Gridlock
Instant
Tap X target nonland permanents.
- CMC
- 1
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Gatecrash
- Price
- $0.14
- EDHREC rank
- #15165
Gridlock taps any number of target creatures for a single blue mana, making it one of the most mana-efficient mass-tap effects in the game. The catch is a hefty additional cost per target — which is exactly why Hinata, Dawn-Crowned cuts that cost to nothing and turns Gridlock into a one-mana board freeze.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Hinata, Dawn-Crowned
Hinata, Dawn-Crowned reduces the additional cost for each target to zero, so Gridlock taps your opponent's entire board for a single blue mana — the interaction is the reason the card sees 31% inclusion in Hinata lists.
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 |
Gridlock is legal in Commander, Legacy, Modern, Pioneer, Vintage, and Oathbreaker, but its competitive ceiling outside Commander is low — paying one mana per creature is unacceptable in formats where a single threat wins on the spot. In Commander, the math flips: one blue mana to freeze three or four blockers before a swing, or to strand a threatening board before your combo turn, is a genuine deal. The card is essentially a Hinata, Dawn-Crowned staple wearing budget clothing everywhere else.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.14 bulk tier
At $0.14, Gridlock is deep bulk — pick up as many as you need without a second thought. Bulk status is stable here; outside of Hinata lists there's no pressure driving the price up.
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Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.