Time Stretch

Time Stretch was released in 2001 as part of the Odyssey expansion for Magic: The Gathering. The set was designed by a team led by Mike Elliott, focusing on a graveyard-centric mechanical theme that marked a significant shift in gameplay complexity. As a high-cost sorcery, the card was conceptualized to provide a late-game momentum swing by granting the player two consecutive turns, reflecting the set's emphasis on powerful, high-mana effects.

The card’s illustration was created by artist Greg Staples, who utilized a dark, atmospheric style to capture the disorientation and temporal manipulation suggested by the spell's effect. Within the game's competitive history, the card was received as a potent, albeit slow, win condition in casual and Commander formats, eventually becoming a hallmark of blue-aligned ramp decks due to its ability to overwhelm opponents through sheer action economy.