Brought Back MTG Card


Instant retrieval of up to two permanents can drastically alter the game, providing a strategic edge. Effective mana ramp through returning lands secures early powerful plays for a competitive advantage. The card’s instant speed allows for flexibility and surprise tactics, offsetting opponent strategies.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeInstant

Text of card

Choose up to two target permanent cards in your graveyard that were put there from the battlefield this turn. Return them to the battlefield tapped.

"As long as your courage remains, your life will not falter." —Sephara, Sky's Blade


Cards like Brought Back

The reintroduction of Brought Back into the world of MTG breathes new life into strategies centered on card recovery. Closely paralleling it is the classic card, Faith’s Reward, which also offers immediate retrieval of all permanents lost in the same turn. The stark difference lies in their mana costs and specific conditions; Brought Back is more efficient at two white mana, while Faith’s Reward demands an additional two of any color. This makes Brought Back a prime option for decks that need fast-paced responses.

Another counterpart, Second Sunrise, shares a similar concept but functions by returning all cards put in the graveyard from play that turn, not just two. Although it’s also more costly than Brought Back, Second Sunrise can yield a higher volume of returns. Additionally, we have Nissa’s Renewal, a card that is focused on land recovery and life gain. While not as broad in range as Brought Back, its specific niche can be a game-changer in land-heavy decks.

In essence, while MTG boasts a variety of revival cards, Brought Back’s cost-efficient and immediate impact gives it a distinctive edge in scenarios where precision and timing are key, establishing it as a powerful asset for recovery tactics.

Faith's Reward - MTG Card versions
Second Sunrise - MTG Card versions
Nissa's Renewal - MTG Card versions
Faith's Reward - MTG Card versions
Second Sunrise - MTG Card versions
Nissa's Renewal - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Brought Back. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Esper ScamEsper Scam LegacyEsper ScamLegacy League 2024-05-06
Mardu MidrangeMardu Midrange PioneerMardu MidrangePioneer Challenge 32 2024-05-02
DecklistDecklist Free formWeekday Night Magic
4c Omnath4c Omnath Modern4/5c OmnathModern Challenge 64 2024-03-04
Azorius MidrangeAzorius Midrange ModernAzorius MidrangeModern League 2024-01-14
4c Blink4c Blink ModernBlinkModern Challenge 96 2023-12-31
Orzhov ScamOrzhov Scam ModernOrzhov ScamModern Super Qualifier 2023-12-26
Mono-White MidrangeMono-White Midrange ModernMono-White MidrangeModern Preliminary 2023-12-15 (1)
Mono-White ControlMono-White Control ModernMono-White ControlModern League 2023-12-12
4c Midrange4c Midrange Pioneer4c MidrangePioneer League 2023-12-08

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Brought Back stands out by enabling the return of up to two target permanent cards from your graveyard to the battlefield. This can turn the tides by recouping vital resources lost earlier, effectively giving you a second chance to utilize key cards for maintaining board presence and strategy execution.

Resource Acceleration: By retrieving previously used lands or other mana-generating permanents with Brought Back, you effectively ramp up your resources. This boosts your mana base, potentially allowing for powerful plays earlier than typically possible, which can be a decisive factor in the game’s outcome.

Instant Speed: The strength of Brought Back is amplified by its instant speed. The flexibility to react during your opponent’s turn means you can wait for the opportune moment to revitalize your board, perhaps in response to a board wipe or damaging attack, without telegraphing your strategy or sacrificing the initiative.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Brought Back offers a significant advantage by returning two target permanent cards from your graveyard to the battlefield, this does not come without a cost. Since it has no inherent discard requirement, players must ensure they have other means to fill their graveyard with valuable targets, which may not always align with their strategy or the pace of the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Brought Back requires white mana in its casting cost, demanding two generic and one white mana to be precise. This makes it a card that can only be optimally used in decks that support white mana, potentially limiting its versatility in multi-colored or color-specific decks where white is not a primary color.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s cost is significant, especially considering it’s an instant that’s intended for tactical use in specific situations. At a total of three mana for the effect, players often weigh the benefits against other cards in white or other colors which could provide more immediate board presence or value, especially in decks where mana efficiency is key to victory.


Reasons to Include Brought Back in Your Collection

Versatility: Brought Back offers a unique mechanism that can retrieve any two permanents from your graveyard to the battlefield as long as they were put there from the battlefield this turn. This flexibility in choice makes it a must-have for decks that frequently have valuable permanents at risk.

Combo Potential: With its ability to resurrect key pieces instantly, this card opens up a multitude of combo opportunities. It pairs exceptionally well with self-sacrifice mechanics or lands that sacrifice for an effect, allowing you to reuse their abilities in a single turn.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where removal spells or board wipes are prevalent, Brought Back gives you resilience against those strategies. It allows for an immediate recovery, keeping the momentum in your favor and making it a highly relevant choice for current competitive play.


How to beat

Brought Back is a unique card in MTG that poses both a challenge and an opportunity for players. This white instant allows a player to choose up to two target permanent cards in their graveyard that were put there from the battlefield this turn and return them to the battlefield. To overcome this, timing your removal spells and counters effectively is key. Wait for your opponent to play Brought Back before deploying graveyard hate cards like Bojuka Bog to ensure the targeted permanents stay removed. Another strategy is to apply consistent pressure, forcing your opponent to use Brought Back defensively rather than proactively, ultimately throwing off their game plan. It’s essential to anticipate and manage your own threats while being mindful of your opponent’s potential to reverse a seemingly successful removal.

Also consider using exile effects, such as Path to Exile, which bypass the graveyard entirely, rendering Brought Back ineffective for those specific targets. Being vigilant about the state of your opponent’s graveyard and maintaining board control are vital in ensuring Brought Back doesn’t swing the game in their favor. As a part of your strategy, it’s advantageous to recognize the card’s limitations, such as its restriction to the current turn and specific scenarios where it can be played to maximum effect. Counteracting Brought Back effectively necessitates careful planning and a well-timed response.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving deep into the mechanics of Brought Back can significantly enhance your MTG games — it’s that card that gives permanents a spectacular encore. Returning crucial lands to fuel your gameplay or strategically retrieving key pieces to your combo can shift the battlefield in your favor. While Brought Back slots effortlessly into certain decks, it challenges players to cultivate a graveyard strategy that aligns with white mana’s purity. Knowing when to hold back or push forward with this card can be game-defining. Discover more insightful strategies and refine your deck to perfection with our expert tips on making the most of Brought Back’s second chances.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Brought Back MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020 and The List, 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 Brought Back and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Brought Back Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-07-12 and 2019-07-12. Illustrated by Mitchell Malloy.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-07-12Core Set 2020M20 92015NormalBlackMitchell Malloy
22020-09-26The ListPLST M20-92015NormalBlackMitchell Malloy

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Brought Back has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-07-12 A permanent card is an artifact, creature, enchantment, land, or planeswalker card.
2019-07-12 If you return an Aura this way, you choose what the Aura will enchant just before it enters the battlefield, but you can’t choose any permanent cards that will enter the battlefield at the same time as that Aura. An Aura returning to the battlefield this way doesn’t target the player or permanent it will enchant, so permanents or players with hexproof may be chosen; however, the chosen recipient must be able to legally be enchanted by the Aura, so a player or permanent with protection from one of the Aura’s qualities can’t be chosen this way. If there’s nothing legal for the Aura to enchant, it stays in the graveyard.
2019-07-12 Permanent spells that were countered earlier in the turn never entered the battlefield, so they won’t be legal targets for Brought Back.