Magic: The Gathering

Memory Lapse

Seventh Edition 88 • common

Set: Seventh Edition
Collector number: 88
Rarity: Common
Mana cost: 1 generic mana blue mana
Type: Instant
Colors: Blue
Artist: Tristan Elwell
Market price: $0.57

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16other printings of this card

Market

What it's worth

$0.57market price via TCGplayer · Aug 18, 2026$0.57 – $0.64 over the tracked period

Estimate for a typical copy of Memory Lapse; condition, printing, and grading move the real number.

Lore

Why it matters

This instant card serves as a classic tool for disrupting an opponent's strategy by returning a played spell directly to the top of their deck. Its common status makes it an accessible yet highly tactical inclusion for players looking to manipulate the flow of the game through timely interference.

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Card face

What it does

Counter target spell. If that spell is countered this way, put it on top of its owner's library instead of into that player's graveyard.

"Eri phar phesta . . . um, phistor . . . er, phistara . . ."

Formats

Where you can play it

StandardNot legal
PioneerNot legal
ModernNot legal
LegacyLegal
VintageLegal
CommanderLegal
PauperLegal
BrawlLegal
HistoricBanned
TimelessLegal
Penny DreadfulNot legal
OathbreakerLegal

Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. Card text via Scryfall. Not approved or endorsed by Wizards. As of the last catalogue refresh.

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Where to find one

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Provenance

Where it came from

Memory Lapse was first introduced in the Homelands expansion in 1995 as a blue instant that forced an opponent to place a spell back on top of their library. By the time it was included in the Seventh Edition core set in 2001, the card had solidified its reputation as a cornerstone of tempo-oriented blue decks, valued for its ability to delay threats and disrupt an opponent's draw efficiency.

The Seventh Edition printing features artwork by illustrator Tristan Elwell. Moving away from the original gothic stylings of the Homelands set, Elwell’s interpretation emphasizes the surreal, ethereal nature of mind-altering magic through a clean, illustrative approach typical of the turn-of-the-millennium design language for the game. The card remains a staple of common-rarity utility and is frequently discussed by players for its historical impact on deck construction.

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Other printings

Every version of this card

The same card, printed again — different sets, treatments, and prices.

Collectors

Who's collecting this

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About

About Memory Lapse

Memory Lapse is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Seventh Edition 88 • common. Catalog data is sourced from Scryfall. No public cards collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.

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Can I track my own copy of Memory Lapse?

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Where does the Memory Lapse catalog entry come from?

The catalog entry for Memory Lapse is sourced from Scryfall. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.