlefield tapped this turn.

Draw a card.

"A display of humility is required of those who still possess such frailties."
-Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite

Marrow Shards

Instant

( can be paid with either or 2 life.)

Marrow Shards deals 1 damage to each attacking creature.

"We are a single entity. Dissenters must be sutured into the Orthodoxy."
-Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite

War Report

Instant

You gain life equal to the number of creatures on the battlefield plus the number of artifacts on the battlefield.

Underling Ethu's 263rd report read simply "Yes, my lord. Overwhelmingly, my lord." This marked the end of the Mirran-Phyrexian War.

Argent Mutation

Instant

Target permanent becomes an artifact in addition to its other types until end of turn.

Draw a card.

"My world is corrupted beyond cleansing. I must prevent this from happening to other worlds."
-Karn

Corrupted Resolve

Instant

Counter target spell if its controller is poisoned.

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

Mental Misstep

Instant

( can be paid with either or 2 life.)

Counter target spell with converted mana cost 1.

"Your first mistake was thinking I would let you live long enough to make a second."
-Sarnvax, Gitaxian sective

Psychic Barrier

Instant

Counter target creature spell. Its controller loses 1 life.

"I tolerate Phyrexians because the dragon requires it. But I have no patience for uninvited guests."
-Tezzeret

Vapor Snag

Instant

Return target creature to its owner's hand. Its controller loses 1 life.

"This creature is inadequate. Send it to the splicers for innovation."
-Malcator, Executor of Synthesis

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

Geth's Verdict

Instant

Target player sacrifices a creature and loses 1 life.

"Everyone should owe you something."
-Geth, Lord of the Vault

Grim Affliction

Instant

Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature, then proliferate. (You choose any number of permanents and/or players with counters on them, then give each another counter of a kind already there.)

Even the small wounds let hope bleed out.

Surgical Extraction

Instant

( can be paid with either or 2 life.)

Choose target card in a graveyard other than a basic land card. Search its owner'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.

Act of Aggression

Instant

( can be paid with either or 2 life.)

Gain control of target creature an opponent controls until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn.

Artillerize

Instant

As an additional cost to cast Artillerize, sacrifice an artifact or creature.

Artillerize deals 5 damage to target creature or player.

Phyrexian or Mirran, most goblins stick to the job they know best.

Gut Shot

Instant

( can be paid with either or 2 life.)

Gut Shot deals 1 damage to target creature or player.

"Down here, we have a more pointed version of the scriptures."
-Urabrask's enforcer

Volt Charge

Instant

Volt Charge deals 3 damage to target creature or player. Proliferate. (You choose any number of permanents and/or players with counters on them, then give each another counter of a kind already there.)

Beast Within

Instant

Destroy target permanent. Its controller puts a 3/3 green Beast creature token onto the battlefield.

"Kill the weak so they can't drag the strong down to their level. This is true compassion."
-Benzir, archdruid of Temple Might

Fresh Meat

Instant

Put a 3/3 green Beast creature token onto the battlefield for each creature put into your graveyard from the battlefield this turn.

A scavenger's favorite appetizer is death.

Glissa's Scorn

Instant

Destroy target artifact. Its controller loses 1 life.

"If it were fit to survive, it wouldn't have been so easily put down."
-Glissa

Leeching Bite

Instant

Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn. Another target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.

A substantial portion of Vorinclex's forces became fuel for the rest.

Mutagenic Growth

Instant

( can be paid with either or 2 life.)

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

"Sympathy is for weaklings. Whoever survives, wins."
-Benzir, archdruid of Temple Might

Noxious Revival

Instant

( can be paid with either or 2 life.)

Put target card from a graveyard on top of its owner's library.

"Dead or alive, my creations are stronger than Jin-Gitaxias's septic minions."
-Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger

Banishment Decree

Instant

Put target artifact, creature, or enchantment on top of its owner's library.

"Unworthy of consecration."
-Axsh, lesser cenobite

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

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

Frantic Salvage

Instant

Put any number of target artifact cards from your graveyard on top of your library.

Draw a card.

"We will mourn when there is time. For now, we survive."

Master's Call

Instant

Put two 1/1 colorless Myr artifact creature tokens onto the battlefield.

The need to obey was inscribed on every plate in their bodies.

White Sun's Zenith

Instant

Put X 2/2 white Cat creature tokens onto the battlefield. Shuffle White Sun's Zenith into its owner's library.

After the Battle of Liet Field, the white sun crested above Taj-Nar, bringing hope to all who survived the carnage.

Blue Sun's Zenith

Instant

Target player draws X cards. Shuffle Blue Sun's Zenith into its owner's library.

"The Origin Query will wait. We must ensure we survive to return to it."
-Pelyus, vedalken ordinar

Fuel for the Cause

Instant

Counter target spell, then proliferate. (You choose any number of permanents and/or players with counters on them, then give each another counter of a kind already there.)

"Your ideas will be discarded and your will repurposed."

Quicksilver Geyser

Instant

Return up to two target nonland permanents to their owners' hands.

"Phyrexians are tenacious. That's not the same thing as clever."
-Tezzeret

Steel Sabotage

Instant

Choose one - Counter target artifact spell; or return target artifact to its owner's hand.

"You are hopelessly obsolete, my brothers. Come and join the Great Work."
-Rhmir, Hand of the Augur

Turn the Tide

Instant

Creatures your opponents control get -2/-0 until end of turn.

"Let their mindless armies come and face the might of genius."
-Varil, Neurok partisan

Go for the Throat

Instant

Destroy target nonartifact creature.

Having flesh is increasingly a liability on Mirrodin.

Virulent Wound

Instant

Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature. When that creature dies this turn, its controller gets a poison counter.

Sadly, the extent of Gerkk's healing knowledge was "don't pick at it."

