Deflection

Deflection was first introduced in the Urza's Saga expansion of Magic: The Gathering in 1998, later appearing in the Classic Sixth Edition core set in 1999 as card number 63. Designed by Wizards of the Coast, this instant spell reflects the mechanics of the game’s color pie, which grants blue cards the ability to manipulate magical effects. The card was created to provide players with a strategic tool to redirect targeted spells or abilities, reinforcing blue's role as the color of reaction and redirection.

The artwork for the Sixth Edition version was illustrated by Melissa A. Benson, a prominent artist during the game's formative years. Her ethereal and swirling style was frequently utilized for blue-aligned spells to visually convey the abstract nature of magical energy being shifted. While core sets like Sixth Edition were designed to standardize rules and provide an accessible entry point for new players, Deflection remained a notable inclusion for its utility in competitive play, where the ability to turn an opponent's resources against them has always been a highly regarded tactic.