MTG Unleashes Rules to Unlock Ancestral Recall & Iconic Spells

Mo. Basuony

Published: March 25, 2026 5:23 PM ET

MTG Unleashes Rules to Unlock Ancestral Recall & Iconic Spells

Wizards introduced a new keyword this year tied to Secrets of Strixhaven. The mechanic, called Prepared, first appeared on a set of leaked cards. Players have asked how it works and how it interacts with classic effects like Ancestral Recall.

Core concept

Prepared creates a two-part card structure. The left side is the creature face. The right side is an instant or sorcery prepare spell.

You cast the card only as a creature from your hand. The creature has the left-side abilities. It will be either prepared or unprepared on entering.

How the prepare spell functions

If a creature is prepared, you may cast its prepare spell by paying that spell’s mana cost. When you put the spell on the stack, the creature becomes unprepared.

Prepared and unprepared act as a simple property. Only prepared creatures allow their spell halves to be cast.

Making a creature prepared

Methods vary by card. Some creatures prepare themselves with a triggered or activated ability. Other cards may prepare a creature as a separate effect.

Design intent appears to let decks reuse the spell half multiple times. You must re-prepare between uses.

Notable examples from leaks

Emeritus of Ideation is the most discussed prepare card so far. It is a mythic rarity and plays differently than simpler prepare creatures.

Emeritus costs five mana and enters as a 5/5 flyer with ward 2. Unusually, it enters the battlefield already prepared.

Its spell half reads as a one-blue-mana effect that causes a player to draw three cards. That mirrors the classic Ancestral Recall effect.

After you cast that spell, Emeritus becomes unprepared. You can ready it again using the card’s own ability. That ability triggers after attacking and exiling eight cards from your graveyard.

Biblioplex Tomekeeper is another leaked card. It costs four mana and is a 3/4 body. Its enter-the-battlefield trigger can prepare or unprepare a creature.

Leaks show Biblioplex with poor image quality. Still, its ability looks useful for draft and limited play.

Common rulings and scenarios

You cannot cast the right-side instant or sorcery from your hand. The creature must be on the battlefield first.
You can cast a prepare spell multiple times. Each casting requires the creature to be prepared beforehand.
If an opponent destroys a prepared creature, a previously cast prepare spell still resolves. If you have not cast the spell, you can attempt to respond with the prepare spell as an instant. If the prepare spell is a sorcery or you lack mana, the creature will die without its spell being cast.
Not every prepare spell is Ancestral Recall. That effect appears unique to the blue mythic example.