Backslide MTG Card


Enables drawing new cards while recycling valuable creature abilities for strategic depth in gameplay. Being an instant, Backslide allows for surprise plays and reactionary measures against opponents’ actions. Demands careful deck construction due to specific mana needs and the potential card disadvantage incurred.
Backslide - Onslaught
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Cycling
Released2002-10-07
Set symbol
Set nameOnslaught
Set codeONS
Number70
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byPete Venters

Text of card

Turn target creature with morph face down. Cycling o U (o U, Discard this card from your hand: Draw a card.)

Some things are better left unknown.


Cards like Backslide

Examining the utility of Backslide in Magic: The Gathering highlights its niche role within the realm of creature-centric strategies. It closely resembles cards like Turn to Mist or Momentary Blink, which function as a means to protect or refresh creatures from harmful effects. What distinguishes Backslide is its nod to tribal synergy, specifically for creatures with the type ‘Wizard.’ Where Turn to Mist offers a straightforward flicker effect for any creature, regardless of type, Backslide allows a Wizard to be returned to its owner’s hand.

Equally worth discussing is Essence Flux, another spell that exiles and returns a creature to the battlefield. Unlike Backslide, Essence Flux has the upside of potentially increasing the creature’s power and toughness if it is a Spirit. While Essence Flux is instantaneous in its effect, without the need to return the creature to hand first, Backslide carries the strategic advantage of being able to save creatures from unbreakable board states or re-use enter-the-battlefield abilities of Wizard creatures.

Overall, Backslide carves out a space for itself amongst flicker and bounce effects in Magic: The Gathering. Its capacity for repeated use, along with its Wizard tribal focus, secures its spot as a uniquely flexible option for players crafting decks around these themes.

Turn to Mist - MTG Card versions
Momentary Blink - MTG Card versions
Essence Flux - MTG Card versions
Turn to Mist - MTG Card versions
Momentary Blink - MTG Card versions
Essence Flux - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Backslide by color, type and mana cost

Counterspell - MTG Card versions
Hurkyl's Recall - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Sprite // Mesmeric Glare - MTG Card versions
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Flash - MTG Card versions
Boomerang - MTG Card versions
Rebound - MTG Card versions
Memory Lapse - MTG Card versions
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Tidal Bore - MTG Card versions
Accumulated Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Aether Burst - MTG Card versions
Impulse - MTG Card versions
Cyclonic Rift - MTG Card versions
Thassa's Intervention - MTG Card versions
Metamorphose - MTG Card versions
Echoing Truth - MTG Card versions
Early Frost - MTG Card versions
Mana Leak - MTG Card versions
Remand - MTG Card versions
Counterspell - MTG Card versions
Hurkyl's Recall - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Sprite // Mesmeric Glare - MTG Card versions
Lat-Nam's Legacy - MTG Card versions
Flash - MTG Card versions
Boomerang - MTG Card versions
Rebound - MTG Card versions
Memory Lapse - MTG Card versions
Hoodwink - MTG Card versions
Tidal Bore - MTG Card versions
Accumulated Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Aether Burst - MTG Card versions
Impulse - MTG Card versions
Cyclonic Rift - MTG Card versions
Thassa's Intervention - MTG Card versions
Metamorphose - MTG Card versions
Echoing Truth - MTG Card versions
Early Frost - MTG Card versions
Mana Leak - MTG Card versions
Remand - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Backslide, you can efficiently cycle through your deck by returning a creature to your hand and potentially drawing into more impactful cards. This fosters a tactical advantage and keeps your hand refreshed with options.

Resource Acceleration: Backslide’s ability to bounce creatures to your hand can be leveraged to reuse enter-the-battlefield effects, which can ramp up your board state or resources. This reuse can act as a form of resource acceleration by maximizing the value obtained from each creature played.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Backslide at instant speed provides a strategic edge by allowing reactive play during an opponent’s turn. This can disrupt their attacks, spoil their combat tricks, or in some cases, save your creature from a removal spell.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Backslide demands players to discard a card to tap into its utility. This can deplete your hand, potentially leaving you vulnerable to your opponent’s strategies or running out of options.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires both blue mana and an additional colorless mana, positing a challenge for multicolor decks to efficiently incorporate and utilize it within their diverse mana bases.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The conversion cost for Backslide sits at the upper end for its effect. While it can be a tactical move, players may find alternatives that achieve similar results without taxing their mana resources as heavily.


Reasons to Include Backslide in Your Collection

Versatility: Backslide stands out for its flexibility, allowing players to return creatures to their owner’s hands, potentially saving them from removal or reusing come-into-play effects.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in decks that utilize creatures with powerful enter-the-battlefield abilities, setting up opportunities for repeatable effects and combo interactions.

Meta-Relevance: In the ever-shifting MTG landscape, the ability to disrupt opponents’ strategies and protect your own creatures makes Backslide a relevant tool in many matchups.


How to Beat Backslide

Backslide is a unique card with the capability to return a creature with morph to its owner’s hand. It appeals to MTG players aiming to reuse morph effects or dodge targeted removal. To counter Backslide, consider using instant-speed removal spells that can address creatures regardless of their face-up or face-down status. Graveyard hate cards can also be effective, as they prevent the recasting of the creature Backslide aims to retrieve. Additionally, take advantage of the timing when your opponent is likely low on resources or has tapped out, reducing their ability to capitalize on Backslide’s potential. Incorporating counter spells that can directly negate Backslide or any bounce effects it hopes to exploit can also reinforce your position against decks that rely heavily on such tactics.

Denying your opponent’s ability to leverage Backslide’s strengths by maintaining a swift and pressure-heavy playstyle can force them into unfavorable positions, making it challenging for them to make the most of the card’s flexibility. Overall, a strategy focused on disruption, timing, and effective removal can transform Backslide from a thorn in your side to an inconsequential play for your well-prepared deck.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Backslide MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Backslide and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Backslide has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Backslide card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2008-10-01 Cycling is an activated ability. Effects that interact with activated abilities (such as Stifle or Rings of Brighthearth) will interact with cycling. Effects that interact with spells (such as Remove Soul or Faerie Tauntings) will not.