Revival // Revenge: Grading a Split Card for Collectors

In TCG ·

Revival // Revenge card art from Ravnica Remastered

Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

Understanding Revival // Revenge: A Split Card in Focus

Two-faced design is one of MTG’s most elegant ideas: a single card that wears two identities, sharing a story even as it divides its mana costs and effects. Revival // Revenge, a rare split card from the Ravnica Remastered set, embodies that duality with a graceful balance of utility and drama. The first face, Revival, costs {W/B}{W/B} and hoses a classic Orzhov vibe—returning a creature card with mana value 3 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield. The second face, Revenge, leans into a dramatic finale: paying {4}{W}{B} to double your life total while your opponent loses half their life, rounded up. It’s a strategic swing card that invites careful timing, life-total bookkeeping, and a little bit of fireworks 🧙‍♂️🔥💎.

From a gameplay perspective, the two halves feel like two separate spells that share a moment in time. Revival stabilizes boards by reanimating a small threat or a staved-for-creature in the late game, while Revenge turns the table in a heartbeat, especially in a life-gain or control-centric shell. The elegance of the split lies in how the card’s mana costs reflect a guild’s tension: Revival embodies the Orzhov balance of debt and salvation, while Revenge channels the guild’s haughty, high-impact culmination. For collectors and players alike, that duality adds a layer of narrative depth that mirrors the guild’s flavor—subtle, strategic, and a little bit opulent 🎨⚔️.

Grading considerations for two-faced magic

Card grading for split cards like Revival // Revenge isn’t just about condition; it’s about preserving both faces as a coherent artifact. Most reputable graders treat a two-faced card as a single item with two surfaces, grading the entire card rather than each face independently. That means surface wear, edge damage, whitening, and creases on either side can impact the final grade. However, because this particular card is printed on older-foil-friendly stock and comes from a Masters-style reprint, collectors should also note surface fidelity across both faces—the prints must maintain color balance, legibility, and alignment. When you crack open a sleeve to inspect, look for crisp mana-cost text on Revival and the bold, cinematic text of Revenge; misprints or misalignment between halves can significantly affect both grade and value 🧭🧙‍♂️.

Professional graders also verify authentic print markers: the Orzhov watermark on Revival, proper set symbol for Ravnica Remastered (the Masters-era reprint line often shows distinct border treatments and security markers), and the artist signatures (Paul Scott Canavan) across both faces. For two-faced cards, it’s common to see subtle differences in wear between faces, so batch-inspection under consistent lighting helps ensure you’re not missing a critical misprint that could compromise authenticity. While the market loves pristine examples, a well-preserved Revival // Revenge that presents cleanly on both halves remains a solid pick for a collector who wants a single, stunning two-faced piece in a shelf of rare basics 🛡️🔮.

Authenticity markers you can rely on

Several tell-tale signs point to a genuine Revival // Revenge from Ravnica Remastered. First, the two-faced arrangement itself is a hallmark of split cards; on Revival you’ll see the mana cost of {W/B}{W/B} and the Oracle text about returning a creature card with mana value 3 or less from graveyard to battlefield. The Revenge face carries the heavier mana investment of {4}{W}{B} and a striking effect that doubles life and halves the opponent’s life total. Both halves feature Paul Scott Canavan’s artwork, with a cohesive Orzhov watermark that anchors the card’s guild identity.

Second, the card’s set and print lineage are important: Ravnica Remastered is a Masters reprint that preserves the classic feel while printing on a modern frame. The rarity is listed as rare, and the card is available in both foil and non-foil finishes. Pay attention to border color, security stamp, and edition-specific details if you’re cross-referencing prints across multiple sources. Lastly, the card’s textual balance—two distinct mana costs, two separate effects, and a unified card name—should read as a single object when you inspect the card in hand. When authenticity is in doubt, compare with verified scans on Scryfall (and cross-check with official Gatherer records) to verify alignment and typography 🖊️✨.

Grading workflow: best practices for collectors

When you prepare Revival // Revenge for grading or a high-end submission, start with a thorough inspection under good light. Check both faces for edgewear, whitening along the seams, and any surface anomalies that could affect readability. Because the card is two-faced, you’ll want to examine the text and artwork on Revival and Revenge side-by-side for uniform opacity and color saturation. If you’re sending it to a grader that supports two-faced cards, ensure you follow their instructions for encapsulation—some services offer a single slab with dual-face presentation, while others might separate panels as a single, cohesive unit. Clear, labeled packaging helps prevent mis-sleeving or misplacing the card during transit 📦🧳.

Storage is another critical piece. Use rigid, sleeve-in-sleeve protection (a toploader or semi-hard case inside a standard MTG sleeve) to guard against bending and moisture. Avoid long-term exposure to direct sunlight, which can cause color shifting on both faces, and keep the card in a cool, dry environment. A well-protected Revival // Revenge can be a centerpiece in a gallery of masterpieces, a conversation piece that sits at the intersection of art, destiny, and a little bit of chaos ⚖️🎭.

Collector value in a modern Masters-era print

Ravnica Remastered taps into the nostalgia of the original Ravnica block while offering a modern grading ecosystem. Revival // Revenge carries the aura of two very different spells under one roof, which often translates to heightened interest among players who value both control-oriented plays and big-life-swing finishes. In terms of market dynamics, the card’s rarity and its dual-face design tend to keep it in a stable lane for collectors who chase unique printings. The list price on typical market trackers may be tempered by the card’s age, foil availability, and the health of the legacy market, but a well-preserved copy with clean edges—especially a foil variant—remains a coveted find for a guild-loyal collection 💎⚔️.

For enthusiasts who love the lore, Revival // Revenge also provides a narrative hook: revival of a creature in the graveyard and a dramatic, life-altering finale. That storytelling thread makes the card not just a mechanic, but a symbol of the decisive moments in a game, where life totals and board states swing in a heartbeat. It’s the kind of card that invites a story in your mind as you sleeve it up for a night of friendly competition or a high-stakes crafted deck build 🧙‍♂️🎲.

As you consider adding Revival // Revenge to your collection, remember that authenticity and condition go hand in hand with value. The card’s dual identity invites a dual approach to care: protect the two faces with equal diligence, preserve the Orzhov aesthetic, and celebrate the moment when strategy and destiny collide on a single piece of art.

And if you’re curious about the broader MTG product ecosystem beyond grading, keep an eye on cross-promotional offerings—the same care you put into a prized card can make everyday accessories, like a phone case with card holder MagSafe, a fun companion for your gaming life. Explore options that align with your collecting habits and your lifestyle ✨🧷.

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