Caught Red-Handed
Instant
This spell can't be countered. (This includes by the ward ability.)
Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn. Suspect it. (It has menace and can't block.)
- CMC
- 5
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- R
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Murders at Karlov Manor
- Price
- $0.07
- EDHREC rank
- #17183
Caught Red-Handed turns an opponent's creature into a liability for them and a resource for you — it steals the creature until end of turn and forces its owner to sacrifice it if it would leave your control. The effect is powerful, but at sorcery speed for three mana it competes with unconditional removal that doesn't require the creature to survive to your attack step.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Caught Red-Handed occupies the steal-and-sacrifice niche where the payoff depends on having a sac outlet in play — without one, you're borrowing a threat for a turn rather than permanently answering it. It earns its slot most cleanly in Prossh, Skyraider of Kher or Korvold, Fae-Cursed King lists that can immediately convert the stolen creature into value. Outside Commander, the sorcery speed limits its ceiling in Modern and Pioneer, where instant-speed interaction is the baseline expectation. Standard is the friendliest competitive home, where the card's unique effect can outpace the tempo loss if the format's threats justify targeting.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.07 bulk tier
At $0.07, Caught Red-Handed is deep bulk — you're not paying for the card, you're paying for the slot it occupies. There's no financial downside to picking up a copy, but don't expect the price to move; effect-specific sorceries at this power level rarely climb without a breakout combo or a reprint that resets attention.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.