Cryptic Command

Mana cost

Mana value4TypeInstant Color identity

Blue RarityRare SetStar Trek Commander (TRC) ArtistRandy Gallegos Price€4.37 · $3.56

About this card

Cryptic Command is an instant card in Magic: The Gathering with mana value 4 (color identity: blue). First printed in Lorwyn (2007); 13 paper printings in total. Role in Commander: card draw, removal and counterspell. It is one of the 5,000 most played cards in Commander (EDHREC rank 1,598). Legal in Commander, Modern, Legacy and Vintage. Cheapest printing: €4.37 (The List); most expensive: €5.81 (The List).

Cryptic Command

Instant

Choose two —
• Counter target spell.
• Return target permanent to its owner's hand.
• Tap all creatures your opponents control.
• Draw a card.

Name in each language

FrançaisCommandement cryptiqueEnglishCryptic CommandEspañolDictado crípticoDeutschKryptischer BefehlItalianoOrdine CripticoPortuguêsComando Críptico日本語謎めいた命令

Legality

CommanderLegalStandardNot legalPioneerNot legalModernLegalLegacyLegalVintageLegalPauperNot legalBrawlLegalOathbreakerLegalHistoricLegalTimelessLegalPenny DreadfulNot legal

Rulings

2017-11-17
You choose both modes as you cast Cryptic Command. You must choose two different modes.

2017-11-17
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.