Switcheroo MTG Card


Switcheroo enables card advantage by swapping creatures to disrupt opponents and improve your board. It is versatile in different strategies, enhancing decks through unique exchange mechanics and combos. Countering strategies include minimizing high-value targets and holding instant-speed removal or counterspells.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Exchange control of two target creatures.

Say hello to your new friend.


Cards like Switcheroo

Switcheroo is an intriguing inclusion in Magic: The Gathering’s collection of control magic cards. Its alluring appeal lies in the power to exchange creatures, making it a counterpart to cards such as Exchange of Power. While Exchange of Power allows for a broader selection of permanents to swap, Switcheroo stands out by strictly targeting creatures, fostering potential game altering scenarios.

Another analog is the card Control Magic, which, rather than swapping, takes complete command of an opponent’s creature. Though it lacks the surprise element of exchanging unfavorable creatures on your side, it is incredibly straightforward in seizing control. Additionally, there’s the notorious Confiscate, a robust enchantment that extends beyond creature control, ensnaring any targetable permanent. This flexibility makes it a valuable tool, albeit at a higher mana cost than Switcheroo.

To wrap up, Switcheroo weaves its own unique narrative in the saga of creature control within Magic: The Gathering. Its singular focus on creatures presents a clear tactical advantage and introduces an element of unpredictability, enriching the tactical depth and player interaction in the game.

Control Magic - MTG Card versions
Confiscate - MTG Card versions
Control Magic - MTG Card versions
Confiscate - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Switcheroo by color, type and mana cost

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Ribbons of the Reikai - MTG Card versions
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Tidings - MTG Card versions
Library of Lat-Nam - MTG Card versions
Psychic Transfer - MTG Card versions
Balance of Power - MTG Card versions
Cruel Fate - MTG Card versions
Temporal Manipulation - MTG Card versions
Ancestral Memories - MTG Card versions
Brilliant Plan - MTG Card versions
Time Warp - MTG Card versions
Reverse Engineer - MTG Card versions
Invoke the Winds - MTG Card versions
Essence Fracture - MTG Card versions
Rush of Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Temporal Fissure - MTG Card versions
Bribery - MTG Card versions
Acquire - MTG Card versions
Petals of Insight - MTG Card versions
Heed the Mists - MTG Card versions
Ribbons of the Reikai - MTG Card versions
Reduce to Dreams - MTG Card versions
Tidings - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Switcheroo is a unique utility card that goes beyond just drawing you cards or thinning your deck. It allows you to exchange your less useful creatures for an opponent’s more valuable ones, effectively disrupting their board presence and improving yours at the same time.

Resource Acceleration: While it doesn’t directly generate additional mana, Switcheroo can indirectly accelerate your resources by letting you trade for creatures that have mana abilities or other cost-reducing effects, thus enhancing your overall mana economy.

Instant Speed: As a sorcery, Switcheroo encourages strategic planning. While it can’t be cast at instant speed, its impact can be as immediate and game-changing as any instant spell by thoroughly altering the state of the board in your favor when played at the right moment.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Switcheroo requires you to trade one of your creatures with an opponent. This can lead to a strategic disadvantage if you have fewer or more valuable creatures on the board, ultimately disrupting your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: Switcheroo’s casting cost demands both blue mana and generic mana, making it a less flexible choice for decks that aren’t heavily blue or potentially straining mana resources in multicolored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, Switcheroo is relatively expensive. Considering the pace of some games, the mana spent on Switcheroo could potentially be allocated to more impactful spells or creatures that could better secure your position in the game.


Reasons to Include Switcheroo in Your Collection

Versatility: Switcheroo’s unique ability to exchange control of two target creatures can be a game-changer in a variety of deck archetypes. This blue spell isn’t limited to one strategy, making it a must-have for players looking to gain an unexpected edge during a match.

Combo Potential: The card opens up numerous combo possibilities, especially in decks that look to borrow an opponent’s threats or make strategic sacrifices. With the right setup, Switcheroo can turn the tides by swapping a token creature for a formidable threat on the other side of the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies dominate, Switcheroo can be a cunning inclusion. It acts as an answer to otherwise difficult-to-remove creatures, as well as a way to significantly disrupt your opponent’s game plan.


How to Beat

Switcheroo is a unique card from Magic: The Gathering that brings an element of surprise and strategy into play. It allows players to exchange control of two target creatures, which can dramatically alter the board state. Despite its potential to turn the tide of a game, overcoming Switcheroo’s effect is feasible. One effective tactic is maintaining a board presence with creatures that are less impactful when controlled by your opponent, which can reduce the value they gain from the exchange. Another method is to ensure that you have instant-speed removal spells at hand, so when your opponent targets a valuable creature, you can remove it in response, nullifying the exchange.

Having hexproof or shroud on your key creatures also shields them from being targeted by Switcheroo, thereby safeguarding your assets. Similarly, leveraging counterspells can prevent Switcheroo from resolving in the first place. Lastly, playing creatures with detrimental enter-the-battlefield effects can backfire on your opponent, making their Switcheroo play disadvantageous. By anticipating the possibility of Switcheroo in your opponent’s deck and planning accordingly, you can turn their strategem into an advantage for yourself.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Switcheroo MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2013 and Battlebond, 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 Switcheroo and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Switcheroo Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2012-07-13 and 2018-07-13. Illustrated by Kev Walker.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-07-13Magic 2013M13 712003NormalBlackKev Walker
22018-06-08BattlebondBBD 1332015NormalBlackKev Walker
32018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 782015NormalBlackKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Switcheroo has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2018-07-13 Gaining control of a creature doesn’t cause you to gain control of any Auras or Equipment attached to it.
2018-07-13 If one of the target creatures is an illegal target when Switcheroo resolves, the exchange won’t happen.
2018-07-13 If the same player controls both creatures when Switcheroo resolves, nothing happens.
2018-07-13 You don’t have to control either target.