Boltbender
Creature — Goblin Wizard
Disguise 
(You may cast this card face down for 
as a 2/2 creature with ward 
. Turn it face up any time for its disguise cost.)
When this creature is turned face up, you may choose new targets for any number of other spells and/or abilities.
- CMC
- 4
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- R
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Murders at Karlov Manor Commander
- Price
- $0.28
- EDHREC rank
- #9875
Boltbender redirects any single-target instant or sorcery aimed at it to a new target — a four-mana 3/3 that turns removal into a combat trick or a Bolt into a kill shot on their best creature. Kaust, Eyes of the Glade pairs with it directly, and the combination of native flash and redirect ability makes opponents think twice before pointing anything at your board.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Kaust, Eyes of the Glade
Kaust, Eyes of the Glade is the native home for Boltbender — Kaust cares about creatures with flash and abilities that trigger off spells being cast, so Boltbender's redirect ability fits cleanly into the reactive, instant-speed gameplan Kaust wants to run.
Yarus, Roar of the Old Gods
Yarus, Roar of the Old Gods leans on powerful creatures that demand answers, and Boltbender punishes opponents for trying to remove them — redirecting a kill spell back at a blocker or key threat turns each removal attempt into card advantage for the Yarus player.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | not legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Boltbender is legal in Commander, Legacy, Vintage, and Oathbreaker, but its real home is Commander. In a multiplayer game, at least one opponent is likely to cast a single-target spell on any given turn, which means Boltbender is rarely a blank — and the threat of redirection changes how the table plays around your board even when you never activate it. In Legacy and Vintage, four mana for a 3/3 with a conditional ability that requires it to be targeted doesn't compete with the raw efficiency those formats demand. Oathbreaker gives it a narrower shot at relevance in a smaller format, but the same Commander logic applies: more players means more targets.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.28 bulk tier
At $0.28, Boltbender is pure bulk — easy to slot in without a second thought on price. It won't appreciate meaningfully unless a high-profile commander pushes demand, so pick it up for the effect, not the spec.
Explore
Sources
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.