Snapcaster MageSnapcaster Mage | Art by Volkan Baga

Welcome to Too-Specific Top 10, where if there isn’t a category to rank our pet card at the top of, we’ll just make one up! (Did you know that Archmage's NewtArchmage's Newt is the only Snapcaster MageSnapcaster Mage that lets you cast the spell you're giving flashback for free?)

For the second (canon) set in a row, Secrets of Strixhaven brought us a super-efficient effect that can recast our various instants and sorceries from the graveyard.

Stingcaster MageStingcaster Mage is close to an effective reprint of the famous World Championship card, Snapcaster MageSnapcaster Mage, only in red and without flash. FlashbackFlashback's closest analog is RecoupRecoup, a two-mana sorcery that only targets sorceries. In other words? The spellslinger folks have been eating well lately.

Still, are these really the best flashback effects available out there? Or even the cheapest?

Top 10 Cards at Three Mana or Less That Grant Flashback or Allow You to Cast an Instant or Sorcery From Your Graveyard (That Aren't Snapcaster MageSnapcaster Mage or FlashbackFlashback)

Criteria: Cards costing three or less which give another card in your graveyard flashback, or that allow you to cast an instant or sorcery from your graveyard, that are not Snapcaster MageSnapcaster Mage or FlashbackFlashback, and do not have an additional mana cost above and beyond that of the mana value of the spell being targeted. As is tradition, all results are ordered by EDHREC score.

10. Slickshot LockpickerSlickshot Lockpicker

(9.61k Inclusions, 0.22% of 4.30M Decks)

No matter if you cast them or plot them, Slickshot LockpickerSlickshot Lockpicker is a more expensive Snapcaster. That said, plot is a useful ability that can aid in huge storm turns, so this creature still definitely has a place in the spellslinger decks of the world. Just keep in mind that plot is at sorcery speed, so you're not going to be able to use this to get interaction like folks often do with Snapcaster.

9. Mavinda, Students' AdvocateMavinda, Students' Advocate

(Helms 409 Decks, Rank #2,111; 10.1k Inclusions, 0.25% of 4.06M Decks)

Even more narrow is Mavinda, Students' AdvocateMavinda, Students' Advocate. This shoulder-hoverer is a blast in the command zone, if you've never seen the deck, just constantly casting pumps, evasion, and protection onto heroic creatures. Outside of that, she's mostly relegated to decks doing similar things, namely Feather, the RedeemedFeather, the Redeemed.

In other words? This is a fun niche piece for decks doing ZadaZada things, and not really any kind of competition for Snapcaster.

8. Quistis TrepeQuistis Trepe

(Helms 196 Decks, Rank #2,591; 11.1k Inclusions, 0.40% of 2.75M Decks)

It's tempting to say that Quistis TrepeQuistis Trepe is Snapcaster in the command zone, but that's not quite accurate. Aside from not using the flashback keyword, she also allows you to cast an instant or sorcery from any graveyard, not just your own. This also comes with the significant drawbacks of costing an extra mana and not taking place at instant speed, but still, it's something to consider with three times the resources out there to pick from.

7. Dreadhorde ArcanistDreadhorde Arcanist

(15.6k Inclusions, 0.36% of 4.34M Decks)

Dreadhorde ArcanistDreadhorde Arcanist is simultaneously one of the best and worst pieces of spell recursion out there. At two mana, it's cheap. It lets you cast the spell without having to pay its mana cost, like Snapcaster and Stingcaster require. But there is a catch. Namely, at its base level, you can only cast one-mana spells from your graveyard. To do more, you have to pump this guy up, which is an easy thing to pull off in decks like Zada, Hedron GrinderZada, Hedron Grinder that have pumping creatures up as part of their game plan, but isn't always easy to do if you're on the pure spellslinger plan. In other words? This is the niche piece that's better than Snapcaster, but only in the decks that fit said niche.

6. Norman OsbornNorman Osborn

(Helms 13,816 Decks, Rank #124; 4.35k Inclusions, 0.80% of 544K Decks)

I don't think that Norman OsbornNorman Osborn is a Snapcaster Mage, for two reasons: One, it's not Norman Osborn that even has the effect, it's the Green GoblinGreen Goblin. Two, is it really bringing things back from the graveyard if you have to do it right after you specifically discard them?

Nonetheless, there's no question that Green Goblin is a hell of a powerful commander, so seeing these play numbers is not a surprise.

5. Jace, Vryn's ProdigyJace, Vryn's Prodigy

(Helms 1,658 Decks, Rank #1,164; 18.9k Inclusions, 0.44% of 4.30M Decks)

Our second card in a row to have its Snapcaster effect on the back, Jace, Vryn's ProdigyJace, Vryn's Prodigy is also similar to Norman OsbornNorman Osborn in that it draws and discards on the front to make the back better once you get there. Unlike Snapcaster, however, Jace takes a long time to get your spell back. He needs to shed his summoning sickness, then loot, then if you already have five cards in the graveyard, he can -3 to do the thing. If not, then you're going to do this for several turns before you get the payoff. Now, can you do this repeatedly? On paper, sure, but in reality? Planeswalkers are instant targets, and one that ticks down to 2 loyalty immediately isn't likely to survive at most tables.

