Divide by Zero
Instant
Return target spell or permanent with mana value 1 or greater to its owner's hand.
Learn. (You may reveal a Lesson card you own from outside the game and put it into your hand, or discard a card to draw a card.)
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- The List
- Price
- $0.09
- EDHREC rank
- #16620
Divide by Zero bounces any spell or nonland permanent and draws you a lesson — three effects for three mana at instant speed. It's a staple in any blue deck that runs the Learn/Lesson package and a solid tempo play even without it.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Divide by Zero earns its slot in spell-slinging and Learn-package builds — the bounce handles a threat at instant speed while the free Lesson tutors whatever answer the board demands. In Modern and Pioneer it saw real play during its Standard run and still shows up in blue tempo shells that want the card selection stapled to a removal effect. Legacy and Vintage have more efficient options at every point on the curve, so Divide by Zero doesn't compete there. Oathbreaker mirrors Commander in that the Lesson draw is genuine card advantage at a format-appropriate cost.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.09 bulk tier
At $0.09, Divide by Zero is deep bulk — pick up as many copies as you need without a second thought. Price is stable at floor; there's no meaningful reprint risk to track and no reason it climbs unless a new Lesson-matters card breaks out.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.