Gitaxian Probe
Sorcery
(
can be paid with either 
or 2 life.)
Look at target player's hand.
Draw a card.
- CMC
- 1
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Magic Online Promos
- Price
- —
- EDHREC rank
- #526
Gitaxian Probe costs nothing — you pay 2 life instead of mana, draw a card, and see your opponent's hand, all at instant speed. In storm and combo shells like Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh // Silas Renn, Seeker Adept, that zero-mana cantrip is a free spell count and a roadmap to whether your win attempt is safe.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | banned |
| modern | banned |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | restricted |
| pauper | banned |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Gitaxian Probe is banned in Legacy, Modern, and Pauper, and restricted to a single copy in Vintage — four separate formats have decided the card is too dangerous to run freely. The offenses are consistent across all four rulings: it replaces itself for free, it collapses hidden information, it inflates storm count at zero cost, and it makes combo goldfish more consistent without requiring any resource investment. Commander lets it through because the 99-card singleton format dilutes consistency naturally, and the four-player threat matrix means perfect hand knowledge of one opponent matters less when three others are at the table.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh // Silas Renn, Seeker Adept
Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh // Silas Renn, Seeker Adept is a zero-mana commander, so Gitaxian Probe fits directly into the free-spell package that powers Doomsday piles and storm lines — it draws into the next piece while confirming the table can't interrupt.
Storm, Force of Nature
Storm, Force of Nature cares about casting as many spells as possible in a single turn, and Gitaxian Probe is a free cantrip that increments the storm count while digging deeper into the combo.
Krark, the Thumbless // Sakashima of a Thousand Faces
Krark, the Thumbless // Sakashima of a Thousand Faces flips coins on every instant and sorcery, so Gitaxian Probe is a free roll — worst case it still replaces itself, best case it bounces and casts again for another trigger.
Ral, Monsoon Mage
Ral, Monsoon Mage rewards casting instants and sorceries to flip into his powerful back half, and Gitaxian Probe is a zero-cost spell that advances that flip condition while confirming whether the combo line is clear.
Geralf, the Fleshwright
Geralf, the Fleshwright creates tokens whenever you cast instants and sorceries, so Gitaxian Probe turns 2 life into a 2/2 Zombie and a fresh card with no mana spent.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
DoomsdayGushGitaxian ProbeLion's Eye DiamondYawgmoth's WillLaboratory Maniac
Win the game
View on Commander Spellbook ↗Price Context
Current price
unknown tier
Pricing data for Gitaxian Probe isn't available in the current feed, so check Scryfall or TCGPlayer directly for the most accurate number. Given its ban history and demand across Vintage, Commander, and Oathbreaker, it has historically carried a meaningful premium over bulk — verify the current market before buying.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Doomsday
- Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh // Silas Renn, Seeker Adept
- Storm, Force of Nature
- Krark, the Thumbless // Sakashima of a Thousand Faces
- Ral, Monsoon Mage
- Geralf, the Fleshwright
- Gush
- Lion's Eye Diamond
- Yawgmoth's Will
- Laboratory Maniac
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.