The 30 Best Target-Changing Cards in Magic Ranked

Misdirection | Illustration by Mathias Kollros

Whether you're an experienced Magic player or someone just starting out and learning about counterspells, most agree that playing against them can be frustrating. This is largely because they deny players the free will to cast their spells as they choose. But what if I told you there’s an even more dangerous effect in Magic: The Gathering—one that players might not yet fully recognize because it often seems less threatening than counterspells?

Today, we’re diving into target-changing spells, cards with the potential to wreak havoc on the battlefield for just a small amount of mana. As usual, we’ll highlight and rank the ones that stand out at the top of the list.

Curious to learn more? Let’s get started!

What Are Target-Changing Cards in MTG?

Bolt Bend | Illustration by Svetlin Velinov

Target-changing cards in Magic: The Gathering, often referred to as Redirect spells, allow you to change the target of another spell or ability. These effects are versatile and can be used to protect your creatures, safeguard your life total, or disrupt an opponent's plans.

Note that the term “redirect” in Magic actually has a specific rules meaning of moving damage from one target to another. We're looking at a different, definition of “redirects,” which just means changing targets, but doesn't have an exact MTG rules term.

Honorable Mention

Technically, Gale's Redirection does what’s expected from Redirect spells, but if you’re unlucky and get a result below 14 on the die roll, you must spend extra mana to cast the spell. Because of this, it’s out, but I’ll still leave it here just so you’re aware of it.

Another red instant that I’ve also skipped is Reroute, as it doesn’t Redirect spells, but rather, activated abilities. What I like about it is that it replaces itself as you get to draw a card from it.

#30. Deflection

For a spell that normally costs 2 mana, Deflection is a total scam, making it the worst target-changing spell.

#29. Reflecting Mirror

While having access to a tool that lets you change targets at will, Reflecting Mirror’s downside is that it only works whenever a spell targets you, meaning that it isn’t very good at protecting your board, even though it's a decent artifact against hand hate.

#28. Grip of Chaos

For those that enjoy chaotic board states or games overall, Grip of Chaos is a chaos card that makes targeting a creature significantly harder, as all will be determined purely on luck.

#27. Psychic Battle

Psychic Battle is another chaos-oriented card that can be paired with the likes of Jace, the Mind Sculptor, Sensei's Divining Top, or Brainstorm (why not?) to win each reveal and always be the one that chooses.

#26. Bolt Bend

Bolt Bend does exactly what you expect from redirection spells, as it can work well against counterspells and spot removal. The upside with this red instant is that it costs only 1 red mana if you control a creature with power 4 or greater. I just don’t know why this wasn’t errata’d to have ferocious instead of the full text.

#25. Divert

Divert is one of the cheapest cards to redirect spells, acting as Spell Pierce most of the time. In an ideal world, I’d use this blue instant against a Thoughtseize, but I don’t think this blue card has seen tons of play, as there are better options overall if you’re looking for this kind of effect.

#24. Imp's Mischief

Most of these redirect spells are predominantly on red cards or blue cards, and because of this, finding one outside of the palette is a rarity. Imp's Mischief is your black card for this effect, with the slight drawback that you lose life equal to the spell’s target. You won’t have issues dealing with the likes of Lightning Bolt or Fatal Push, but others like Rakdos's Return may be an issue.

#23. Insidious Will

I love versatility among Magic cards, and modal cards excel at it. Insidious Will offers three modes, but the middle one does what you expect it to. That said, 4 mana to redirect a spell may be too much.

#22. Goblin Flectomancer

At the expense of its life, Goblin Flectomancer can be used to change the target of an instant or sorcery to another. In theory, you can use this Izzet card () as a pseudo Mausoleum Wanderer or Judge's Familiar.

#21. Muck Drubb

Muck Drubb is unique as it’s a card that not only has flash but also madness, meaning you can build around it in a discard-focused shell to take advantage of its ability to redirect targeted spells. While it may not survive a Lightning Bolt, it has no trouble dealing with the likes of Shock or Play with Fire and survive to tell the tale.

#20. Perplexing Chimera

For 5 mana, you can use Perplexing Chimera to steal, say, an opposing commander when cast or pretty much any other spell. While there are cards that do this for less mana like Gilded Drake or Volatile Stormdrake, they won’t stop permanents with ETB effects, and they’ll only work on creatures, so it’s worth paying a bit more mana if you’re hoping to prevent that.

#19. Quicksilver Dragon

I imagine Quicksilver Dragon dodging bullets like Neo from the Matrix. Its first ability makes this blue dragon almost invulnerable to spot removal unless it's the only legal target on the field.

#18. Redirect

For Counterspell mana, you get to Redirect a spell. What else would you expect based on the name?

#17. Swerve

On some occasions, it’s easier to cast a spell for 2 mana of different colors rather than just spending two of the same, and in that regard, Swerve is a fine option for Izzet players.

#16. Wild Ricochet

While other spells like Redirect can only change a spell’s target, Wild Ricochet lets you change the target and copy the spell, effectively doubling its impact for just 4 mana. This makes it a powerful tool for both counterplay and creating unexpected swings in your favor.

#15. Willbender

Willbender was first released in Invasion as a card that could effectively be hidden for its morph cost and act as a way to protect you or your other permanents. Over time, WotC has printed similar cards and eventually added a better version, which we'll get to.

#14. Untimely Malfunction

Modal spells like Untimely Malfunction are some of my favorite ones in the game due to the versatility they represent. This red instant can act as a hate card for two different archetypes, on top of being a perfect addition for aggressive decks to get through difficult board states.