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.

Crush

Instant

Destroy target noncreature artifact.

A golem's hands know no tenderness.

Into the Core

Instant

Exile two target artifacts.

"They believe they're driving us back, but we're leading them to their doom."
-Kethek, furnace stoker

Rally the Forces

Instant

Attacking creatures get +1/+0 and gain first strike until end of turn.

"Drive them back! Make their underworld into their grave!"
-Koth of the Hammer

Mirran Mettle

Instant

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

Metalcraft - That creature gets +4/+4 until end of turn instead if you control three or more artifacts.

"Our land will not yield to Phyrexian corruption!"

Pistus Strike

Instant

Destroy target creature with flying. Its controller gets a poison counter.

"Even a nuisance such as the pistus fly has a purpose in our new world."
-Glissa

Unnatural Predation

Instant

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

"Domination by the strongest-that is all that matters in the Tangle now."
-Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger

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.

Fulgent Distraction

Instant

Choose two target creatures. Tap those creatures, then unattach all Equipment from them.

"Channeling the white-hot power of all five suns creates a pretty good diversion."
-Yavash of the Accorders

Seize the Initiative

Instant

Target creature gets +1/+1 and gains first strike until end of turn.

The time between spotting a leonin shikari and feeling its claws is just time enough to draw your last breath.

Soul Parry

Instant

Prevent all damage one or two target creatures would deal this turn.

"I was called to this world of steel, and it will be my steel that answers."
-Elspeth Tirel

Whitesun's Passage

Instant

You gain 5 life.

All over the Razor Fields, Whitesun is celebrated. Even the followers of the rebel Juryan, far from the Cave of Light, bow their heads in reverence.

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.

Halt Order

Instant

Counter target artifact spell.

Draw a card.

An artificer's least favorite mind-missive may be "I regret to inform you that the funding for your project has been cut."

Steady Progress

Instant

Proliferate. (You choose any number of permanents and/or players with counters on them, then give each another counter of a kind already there.)

Draw a card.

"More of that strange oil . . . It's probably nothing."

Stoic Rebuttal

Instant

Metalcraft - Stoic Rebuttal costs less to cast if you control three or more artifacts.

Counter target spell.

Obsessed with the pursuit of knowledge above all else, vedalken can appear to be cold and emotionless.

Turn Aside

Instant

Counter target spell that targets a permanent you control.

"It's not my job to ask our leaders about their experiments at the Knowledge Pool. It's my job to make sure they can continue performing them."

Twisted Image

Instant

Switch target creature's power and toughness until end of turn.

Draw a card.

"True strength is in the mind, for the body is too malleable a form."
-Politus, vedalken emisar

Vault Skyward

Instant

Target creature gains flying until end of turn. Untap it.

"The edges of the Quicksilver Sea run dark with the spread of the Mephidross. Two more aerial passes before I can be sure what I'm seeing . . ."
-Lafarius, Neurok sky agent

Grasp of Darkness

Instant

Target creature gets -4/-4 until end of turn.

On a world with five suns, night is compelled to become an aggressive force.

Instill Infection

Instant

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

Draw a card.

"The results of our ninth inoculation were the same. The specimen was, of course, euthanized before the contagion could spread."
-Vedalken research notes

Tainted Strike

Instant

Target creature gets +1/+0 and gains infect until end of turn. (This creature deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.)

"Welcome to perfection."
-Sheoldred, Whispering One

Galvanic Blast

Instant

Galvanic Blast deals 2 damage to target creature or player.

Metalcraft - Galvanic Blast deals 4 damage to that creature or player instead if you control three or more artifacts.

Mirrodin has little weather, but it certainly has lightning.

Shatter

Instant

Destroy target artifact.

"I am an artist, a builder, a creator . . . I create the biggest explosions around."
-Krol, goblin furnace-priest

Blunt the Assault

Instant

You gain 1 life for each creature on the battlefield. Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn.

"Much can be gained from the appearance of vulnerability."
-Ezuri, renegade leader

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.

Slice in Twain

Instant

Destroy target artifact or enchantment.

Draw a card.

"The hypocrisy of these elves is thicker than steel-destroying ‘unnatural metal' with their own enchanted swords."
-Kara Vrist, Neurok agent

Tel-Jilad Defiance

Instant

Target creature gains protection from artifacts until end of turn.

Draw a card.

The Viridian elves had purged their culture of the trolls' traitorous influence. In times of strife, however, the ancestral memories returned.

Untamed Might

Instant

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

"Beasts kill for their very survival. If you would have their strength, you must know their desperation."
-Konnos, Sylvok sage

Wing Puncture

Instant

Target creature you control deals damage equal to its power to target creature with flying.

"If I were the air, I wouldn't taunt the ground. It has the weight advantage."
-Konnos, Sylvok sage

Withstand Death

Instant

Target creature is indestructible this turn. (Lethal damage and effects that say "destroy" don't destroy it. If its toughness is 0 or less, it's still put into its owner's graveyard.)

On Mirrodin, every conflict ends in either death or darksteel.

Emerge Unscathed

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.)

Harmless Assault

Instant

Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn by attacking creatures.

After encasing it in a paralyzing beam of light, the angel studied the Eldrazi as a child would study a bug, curiously and without fear.

Puncturing Light

Instant

Destroy target attacking or blocking creature with power 3 or less.

"The vampires knew what was coming. I know it. And they did nothing. They deserve to feel the same agony they've caused all of us."
-Anitan, Ondu cleric

Repel the Darkness

Instant

Tap up to two target creatures.

Draw a card.

A boon to those who cannot see in the dark. A bane to those who live in it.

Smite

Instant

Destroy target blocked creature.

"The mighty rely solely on their strength. They are shocked when we do the same."
-Tars Olan, kor world-gift