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Grab the Reins
Instant
uncommon
Choose one — • Until end of turn, you gain control of target creature and it gains haste. • Sacrifice a creature. Grab the Reins deals damage equal to that creature's power to any target. Entwine (Choose both if you pay the entwine cost.)
Semantic Tags
Attacks quickly and deals damage efficiently. Includes haste, double strike, first strike, prowess, and cards that grant these.
Cares about power of creatures — Fling effects, power-based draw, Xenagos strategies.
Broadly benefits from sacrificing permanents — overlaps aristocrats but includes non-creature sacrifice.
Lets you sacrifice your own creatures or permanents for value. Key enabler for aristocrats strategies.
Format Legality
Price history
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Printings (3)
| Set | Rarity | TCGplayer | Card Kingdom | Cardmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The List#MRD-95 | uncommon | · | · | · |
| Commander 2016#126 | uncommon | · | · | · |
| Mirrodin#95 | uncommon | · | · | · |
Related Concepts
Related Rules
If the entwine cost was paid, follow the text of each of the modes in the order written on the card when the spell resolves.
Entwine
Entwine is a static ability of modal spells (see rule 700.2) that functions while the spell is on the stack. “Entwine [cost]” means “You may choose all modes of this spell instead of just the number specified. If you do, you pay an additional [cost].” Using the entwine ability follows the rules for choosing modes and paying additional costs in rules 601.2b and 601.2f–h.
Rulings
If you cast this with Entwine, you don’t get priority in the middle of resolution. You can’t steal something, do anything (like attack with it), and then sacrifice it.
If you choose the “sacrifice a creature” mode, you choose the target of the damage on announcement, but don’t choose what to sacrifice until resolution. You must sacrifice a creature when Grab the Reins resolves, even if you don’t want to. If you don’t control any creatures at that time, Grab the Reins deals no damage.
If you pay the entwine cost, you can sacrifice the creature you gain control of with Grab the Reins.