Among the many unique spells in Magic: The Gathering,Dance of the Mansestands out as a flexible and strategic tool that appeals to players who enjoy synergy between enchantments and artifacts. Since its introduction in the Throne of Eldraine set, Dance of the Manse has become a favorite in both casual and competitive decks for its ability to bring back multiple key permanents from the graveyard. The card plays especially well in control and combo shells, offering late-game power while still serving as a valuable utility spell in earlier turns. Understanding how to optimize Dance of the Manse can elevate your MTG gameplay significantly.
Card Overview: Dance of the Manse
Mana Cost and Type
Dance of the Manse is a sorcery spell that costs {X}{W}{U} to cast. It fits into Azorius colors (white and blue), which are known for control, tempo, and enchantment-based strategies.
Card Text and Function
The effect of Dance of the Manse reads:
‘Return up to X target artifact and/or non-Aura enchantment cards each with mana value X or less from your graveyard to the battlefield. If X is 6 or more, those permanents are 4/4 creatures in addition to their other types.’
This means the card scales with your available mana. It can return small enchantments or artifacts early in the game or revive multiple threats as creature-based win conditions in the late game.
Power Level and Flexibility
What makes Dance of the Manse powerful is its versatility. You can use it to restore utility enchantments and mana rocks, or you can make an explosive play by turning a full graveyard into an army of 4/4s. It thrives in longer games and gives graveyard-based decks a real shot at stabilization or sudden victory.
Best Cards to Pair with Dance of the Manse
Enchantment and Artifact Targets
To make the most out of Dance of the Manse, your deck should include a variety of enchantments and artifacts that provide immediate value or help control the board.
- Omen of the Sea A low-cost enchantment that provides card filtering and works well as a return target.
- Golden Egg A cheap artifact that cycles and helps with mana fixing. Great for early game and reviving with Dance.
- Doom Foretold When returned as a 4/4, this enchantment becomes a board-controlling creature.
- Trial of Ambition Removal on entry and synergizes perfectly with enchantment recursion.
- Maze’s Mind Tome Provides card advantage and is a worthy target to bring back for value or damage.
Support and Synergy Cards
- Teferi, Time Raveler Protects your combo and lets you recast Dance safely.
- Shimmer Dragon Great synergy with artifacts to generate card draw and provide a secondary win condition.
- Thirst for Meaning Helps you dig through your deck and discard enchantments or artifacts for Dance to bring back later.
Deck Archetypes Featuring Dance of the Manse
Esper Control Dance
One of the most consistent shells for Dance of the Manse is Esper Control (white, blue, black). Black gives access to better removal and discard spells, while blue and white focus on the enchantment/artifact theme.
This archetype usually runs:
- Board wipes likeWrath of GodorDoomskar
- Counterspells likeAbsorborNeutralize
- Graveyard fillers likeConsiderandStrategic Planning
- Dance of the Manse as the late-game win condition
Artifact Combo Builds
Dance of the Manse also fits well into combo decks that abuse cheap artifacts. By running cards likeMishra’s Bauble,Chromatic Star, andTerrarion, you can quickly fill your graveyard and then cast Dance to return several permanents that each draw cards or generate mana.
Budget or Historic Brawl
In MTG Arena’s Historic Brawl, Dance of the Manse can be the centerpiece of a deck led by commanders likeYuriko, the Tiger’s ShadoworGolos, Tireless Pilgrim. Even in casual formats, the recursion Dance provides is fun and strategic when built around properly.
Timing and Strategy
Early Game
In the early game, focus on setting up your graveyard with cheap enchantments or artifacts. Use scry and draw spells to help filter your deck and discard unneeded targets into the graveyard.
Mid Game
This is the setup phase. Try to stay alive while gaining incremental advantage through enchantments and artifacts. It’s also the best time to use your cheaper Dance of the Manse casts to return 12 mana value cards for value.
Late Game
When you hit 8 or more mana, casting Dance of the Manse with X = 6 or greater can flip the game. Bringing back five or six artifacts/enchantments as 4/4 creatures, many of which also draw or affect the board, can overwhelm opponents immediately.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Overcommitting
Try not to cast Dance when there are only one or two mediocre targets. The card scales better with more permanents. Be patient and build a graveyard worth reviving.
Ignoring Interaction
If your opponent plays graveyard hate likeRest in PeaceorNihil Spellbomb, be prepared to adapt. Include removal for such permanents in your sideboard or main deck.
Wrong Target Selection
Be strategic about what you bring back. Sometimes it’s better to revive a scry enchantment for card selection rather than a flashy one-time effect. Know what your deck needs in each stage of the game.
Variants and Meta Considerations
Metagame Relevance
Dance of the Manse tends to perform best in slower metagames where graveyard strategies have room to breathe. It can struggle against aggressive decks with fast pressure and little regard for board value.
Sideboard Suggestions
- Disenchant Removes key threats or graveyard hate pieces.
- Negate Protects your Dance play from counters.
- Rest in Peace Ironically useful if you need to stop other graveyard decks.
Dance of the Manseis one of those MTG cards that rewards smart deck building and strategic timing. Whether used as a utility spell or a game-ending bomb, it offers immense value when built around properly. Including a strong mix of low-cost enchantments and artifacts ensures early tempo, while the late-game potential to return and animate multiple cards can shift the battlefield in your favor instantly. If you enjoy control-oriented decks with complex decision trees and the joy of recursion, Dance of the Manse is a card that deserves a place in your spellbook.