Detonate
Sorcery
Destroy target artifact with mana value X. It can't be regenerated. Detonate deals X damage to that artifact's controller.
- CMC
- 1
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- R
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Pro Tour Collector Set
- Price
- $0.50
- EDHREC rank
- #22400
Detonate destroys any artifact and deals damage to its controller equal to that artifact's mana value — one mana, two effects. It's narrow but efficient, and in a format stuffed with Sol Rings and Mana Vaults, that narrowness rarely matters.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Detonate punches above its weight — artifacts are everywhere, and pinging an opponent for four when you blow up their Gilded Lotus is a genuine two-for-one at instant speed for a single red mana. In Legacy and Vintage, faster formats with more zero-cost artifacts, Detonate is fringe-playable as a niche answer but gets outclassed by Smash to Smithereens and By Force in most sideboards. Modern follows the same logic: the card is legal but rarely seen, since red has better artifact hate at similar price points. Oathbreaker mirrors the Commander context closely enough that the same case applies.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.50 bulk tier
At $0.50, Detonate sits at the high end of bulk — playable enough to have a floor, obscure enough that it never gets expensive. It's a stable pickup at this price; don't expect movement in either direction.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.