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Academic Dispute, art by Manuel Castañón
Art by Manuel Castañón · ™ & © Wizards of the Coast · image via Scryfall
Selected printing · USD
$0.23
checked Jun 14, 2026 · Scryfall
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Academic Dispute

{R} · Instant

Target creature blocks this turn if able. You may have it gain reach until end of turn. Learn. (You may reveal a Lesson card you own from outside the game and put it into your hand, or discard a card to draw a card.)

Rulings (7)

Apr 16, 2021 · If you bring a card into the game from outside the game in a Constructed tournament (or a Constructed game played under tournament conditions), you may select only a card from your sideboard. In casual Constructed games, the card comes from your collection.

Apr 16, 2021 · If you bring a card into the game from outside the game in a Sealed Deck or Booster Draft event, you may select only a card that is in the card pool that you built your deck from.

Apr 16, 2021 · You choose whether you want the creature to gain reach until end of turn as Academic Dispute resolves.

Apr 16, 2021 · The controller of the creature chooses which attacking creature that creature blocks.

Apr 16, 2021 · If a card is brought into the game from outside the game, it will stay in the game until it ends or until its owner leaves the game, whichever comes first.

Apr 16, 2021 · If instructed to learn, you may do nothing. Discarding a card and putting a Lesson card into your hand are both optional.

Apr 16, 2021 · The creature blocks only if it's able to do so as the declare blockers step begins. If, at that time, the creature is tapped, it's affected by a spell or ability that says it can't block, or no creatures are attacking its controller or a planeswalker controlled by that player, then it doesn't block. If there's a cost associated with having the creature block, the player isn't forced to pay that cost. If that cost isn't paid, the creature won't block.

LegacyLegal
VintageLegal
ModernLegal
PioneerLegal
StandardNot legal
PauperNot legal
PremodernNot legal
cEDHLegal

Where it’s played now

Inclusion by archetype · Modern

% of archetype's lists running it · last 30 days · n=223 decks
ArchetypeFormatInclusionCopiesDecks (n)
Jeskai AggroModern100%1
Temur AggroModern57.7%26
Rakdos ShadowModern28.6%7
Izzet AggroModern2.1%3–4×189
Data as of Jun 14, 2026 · MTGO + papercasthaven.com

Price

Academic Dispute — price trend

Daily cheapest printing · USD · last 90 days · n=2 snapshots
Data as of Jun 14, 2026 · Scryfallcasthaven.com

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