4. Halo ForagerHalo Forager

(24.1k Inclusions, 1.11% of 2.17M Decks)

Prior to the printing of Stingcaster Mage, Halo ForagerHalo Forager was the closest you could get to a backup Snapcaster. Ironically, it has two of the same major hurdles, as well: it requires a different color, and doesn't operate at flash speed. What's going to put it in a solid third for Grixis decks, however, is the fact that it's three mana. This will probably still be number one for Faerie decks that care about their spells, but otherwise it's going to hit the outside of the 99 for a lot of decks come upgrade time.

3. Chandra, Acolyte of FlameChandra, Acolyte of Flame

(24.1k Inclusions, 0.55% of 4.34M Decks)

The second planeswalker on our list has both a decided upside and some downsides when compared to Stingcaster Mage. That yin-yang? Basically, Chandra, Acolyte of FlameChandra, Acolyte of Flame is more expensive than Stingcaster, but then saves you money on the back end when you don't have to pay the mana cost of the spell. That does also come with the caveat that the spell in question has to cost three or less, but that's likely to be the case with any of these things, as casting Stingcaster and then having six mana left over isn't usually how these things go. The other downside, however, is going to get Stingcaster put in a lot of decks over Chandra: creatures are just more resilient than planeswalkers. That's kind of crazy, given how easy it is to kill creatures, but it's nonetheless true.

2. Gale, Waterdeep ProdigyGale, Waterdeep Prodigy

(Partners 4,731 Decks; 22.7k Inclusions, 0.53% of 4.30M Decks)

In similar fashion to Quistis TrepeQuistis Trepe, Gale, Waterdeep ProdigyGale, Waterdeep Prodigy brings something to the table that neither Snapcaster or Stingcaster ever could: he can be in your command zone, with a whole deck built around him. I've talked before about how this makes him cEDH-worthy, so to dismiss how powerful he can be here seems silly.

So what about in the 99? Gale beats the pants off of Snapcaster by being reusable, but many decks that are abusing Snapcaster are already doing blink shenanigans to do that. He's also more expensive, and can't be the surprise at flash speed (although after he's established, being able to cast sorceries at instant speed is arguably better). All in all? There's probably more decks that will opt for the efficiency and flexibility of Snapcaster than there are those that will be able to build around a Gale not in the command zone.

1. Mission BriefingMission Briefing

(30k Inclusions, 0.69% of 4.30M Decks)

Our number one card is also our only noncreature card to make the list, still holding steady in inclusions over both the new inclusion of FlashbackFlashback and the old guard of Snapcaster Mage, Mission BriefingMission Briefing brings some solid upside to Snapcaster at the same mana value: surveiling 2. That may seem small, but it allows Mission Briefing to be used with an empty graveyard and a roll of the dice, which is pretty huge. As for the obvious upside of Snapcaster being a creature? Well, in my opinion, if you want one of these cards, chances are pretty good that you want both.

Honorable Mentions

All in all? It seems like both Snapcaster MageSnapcaster Mage and Stingcaster MageStingcaster Mage have a leg up on the competition. Even the most played cards that are in a similar vein only hold a candle to them in specific niches, or are Mission BriefingMission Briefing. But what about the more expensive cards? Is there a raw power spectrum that can outweigh raw efficiency? Let's take a look at what we weeded out, shall we?

Top 10 Spell Recursion Options That Cost Four or More

1. Mizzix's MasteryMizzix's Mastery
2. Past in FlamesPast in Flames
3. UrabraskUrabrask
4. Arcane BombardmentArcane Bombardment
5. Will of the JeskaiWill of the Jeskai
6. Torrential GearhulkTorrential Gearhulk
7. Kess, Dissident MageKess, Dissident Mage
8. Emet-Selch of the Third SeatEmet-Selch of the Third Seat
9. Mnemonic DelugeMnemonic Deluge
10. Invoke CalamityInvoke Calamity

In short, yes, there is absolutely a point where you want to pay more for a bigger splash, rather than pay less for access. Mizzix's MasteryMizzix's Mastery might result in the longest turns known to mankind, but it also is often just shortcut to "Yeah, they probably win. Shuffle up and play again?" Past in FlamesPast in Flames isn't quite as devastating, but still gives you access to an entire graveyard assumedly full of spells, which is nothing to shake a stick at. I still hold to Arcane BombardmentArcane Bombardment being a win-more card, but there's no question that it's also a fun card that will end a game, and the same is true all the way down the list. UrabraskUrabrask is BirgiBirgi with an eventual Past in Flames tacked on, Will of the JeskaiWill of the Jeskai is Past in Flames with half a wheel tacked on, KessKess is Past in Flames in the command zone, and Mnemonic DelugeMnemonic Deluge is one of the coolest cards to resolve in Commander.

Nuts and Bolts

There always seems to be a bit of interest in how these lists are made (this seems like a good time to stress once again that they are based on EDHREC score, NOT my personal opinion…), and people are often surprised that I’m not using any special data or .json from EDHREC, but rather just muddling my way through with some Scryfall knowledge! For your enjoyment/research, here is this week’s Scryfall search.

What Do You Think?

I've equated a lot of things to a lot of things here, but in all honesty, I haven't really talked about the main change that FlashbackFlashback and Stingcaster MageStingcaster Mage have brought to us: the flexibility and efficiency of Snapcaster MageSnapcaster Mage, but in red. So how about it? Is that something you're putting to use?

And finally, what is your favorite Snapcaster effect? Does it come attached to a creature? Is it an option in other colors?

Let us know in the comments, and we'll see you at the de facto table: light, efficient, and flexibly folding.