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Bounce
Mechanic
Introduced Alpha
Last used Commander Masters
Statistics
614 cards
{W} 6.7% {U} 62.1% {B} 1% {R} 3.7% {G} 3.3% {W/U} 0.2% {U/B} 0.3% {U/R} 0.3% {G/U} 0.3% {M} 12.2% {artifact symbol} 4.9% {land symbol} 5%
156 bounce to library cards
{C} 0.6% {W} 17.3% {U} 42.3% {B} 9.6% {R} 3.2% {G} 10.3% {B/R} 0.6% {M} 10.9% {artifact symbol} 4.5% {land symbol} 0.6%
Scryfall Search
fulloracle:"returns? (?!that card)(?!those cards)(?!each card)(?!that spell)((?!from)(?!\.).)*(?!up ).. to ((?!\.).)* hand"
fulloracle:"return to .* hands? ((?!graveyard).)*\."

A bounce effect or spell is one that returns a card that is on the battlefield to its owner's hand. It is unknown where the slang term originated.[1] The term predates the card Waterfront Bouncer by years.[2][3]

Description[ | ]

Bounce effects can remove an opponent's blockers or save one's own permanents from destruction, among other uses. The primary color blue can bounce any type of permanent. It also will often bounce a creature via an Enters the battlefield effect. (R&D refers to these as Man-o'-Wars based on the first card that did it.) The secondary color white can only bounce its own permanents to protect them or combine effects. Green (tertiary) bounces creatures as a cost for playing bigger creatures, often as an upkeep cost.[4][5] In 2017, R&D had considering giving red the ability to bounce creatures controlled by the opponent,[6][7] but little has come of it.

Famous bounce spells[ | ]

See also: Bounce land.

List of Bounce spells[ | ]

{W} White[ | ]

{U} Blue[ | ]

{B} Black[ | ]

{R} Red[ | ]

{G} Green[ | ]

{M} Multicolored[ | ]

{artifact symbol} Artifacts[ | ]

{land symbol} Lands[ | ]

Bounce to the library[ | ]

"Bounce" to the library (Put a creature/permanent on top of its owner's library or some number of cards down.) is also primary in blue, and used to be secondary as a delaying technique in white.[4] Blue does this as an unsummoning that goes beyond time, while white tended to do it flavored as a spatial banishment (and the creature physically returns later on). The ability is an evolution of bouncing that maintains card parity, typically costing a premium similar to a cantrip (usually two mana). Some newer designs allow the owner to choose to put it on the bottom of their library, which is a way to prevent the caster from locking out their opponent from their draw step while still removing the target. Despite being an effect present since Mirage (Ether Well), the ability has not picked up a proper nickname. It is now officially referred to as " Return to Library", and has been removed from white.[5]

List of Bounce to the library spells[ | ]

{W} White[ | ]

{U} Blue[ | ]

{B} Black[ | ]

{R} Red[ | ]

{G} Green[ | ]

{M} Multicolor[ | ]

{artifact symbol} Artifacts[ | ]

{C} Colorless[ | ]

{land symbol} Lands[ | ]

Spell Bounce[ | ]

There are a small number of cards that are capable of returning spells from the stack to either the player's hand or their library. These are often categorized as countermagic, and those that do not use the "if it is countered this way" phrasing are notorious for being able to answer (otherwise) uncounterable effects.

{W} White[ | ]

{U} Blue[ | ]

{R} Red[ | ]

{M} Multicolor[ | ]

References[ | ]

  1. Mark Rosewater (July 23, 2017). "Where does bounce come from?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  2. Mark Rosewater (July 26, 2017). "To answer an ask from a day or so ago.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  3. Mark Rosewater (July 28, 2017). "I always assumed that the term "bounce" came from Waterfront Bouncer?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  4. a b Mark Rosewater (June 5, 2017). "Mechanical Color Pie 2017". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. a b Mark Rosewater (October 18, 2021). "Mechanical Color Pie 2021 Changes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. Mark Rosewater (August 5, 2017). "How do you feel about bounce in red?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  7. Mark Rosewater (August 9, 2017). "The prospect of giving red bounce.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
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