Swerve
ALAShards of Alara/#200/2008Uncommon
Colour IDMV 2
Current paper retail
Card Kingdom$0.69
Cardmarket€0.25
ManaPool$0.15
TCGplayer$0.34
Buylist (dealers pay)
Card Kingdom$0.07
MTGO (Cardhoarder)
retail$0.03 tix
Paper retail history (USD)
3 providers
Latest $0.69High $0.79Low $0.59▲ 0.0%
Market and collecting
Market overview
$0.34TCGplayer, USD, retail, nonfoil
Latest observation: 2026-11-10
7d▲ 3.0%30d▼ 15.0%90d▼ 20.9%
90d high
$0.44
90d low
$0.33
Paper printings priced
1
Currently 1st
Cheapest paper printing
$0.34
Shards of Alara
- Down 15.0% over the last 30 days on TCGplayer.
- Currently 23% below its 90 day high of $0.44.
- Foil copies of this printing carry a 368% premium over nonfoil.
Find this printing on eBayView on TCGplayerAffiliate. MTGPrices may earn from qualifying eBay and TCGplayer purchases.
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Play
Compare printings (1 priced)
Gameplay and rules
Instant
Change the target of target spell with a single target.
Card capabilities
Instant
Derived deterministically from card types, Oracle text and keywords. Not a strategic evaluation.
Format legality
Primary formats
Eternal formats
Digital formats
Rulings (6)
wotc1 Mar 2010
An Aura spell on the stack targets the object or player which it will enchant upon entering. Thus, an Aura spell is a "spell with a single target", which means you may use Swerve to change that target. Doing so will cause it to enter enchanting the new target rather than the original one.
wotc1 Oct 2008
You don't choose the new target for the spell until Swerve 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, the target isn't changed. It doesn't matter if the original target of that spell has somehow become illegal.
wotc1 Oct 2008
If a spell targets multiple things, you can't target it with Swerve, even if all but one of those targets has become illegal.
wotc1 Oct 2008
If a spell targets the same player or object multiple times, you can't target it with Swerve.
wotc1 Oct 2008
If you cast Swerve on a spell that targets a spell on the stack (like Cancel does, for example), you can't change that spell's target to itself. You can, however, change that spell's target to Swerve. If you do, that spell won't resolve when it tries to resolve because Swerve will have left the stack by then.
wotc1 Oct 2008
Swerve targets only the spell whose target will be changed. It doesn't directly affect the original target of that spell or the new target of that spell.
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Ranked by shared capabilities, colour identity, mana value and type. Never by strategic judgement.
About this card
Swerve
Swerve is an Instant, with mana cost {U}{R} (mana value 2).
Format legality: Commander: legal, Modern: legal, Standard: not_legal, Pioneer: not_legal, Legacy: legal, Pauper: not_legal.
Current headline price on TCGplayer: $0.34 (down 15.0% over 30 days).
Frequently asked
Swerve FAQ
How much is Swerve worth?
The current TCGplayer USD retail price for Swerve is $0.34. It is down 15.0% over the last 30 days. Over 90 days it has ranged from $0.33 to $0.44.
What is the cheapest printing of Swerve?
The cheapest currently priced paper printing is from Shards of Alara at $0.34 on TCGplayer.
What set was Swerve first printed in?
The earliest English paper printing that MTGPrices tracks is from ALA #200, released 2008-10-03.
Is there a foil version of Swerve?
Yes. On this printing, foil copies trade at $1.59 versus $0.34 for nonfoil, which is 368% more expensive on TCGplayer.
Is Swerve legal in Commander?
Yes, Swerve is currently legal in Commander per Scryfall's legality feed.
Is Swerve legal in Modern?
Yes, Swerve is currently legal in Modern per Scryfall's legality feed.
Is Swerve legal in Standard?
Swerve is not currently legal in Standard per Scryfall's legality feed.
What does Swerve do?
Swerve is an Instant with mana cost {U}{R}. Its Oracle text reads: "Change the target of target spell with a single target.".