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Return the Favor

First printed in Outlaws of Thunder Junction (2024)

All 6 prints

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Return the Favor

Instant

Spree (Choose one or more additional costs.)
+ 1 generic — Copy target instant spell, sorcery spell, activated ability, or triggered ability. You may choose new targets for the copy.
+ 1 generic — Change the target of target spell or ability with a single target.

"Don't you know it's rude not to share?"

Illustrated by
Eli Minaya

Legality

Rulings (21)

  • If all targets for the chosen modes become illegal before a spell with spree resolves, the spell won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. If at least one target is still legal, the spell will resolve but will have no effect on any illegal targets.
  • If an effect allows you to cast a spell with spree "without paying its mana cost," you must still choose at least one mode and pay the associated additional costs.
  • The copy made by the effect of Return the Favor's first mode is created on the stack, so it's not "cast" or "activated."
  • Each additional cost and associated mode in the text box is also preceded with a + indicator. These symbols also have no rules meaning and serve only to remind players that the listed costs are additional costs.
  • You choose the modes as you cast the spell with spree. Once modes are chosen, they can't be changed.
  • Spells with spree have a + (plus sign) indicator in the upper right corner of the card frame. This has no rules meaning and serves only to remind players that at least one additional cost is required to cast the spell.
  • If a spell that's copied has an X whose value was determined as it was cast, the copy will have the same value of X. The same is true for an ability that's copied and an X whose value was determined as the ability was activated.
  • You must choose at least one of the listed modes and pay its associated additional cost in order to cast a spell with spree.
  • If a spell or ability targets multiple things, you can't target it with Return the Favor's second mode, even if all but one of those targets have become illegal.
  • No matter which modes you choose, you always follow the instructions in the order they are written.
  • If you copy a spell with the first mode, you can't choose to pay any additional costs for the copy. However, effects based on any additional costs that were paid for the original spell are copied as though those same costs were paid for the copy too.
  • The mana value of a spell with spree is determined only by its mana cost (in the upper right corner of the card). It doesn't matter which modes you choose or which additional costs you pay, including any additional costs imposed by other effects.
  • You don't choose the new target for the spell or ability targeted with Return the Favor's second mode until Return the Favor resolves. You must change the target if possible. However, you can't change the target to an illegal target. If there are no legal targets to choose from, the target isn't changed. It doesn't matter if the original target has somehow become illegal itself.
  • If a mode requires a target, you can select that mode only if there's a legal target available. Ignore the targeting requirements for modes you don't choose.
  • You can't choose the same mode more than once.
  • If the copied spell or ability divides damage or distributes counters among a number of targets, the division and number of targets can't be changed. If you choose new targets, you must choose the same number of targets.
  • The copy created by the effect of Return the Favor's first mode will have the same targets as the spell or ability it's copying unless you choose new ones. You may change any number of the targets, including all of them or none of them. The new targets must be legal.
  • If you copy an activated ability with the first mode, and the activation cost includes a choice, such as a creature to sacrifice or a number of counters to remove, the copy uses that same information. You can't pay the cost again, even if you want to.
  • If the copied spell or ability is modal (that is, it says "Choose one —" or the like), the copy will have the same mode or modes. You can't choose different ones.
  • If a spell with spree is copied, the effect that creates the copy may allow you to choose new targets. You cannot choose new modes.
  • No player can cast spells or activate abilities in between the modes of a resolving spell. Any abilities that trigger won't be put onto the stack until the spell is done resolving.

Prices

MTGO price: 0.003 TIX, the cheapest non-foil print (average sell price on GoatBots, 1 Nov 2026).

In Limited on MTG Arena

Win rates in Arena drafts and sealed, retrieved from 17Lands (CC BY 4.0).

Win rates of Return the Favor in Limited
Set GIH WR vs set IWD Games
Secrets of Strixhaven (SOS), Premier Draft 53.0% -2.4 +1.9 6234
Outlaws of Thunder Junction (OTJ), Premier Draft 48.7% -5.5 -2.0 6991
Outlaws of Thunder Junction (OTJ), Sealed 50.1% -5.2 +0.1 531
GIH WR
win rate of the games in which the card was in the opening hand or drawn
vs set
points above or below the average win rate of all decks in the set
IWD
improvement when drawn: GIH WR minus the win rate when the card stayed in the library
Games
games in which the card was seen

Combos

38 combos, the most popular first:

See all 38 on Commander Spellbook

Standard In 53 of 1778 decks (3.0%), most in UR (unclassified)

Staple: sideboard, 5% of decks (#50)

Share of decks
3.0%
▲ 0.6 vs previous 30 days
2026-08-10: 3.2% 2026-08-17: 3.2% 2026-08-24: 2.0% 2026-08-31: 1.6% 2026-09-07: 0.5% 2026-09-14: 1.7% 2026-09-21: 4.9% 2026-09-28: 4.1% 2026-10-05: 4.8% 2026-10-12: 4.7% 2026-10-19: 1.2% 2026-10-26: 1.5%
Weekly, last 90 days
Decks
53
0 main, 53 sideboard
Avg. copies
–
in the main deck
Win rate
54%
9 top 8 (challenges only)

Archetypes by metagame share

Archetype Meta Play it
UR (unclassified) 8.7% 3%
BRG (unclassified) 8.3% 1%
WR (unclassified) 6.4% 2%
Azorius Control 6.0% 3%
WUBR (unclassified) 3.6% 53%
WUR (unclassified) 1.3% 13%
URG (unclassified) 1.1% 11%
Mono-Red (unclassified) 0.8% 13%

Played together with

Not enough decks yet.

