Ertai's Trickery
Instant
Counter target spell if it was kicked.
- CMC
- 1
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Planeshift
- Price
- $0.15
- EDHREC rank
- #30473
Ertai's Trickery counters a spell only if its controller has cast no other spells that turn — a restriction so narrow it whiffs against any proactive gameplan. One mana is the right price for a hard counter; the problem is this one rarely functions as a hard counter.
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 Trickery occupies the bottom tier of counterspells: the one-mana slot is contested by Dispel, Spell Pierce, and Swan Song, all of which hit more targets more reliably. The condition reads generously until you realize every combo turn, every burst-draw chain, and every storming player has already cast something — exactly when you need interaction most. Legacy and Vintage have the card pools to build narrow permission suites, but Ertai's Trickery doesn't make those cuts either, since Force of Will and Daze do the same job without the rider. Leave it on the bulk pile.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.15 bulk tier
At $0.15, Ertai's Trickery is pure bulk — the price reflects the play rate, and there's no reason to expect it to move. It's a safe throw-in for trade binders but not a card worth tracking down.
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Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.