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 Dance

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 the top creature card of your graveyard to the battlefield. That creature gains haste until end of turn. Exile it at the beginning of the next end step.

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.

Counterspell

Instant

Counter target spell.

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

Instant

You may sacrifice a Mountain rather than pay Crash's mana cost.

Destroy target artifact.

Gerrard shook his head as the ground rushed to meet him. "This," he thought, "is not the start I was hoping for."

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.

Crop Rotation

Instant

As an additional cost to cast Crop Rotation, sacrifice a land.

Search your library for a land card and put that card onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.

"Hmm . . . maybe lotuses this year."

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.

Crossbow Ambush

Instant

Creatures you control gain reach until end of turn. (They can block creatures with flying.)

There is no drake that flies faster than a crossbow bolt.
-Vec saying

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.)

Cruel Revival

Instant

Destroy target non-Zombie creature. It can't be regenerated. Return up to one target Zombie card from your graveyard to your hand.

Few Cabal fighters fear death. They fear what follows it.

Crumble

Instant

Destroy target artifact. It can't be regenerated. That artifact's controller gains life equal to its converted mana cost.

The spirits of Argoth grant new life to those who repent the folly of enslaving their labors to devices.

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.

Crystal Spray

Instant

Change the text of target spell or permanent by replacing all instances of one color word with another or one basic land type with another until end of turn.

Draw a card.

Culling the Weak

Instant

As an additional cost to cast Culling the Weak, sacrifice a creature.

Add to your mana pool.

"The blood of the weak shall be the ink with which we scribe great Yawgmoth's glorious name."
-Stronghold architect, journal

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

Cunning Wish

Instant

You may choose an instant card you own from outside the game, reveal that card, and put it into your hand. Exile Cunning Wish.

He wished for knowledge, but not for the will to apply it.

Curfew

Instant

Each player returns a creature he or she controls to its owner's hand.

". . . But I'm not tired!"

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

Darigaaz's Charm

Instant

Choose one - Return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand; or Darigaaz's Charm deals 3 damage to target creature or player; or target creature gets +3/+3 until end of turn.

Daring Leap

Instant

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

Most warriors think in only two dimensions. Agnate and his metathran brethren were trained to battle in three.

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 Triumph

Instant

If you control a Swamp, you may sacrifice a creature rather than pay Dark Triumph's mana cost.

Creatures you control get +2/+0 until end of turn.

All that's left is the coronation.

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.

Daze

Instant

You may return an Island you control to its owner's hand rather than pay Daze's mana cost.

Counter target spell unless its controller pays .

Dazzling Beauty

Instant

Cast Dazzling Beauty only during the declare blockers step.

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

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

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.

Deal Damage

Instant

Deal Damage deals 4 damage to target creature or player.

Gotcha Whenever an opponent says "Deal" or "Damage," you may say "Gotcha" If you do, return Deal Damage from your graveyard to your hand.

Until he got singed . . .

Death Bomb

Instant

As an additional cost to cast Death Bomb, sacrifice a creature.

Destroy target nonblack creature. It can't be regenerated. Its controller loses 2 life.

There's no higher honor in Phyrexia than dying for Yawgmoth's glorious vision.

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 Pulse

Instant

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

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

When you cycle Death Pulse, you may have target creature get -1/-1 until end of turn.

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 Spark

Instant

Death Spark deals 1 damage to target creature or player.

At the beginning of your upkeep, if Death Spark is in your graveyard with a creature card directly above it, you may pay . If you do, return Death Spark to your hand.

Death Ward

Instant

Regenerate target creature.

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!"

Deathlace

Instant

Target spell or permanent becomes black. (Mana symbols on that permanent remain unchanged.)

Debt of Loyalty

Instant

Regenerate target creature. You gain control of that creature if it regenerates this way.

"I killed him because I had to," Starke lied to Gerrard. "But now I pledge my loyalty to you."

Decree of Savagery

Instant

Put four +1/+1 counters on each creature you control.

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

When you cycle Decree of Savagery, you may put four +1/+1 counters on target creature.

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.

Defensive Maneuvers

Instant

Creatures of the creature type of your choice get +0/+4 until end of turn.

"Only on the battlefield can we repay all the Order has given us."

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

Defiling Tears

Instant

Until end of turn, target creature becomes black, gets +1/-1, and gains ": Regenerate this creature."

Serra's living warriors looked on in horror. "Where is our Lady now?" they cried.

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.

Defy Gravity

Instant

Target creature gains flying until end of turn.

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

Magical or not, it's still a cloud.

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.)

Delirium

Instant

Cast Delirium only during an opponent's turn.

Tap target creature that player controls. That creature deals damage equal to its power to the player. Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to and dealt by the creature this turn.

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

Demonic Consultation

Instant

Name a card. Exile the top six cards of your library, then reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal the named card. Put that card into your hand and exile all other cards revealed this way.

Demoralize

Instant

Each creature can't be blocked this turn except by two or more creatures.

Threshold - If seven or more cards are in your graveyard, creatures can't block this turn.

Demystify

Instant

Destroy target enchantment.

Behind every mage is a trail of shattered lies.

Denied!

Instant

Play Denied only as any opponent casts target spell. Name a card, then look at all cards in that player's hand. If the named card is in the player's hand, counter target spell.

"Don't worry about it. It happens to every mage sooner or later."

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 Gambit

Instant

Choose a source you control and flip a coin. If you win the flip, the next time that source would deal damage this turn, it deals double that damage instead. If you lose the flip, the next time it would deal damage this turn, prevent that damage.

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