Ertai's Meddling
Instant
X can't be 0.
Target spell's controller exiles it with X delay counters on it.
At the beginning of each of that player's upkeeps, if that card is exiled, remove a delay counter from it. If the card has no delay counters on it, the player puts it onto the stack as a copy of the original spell.
- CMC
- 1
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- The List
- Price
- $0.57
- EDHREC rank
- #15701
Ertai's Meddling removes a spell from the game for X turns rather than countering it outright — the spell comes back, which means this is disruption on a timer, not a hard answer. Run it when the delay itself wins you the game; skip it when you need the threat gone permanently.
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 |
In Commander, Ertai's Meddling occupies a narrow lane: stalling a combo piece or a critical spell long enough for you to win before it returns is situationally powerful but demands you actually close the game in the window. Legacy and Vintage have access to it but have no reason to run it over hard counters — tempo formats punish spells that leave the threat alive. The card is legal in Oathbreaker, where the faster pace makes the timer more punishing, but the same principle applies: you need a clock to make Ertai's Meddling matter.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.57 bulk tier
At $0.57, Ertai's Meddling is firmly bulk, and that price reflects its narrow play rate accurately. It's unlikely to climb without a breakout combo or ruling that makes the delay mechanic exploitable in a new way.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.