Best win rate

DeckRecord
WUBR
swb110 in Standard Challenge 32
6-1
86%
WUBR
badgods in Standard Challenge 32
7-2
78%
WUBR
Venom01 in Standard Challenge 16 Special
6-2
75%
UR
PinoIo_Cosmico in Standard Challenge 16 Special
6-2
75%
WUBR
_Batutinha_ in Standard Challenge 32 Special
5-2
71%
WUBR
hermanomlg in Standard Challenge 32 Special
5-2
71%
Azorius Control
ruin000 in Standard Challenge 16
4-2
67%
WUR
MarcoBelacca95 in Standard Challenge 32
4-2
67%

Challenges only: MTGO publishes only the 5-0 league decks.

Latest decks

DeckCopiesFinish
Azorius Control
ruin000,
1 side #12
of 36
4-2
WUBR
Lightspirit,
1 side #25
of 36
1-4
WUBR
Lightspirit,
1 side #19
of 32
2-3
WUR
MarcoBelacca95,
1 side #12
of 62
4-2
WUBR
Arena ranked player,
2 side
WUBR
Miguel Simões,
1 side #100
of 177
UR
Lucas Afonso,
1 side #161
of 177
UR
TooPoorToPlay,
2 side #31
of 48
2-3

Commander In 190 of 6305 decks (3.0%), most in Vivi Ornitier

Staple: main deck, 3% of decks (#430)

Share of decks
3.1%
▼ 0.3 vs previous 30 days
2026-08-17: 3.2% 2026-08-24: 3.3% 2026-08-31: 3.4% 2026-09-07: 3.6% 2026-09-14: 3.5% 2026-09-21: 2.6% 2026-09-28: 3.0% 2026-10-05: 3.2% 2026-10-12: 3.6% 2026-10-19: 3.0% 2026-10-26: 2.5%
Weekly, last 90 days
Decks
198
198 main, 0 sideboard
Avg. copies
1.0
in the main deck
Win rate
29%
42 top 8 (challenges only)

Archetypes by metagame share

Archetype Meta Play it
Vivi Ornitier 2.2% 1%
Magda, Brazen Outlaw 2.1% 84%
Ral, Monsoon Mage 1.7% 25%
Zirda, the Dawnwaker 0.9% 2%
Scion of the Ur-Dragon 0.6% 3%
Raph & Mikey, Troublemakers 0.5% 33%
Stella Lee, Wild Card 0.3% 6%
Ashling, Flame Dancer 0.2% 100%

Played together with

Card Together Lift
Sol Ring99%1.0
Deflecting Swat96%1.8
Gemstone Caverns94%1.0
Jeska's Will94%3.1
Ancient Tomb94%1.1
Chrome Mox94%1.0
Lotus Petal94%1.0
Mana Vault91%1.1
Pyroblast87%2.8
Simian Spirit Guide87%1.8

Best win rate

DeckRecord
Ral, Monsoon Mage
Aidan M Stanley in Commander Invitational Qualifier - East Coast Gaming
4-1
80%
Magda, Brazen Outlaw
Andrew Bachman in Cian Colony Memorial Tournament 4
4-2
67%
Magda, Brazen Outlaw
[LPW] Chad Franklin in Commander Invitational Qualifier - Riddle & Rune
3-2
60%
Ral, Monsoon Mage
Nathan Turner in Blast Off Gaming Whispers From The Archives cEDH Tournament!
3-3
50%
Magda, Brazen Outlaw
emacat in LA GIOSTRA DEL REGNO ATTO III: GLI ULTIMI EROI(VIII)
3-4
43%
Raph & Mikey, Troublemakers
Raphael in Gem State CEDH | Ad Naus for a Cause!
3-4
43%
Magda, Brazen Outlaw
Corey Walkinshaw in CCS $20,000 cEDH Invitational Qualifier #5
2-3
40%
Ashling, Flame Dancer
Don E [HILL] in Bob Koepke Memorial Tournament: A CEDH Tournament Benefitting 988 Lifeline
2-3
40%

Challenges only: MTGO publishes only the 5-0 league decks.

Latest decks

DeckCopiesFinish
Prismari, the Inspiration
Joe Saludo,
1 main #13
of 29
1-3
Ashling, Flame Dancer
Kent,
1 main #13
of 17
0-3
Magda, Brazen Outlaw
Natalie [PerkyGreenFairy],
1 main #27
of 74
1-2
Magda, Brazen Outlaw
Jace [NJcEDH],
1 main #60
of 74
0-3
Magda, Brazen Outlaw
christian weatherall,
1 main #14
of 26
1-3
Magda, Brazen Outlaw
bruce,
1 main #16
of 26
1-3
Ashling, Flame Dancer
[Hooligan] Sparky the Red,
1 main #14
of 32
1-3
Smaug the Impenetrable
Dean Prichard,
1 main #12
of 19
1-2