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Cryptic Command

{1}{U}{U}{U}

Instant

LRWLorwyn#56rare
Finishes
Nonfoil · Foil
Border
black
Frame
2003
Pull rate
about 1 per booster–1 in 2370
Illustrator
Wayne England
Found in
Lorwyn MTGO Redemption Foil · Lorwyn MTGO Redemption · 2 more
Printings12EDHREC rank#1,609
CommanderLegalModernLegalStandardNot legal
Format legality

Constructed

StandardNot legal
PioneerNot legal
ModernLegal
LegacyLegal
VintageLegal
PauperNot legal

Commander

CommanderLegal
Pauper CommanderNot legal
Duel CommanderLegal
PreDHLegal
OathbreakerLegal
Tiny LeadersNot legal

Arena

AlchemyNot legal
HistoricLegal
TimelessLegal
BrawlLegal
Standard BrawlNot legal
Competitive BrawlLegal
GladiatorLegal

Other

PremodernNot legal
Old SchoolNot legal
Penny DreadfulNot legal
Future StandardNot legal
Choose two — • Counter target spell. • Return target permanent to its owner's hand. • Tap all creatures your opponents control. • Draw a card.
Plays as:
CounterspellModal SpellBounce
Market · per finishspark updated 42m ago · prices as of 2026-08-30
Nonfoil+1.4%
$7.24
$5.84 low-$1.66 gapTCGplayer
Foil-12.2%
$34.00
$23.27 low-$6.73 gapTCGplayer
Cheapest playable copy$3.17· across 12 printings· view the cheapest printing ›

Rulings

2 · latest Nov 17, 2017
  • WotCNov 17, 2017

    Look at both chosen modes to determine how many targets Cryptic Command has, if any. If it has at least one target, and all its targets are illegal when it tries to resolve, then it won’t resolve and none of its effects will happen. For example, if you choose the second and fourth modes, and the permanent is an illegal target when Cryptic Command tries to resolve, you won’t draw a card.

  • WotCNov 17, 2017

    You choose both modes as you cast Cryptic Command. You must choose two different modes.