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Commandeer

{5}{U}{U}

Instant

OTPBreaking News#9rare
BorderlessShowcase
Banned in Historic

Off the Rails? Serial Train Robber Strikes Again!

Finishes
Nonfoil · Foil
Border
borderless
Security stamp
oval
Frame
2015
Pull rate
~1 in 37–324
Illustrator
Magnus Jansson
Found in
Outlaws of Thunder Junction Collector Booster Pack · Outlaws of Thunder Junction Play Booster Pack · Outlaws of Thunder Junction Collector Booster Sample Pack
Printings5EDHREC rank#2,015
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
HistoricBanned
TimelessLegal
BrawlLegal
Standard BrawlNot legal
Competitive BrawlLegal
GladiatorLegal

Other

PremodernNot legal
Old SchoolNot legal
Penny DreadfulLegal
Future StandardNot legal
You may exile two blue cards from your hand rather than pay this spell's mana cost. Gain control of target noncreature spell. You may choose new targets for it. (If that spell is an artifact, enchantment, or planeswalker, the permanent enters under your control.)
Plays as:
Cost AlternativeFree SpellTheft
Market · per finishspark updated 24h ago · prices as of 2026-08-29
Nonfoil+12.6%
$3.30
$1.25 low-$1.50 gapTCGplayer
Foil+8.9%
$9.56
$9.43 low$3.43 gapTCGplayer
Cheapest playable copy$3.30· across 5 printings· you're viewing it

Rulings

8 · latest Feb 1, 2007
  • WotCFeb 1, 2007

    If you Commandeer a spell for which buyback has been paid, the card returns to its owner's hand.

  • WotCJul 15, 2006

    After Commandeer resolves, you control the targeted spell. Any instance of "you" in that spell's text now refers to you, "an opponent" refers to one of your opponents, and so on. The change of control happens before new targets are chosen, so any targeting restrictions such as "target opponent" or "target creature you control" are now made in reference to you, not the spell's original controller. You may either change those targets to be legal in reference to you, or, if those are the spell's only targets, the spell doesn't resolve for having illegal targets. When the spell resolves, any illegal targets are unaffected by it and you make all decisions the spell's effect calls for.

  • WotCJul 15, 2006

    If the targeted spell has a triggered ability that copies it (for example, replicate or storm), the copies will be controlled by the player who cast that spell.

  • WotCJul 15, 2006

    If you don't have two cards of the right color in your hand, you can't choose to cast the spell using the alternative cost.

  • WotCJul 15, 2006

    If you gain control of an instant or sorcery spell with Commandeer, it will still be put into its owner's graveyard when it resolves.

  • WotCJul 15, 2006

    You can't exile a card from your hand to pay for itself. At the time you would pay costs, that card is on the stack, not in your hand.

  • WotCJul 15, 2006

    You may change any of the targeted spell's targets. If you change a target, you must choose a legal target for the spell. If you can't, you must leave the target the same (even if that target is now illegal).

  • WotCJul 15, 2006

    You may pay the alternative cost rather than the card's mana cost. Any additional costs are paid as normal.