Reverse the Polarity
Instant
Choose one —
• Counter all other spells.
• Switch each creature's power and toughness until end of turn.
• Creatures can't be blocked this turn.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Doctor Who
- Price
- —
- EDHREC rank
- #4881
Reverse the Polarity doubles a creature's power and toughness until end of turn — at instant speed, for two mana — and that combination of speed and efficiency makes it one of the most impactful pump spells available for big-creature strategies. The Pride of Hull Clade decks run it as a primary finisher, turning a single large creature into a lethal threat out of nowhere.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
The Pride of Hull Clade
The Pride of Hull Clade grows creatures based on their toughness, so Reverse the Polarity creates a compounding effect — doubling a creature's toughness mid-combat or before a damage trigger fires can mean the difference between a threat and a one-shot kill.
Riku of Many Paths
Riku of Many Paths copies spells, and copying Reverse the Polarity means two creatures suddenly double — which at instant speed during combat math is often just a game-winning swing.
Charix, the Raging Isle
Charix, the Raging Isle has naturally enormous toughness, so Reverse the Polarity turns it into a symmetrical power stat as well, letting the deck close games with a commander that normally only blocks.
Obeka, Splitter of Seconds
Obeka, Splitter of Seconds manipulates end steps, and Reverse the Polarity's until-end-of-turn effect can be extended or duplicated across turns in ways most pump spells can't be, giving the combination more reach than the base card implies.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | not legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Reverse the Polarity is legal in Commander, Legacy, Vintage, and Oathbreaker, but Commander is its real home — the format's singleton rule and multiplayer dynamics reward instant-speed, high-ceiling spells over incremental ones. In Legacy and Vintage, the card doesn't compete with the density of interaction and combo redundancy those formats demand, so it stays on the shelf. Oathbreaker is the other realistic landing spot: smaller life totals and faster games make the doubled-stat swing more immediately decisive. Anywhere it's legal, the card rewards decks built around high-toughness creatures or combat tricks — outside those shells, it's too narrow to justify a slot.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
unknown tier
Pricing data for Reverse the Polarity isn't currently available in our system — check Scryfall or TCGPlayer for the current market rate. Given its narrow synergy profile, it tends to stay affordable even when demand spikes around The Pride of Hull Clade lists.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- The Pride of Hull Clade
- Riku of Many Paths
- Charix, the Raging Isle
- Obeka, Splitter of Seconds
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.