MTG Copilot
← Back to search
Three Steps Ahead

Three Steps Ahead

Instant

rare

Spree (Choose one or more additional costs.) + — Counter target spell. + — Create a token that's a copy of target artifact or creature you control. + — Draw two cards, then discard a card.

$4.03 ✦ $5.61View on Scryfall →

Semantic Tags

Card Drawmechanical

Puts additional cards into your hand. Includes direct draw, 'look/reveal and put into hand' effects, and conditional draw triggers.

Copy / Clonemechanical

Creates copies of creatures, permanents, or spells.

Counterspellmechanical

Prevents a spell or ability from resolving.

Draw-then-discard or discard-then-draw effects that improve hand quality without net card advantage.

Populatevector

Creates copies of tokens — populate keyword and similar effects.

Removalmechanical

Answers an opponent's threat by destroying, exiling, bouncing, or otherwise removing a permanent or spell.

Creates creature tokens, Treasure tokens, Food tokens, Clue tokens, or other token types.

Format Legality

commanderlegal
oathbreakerlegal
modernlegal
pioneerlegal
standardlegal
legacylegal
vintagelegal
paupernot legal
historiclegal
explorernot legal
alchemynot legal

Price history

Loading price history…

Printings (5)

Related Concepts

Spree

An ability found on some modal spells that allows you to choose one or more modes and requires you to pay additional costs for those modes. See rule 702.172, “Spree.”

Related Rules

702.172

Spree

702.172a

Spree is a static ability found on some modal spells (see rule 700.2) that applies while the spell on the stack. Spree means “Choose one or more modes. As an additional cost to cast this spell, pay the costs associated with those modes.”

702.172b

Cards with the spree ability have a plus sign icon in the upper right corner of the card, and use a plus sign (+) rather than traditional bullet points. These symbols are a visual reminder that this card requires an additional cost to be cast, and do not have additional rules meaning.

Rulings

2024-04-12

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.

2024-04-12

You can’t choose the same mode more than once.

2024-04-12

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.

2024-04-12

The token copies exactly what was printed on the original permanent and nothing else (unless that permanent is copying something else or is a token; see below). It doesn’t copy whether that permanent is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or Auras and Equipment attached to it, or any non-copy effects that have changed its power, toughness, types, color, and so on.

2024-04-12

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.

2024-04-12

If the copied permanent is a token, the token that’s created copies the original characteristics of that token as stated by the effect that created that token.

2024-04-12

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.

2024-04-12

If the first and/or second modes are chosen, then Three Steps Ahead has one or more targets. If so, and all its targets are illegal as it tries to resolve, Three Steps Ahead won’t resolve and none of its effects will happen. If at least one target is still legal, the spell will resolve and modes with legal targets (and the third mode, if chosen) will have their effects.

2024-04-12

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.

2024-04-12

If the copied permanent is copying something else, then the token enters the battlefield as whatever that permanent copied.

2024-04-12

No matter which modes you choose, you always follow the instructions in the order they are written.

2024-04-12

You must choose at least one of the listed modes and pay its associated additional cost in order to cast a spell with spree.

2024-04-12

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.

2024-04-12

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.

2024-04-12

You choose the modes as you cast the spell with spree. Once modes are chosen, they can’t be changed.

2024-04-12

If the copied permanent has {X} in its mana cost, X is 0.

2024-04-12

Any enters-the-battlefield abilities of the copied permanent will trigger when the token enters the battlefield. Any “as [this permanent] enters the battlefield” or “[this permanent] enters the battlefield with” abilities of the copied permanent will also work.

2024-04-12

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.