#13. Captured by the Consulate

Captured by the Consulate isn’t your typical Redirect spell, as it’s neither an instant nor a creature that happens to change targets. This aura prevents a creature from attacking but also makes it the target of every spell that your opponents cast when possible. It’s funny because maybe one opponent was hoping to cast Ethereal Armor onto a hexproof creature to close the game, but now, they have to target the one you choose with Captured by the Consulate or get rid of it first.

#12. Return the Favor

Return the Favor is your 3-mana Redirect that also lets you copy the spell you're targeting for 4 mana, also acting as a pseudo Reverberate.

#11. Sudden Substitution

I love that Sudden Substitution has split second, making it almost impossible to interact while on the stack. The catch is that aside from costing 4 mana, you also need to essentially sacrifice a creature for it to work. That said, if your plan is to run the likes of Thought Nibbler it may be a cute combo to assemble to annoy your opponents.

#10. Wyll's Reversal

In the right deck, Wyll's Reversal can easily choose new targets and copy spells for just 3 mana, or at least that's what you’d expect. If you’re extremely unlucky, you’ll need to use cards like Ghalta, Primal Hunger to improve Reversal’s chances. Keep in mind that Wyll's Reversal can target abilities too!

#9. Chef's Kiss

This card reminds me a bit of Dualcaster Mage as you’re able to copy the spell. However, you can’t choose the targets, and they can't be you or the permanents you control. Instead, you get to choose new targets for both spells at random, which can be extremely good against unconditional removal spells, but it’s pretty useless against counters.

#8. Hydroelectric Specimen / Hydroelectric Laboratory

Modal Double-Faced Cards (MDFCs) impact deckbuilding as a great way to prevent either flood or mana screw. As it happens, Hydroelectric Specimen can redirect spells on ETB, and while most of the time you’ll use it as a land, there are niche scenarios when you benefit from its ability to change the target of a removal spell. The drawback: The Specimen probably dies.

Mizzium Meddler is a very similar card, with the significant downside of not being an MDFC.

#7. Ricochet Trap

Ricochet Trap may be one of the cheapest Redirect spells if you’re facing blue opponents. In fact, it was often used in red decks to battle blue ones when it was Standard-legal.

#6. Boltbender

As you've already seen, there are some creatures that allow you to redirect spells to other targets.

While you're spending 5 whole mana for something that usually costs just 2, the upside with this little wizard is that you can choose any number of spells or abilities on the stack, meaning it’s the perfect hate card against pesky storm cards like Brain Freeze or Grapeshot.

#5. Invert Polarity

Invert Polarity is a bit more of a gamble on whether you redirect or straight counter a spell, but both are acceptable in some cases. The redirect scenario allows you to take control of your targeted spell similarly to how other cards like Commandeer do, but Invert Polarity also hits creature spells if you want to steal something.

#4. Spellskite

Back in the day, Spellskite was one of the prime cards to stop Splinter Twin decks and ensure their dirty plans wouldn’t happen. What was funny was that it was also used within the deck to protect either Deceiver Exarch or Pestermite from dying, making it both a counter and an enabler for the same combo strategy.

#3. Deflecting Swat

Deflecting Swat is one of the best redirect spells around due to its nature to protect your commander without spending any mana. While red commanders usually are aggressive ones that may not need any protection like Purphoros, God of the Forge, there are others like Aurelia, the Warleader that may pose an immediate threat, and protecting them becomes key.

#2. Commandeer

There are many non-creature spells printed through Magic history that are either very powerful, like Nexus of Fate, or may represent immediate wins like Emergent Ultimatum or, god-forbid, Omniscience. While you can counter them to avoid their effects, there’s a better solution in the form of Commandeer. In essence, you can Mindslaver your opponent’s spells and use them to your advantage.

#1. Misdirection

While Force of Will is usually better, Misdirection is a close competitor if you're looking to have an answer against spot removal or spells that target you.

Can You Redirect a Spell with No Targets?

No. A spell with no targets can’t be redirected. For a spell to be redirected, it must have a target specified during casting, like Time Warp. Spells without targets like Treasure Cruise, Divination, or Temporal Manipulation simply have effects rather than affecting specific objects or players. Hence, they aren’t eligible for redirection effects like Deflecting Swat or Spellskite.

Can You Redirect a Spell to Target Itself?

No. As stated in Rule 115.5:  “A spell or ability on the stack is an illegal target for itself.” This is a common misconception when redirection spells interact with counters, as you can’t make a Mana Drain target itself. Still, you can use Redirect to have Mana Drain target the Redirect, making it fizzle, as the former would have already left the stack by the time the counterspell resolves.

Can You Redirect to a Target with Hexproof? What About Protection?

You can redirect to a hexproof target as long as you don’t gain control of the spell through effects like Commandeer or Invert Polarity. These cards are exceptions because they change the ownership of the spell. However, you can use cards like Ricochet Trap to redirect an opponent's spell to their own hexproof creature, assuming the creature is a legal target.

That said, protection interacts differently. Regardless of who controls the spell, creatures with protection from a given color can’t be the target of spells or abilities of that color. This means you can’t redirect a spell to a creature with protection from that color no matter who controls the spell.

Wrap Up

Deflecting Swat | Illustration by Greg Staples

As you can see, target-changing spells come in a variety of mana values and colors, even though their effect is ultimately the same. For this list, I’ve omitted many cards that are essentially identical but with different names or that have the same mana value to keep things efficient.

That said, what do you think? Did I miss any cards you like? Let us know in the comments!

As always, thank you for reading! If you want to stay up-to-date on the latest MTG news, be sure to follow us on X and join the Draftsim Discord so you never miss a single update.

Take care, and see you next time!