Deadly Complication
Sorcery
Choose one or both —
• Destroy target creature.
• Put a +1/+1 counter on target suspected creature you control. You may have it become no longer suspected.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- BR
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Murders at Karlov Manor
- Price
- $0.09
- EDHREC rank
- #24268
Deadly Complication hits a permanent for two life and draws you a card — at instant speed, for three mana — which is a reasonable rate for black removal that replaces itself. The clue token upside is marginal, but the baseline is solid enough that this earns a slot in most black Commander lists that want flexible, card-neutral spot removal.
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, Deadly Complication is a reliable role-player — instant-speed removal that draws a card is the baseline ask for any black 99, and this clears that bar cleanly. In Legacy and Vintage, it doesn't compete with the format's premium black interaction; Fatal Push and Snuff Out exist, and three mana at instant speed for a single removal effect is too slow when the format's threats cost one. Modern and Pioneer have similar issues: the format speed means three-mana removal needs to do more than touch a single nonland permanent, so Deadly Complication stays on the shelf there in favor of efficient one- and two-drops. Standard is where it sees its most competitive fringe play, since the card pool is shallower and the clue token can matter in slower, grindier matchups.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.09 bulk tier
At $0.09, Deadly Complication is deep bulk — pick it up in any trade binder without a second thought. Bulk removal that replaces itself rarely spikes unless it finds a broken shell, and nothing about this card's rate suggests that trajectory.
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Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.