Return the Favor

Return the Favor card image

Return the Favor: Instant, Outlaws of Thunder Junction. Spree + 1 - Copy target instant spell, sorcery spell, activated ability, or triggered On Mana Grove.

Mana cost
{R}{R}
Mana value
2
Type
Instant
Colour identity
Red (R)
Rarity
Uncommon
Set
Outlaws of Thunder Junction (OTJ)
Released
2024-04-19
Collector number
142
Artist
Eli Minaya
Keywords
Spree

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About Return the Favor

Return the Favor is a Magic: The Gathering card, an uncommon red instant from Outlaws of Thunder Junction (OTJ), an expansion set released in April 2024. It is collector number 142 in that set, with art by Eli Minaya. It costs {R}{R} (two red mana) to cast, for a mana value of 2. Its colour identity is red. It is legal in Standard, Pioneer, Modern, Legacy, Vintage, Commander, Duel Commander, Oathbreaker, Brawl, Standard Brawl, Historic, Timeless and Gladiator. It has been printed in 4 sets, from The List (2020) to Secrets of Strixhaven Mystical Archive (2026). The latest aggregated market price for this printing is $1.02 (normal finish, as of 2026-10-23).

Card text

Spree (Choose one or more additional costs.)

+ {1} - Copy target instant spell, sorcery spell, activated ability, or triggered ability. You may choose new targets for the copy.

+ {1} - Change the target of target spell or ability with a single target.

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

Market price

Latest aggregated market price for the normal finish of this printing: $1.02 (as of 2026-10-23).

The figure covers this printing only; other printings carry their own price on their own page.

Format legality

Legality of Return the Favor by format. Formats in which it is not legal are not listed.

StandardLegal
PioneerLegal
ModernLegal
LegacyLegal
VintageLegal
CommanderLegal
Duel CommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
BrawlLegal
Standard BrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
TimelessLegal
GladiatorLegal

Other printings of Return the Favor

Return the Favor has been printed in 4 sets. The other printings are listed newest first, with the rarity and release year of each.

PrintingRarityYear
The List (PLST) #OTJ-142Uncommon2026
Secret Lair Drop (SLD) #7080Rare2026
Secrets of Strixhaven Mystical Archive (SOA) #112Uncommon2026
Secrets of Strixhaven Mystical Archive (SOA) #177Uncommon2026
Secrets of Strixhaven Mystical Archive (SOA) #47Uncommon2026

Official rulings

The 8 most recent official rulings for Return the Favor, newest first.

  • 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 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.

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