Griptide
Instant
Put target creature on top of its owner's library.
- CMC
- 4
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Dark Ascension
- Price
- $0.13
- EDHREC rank
- #23583
Griptide puts a creature on top of its owner's library — a clean tempo play that removes a threat and costs them a draw step. Four mana for sorcery-speed bounce is too slow for most competitive contexts, but in Pauper or casual Commander it clears a blocker and punishes opponents who just tutored.
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 | legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Griptide is a budget option for decks that want to recur instants and sorceries — Talrand, Sky Summoner or Mizzix of the Izmagnus shells — but four mana at sorcery speed is a real cost when you're facing three opponents. Pauper is where Griptide earns its keep: bounce is strong in that format and putting the creature on top denies a draw, which compounds over a game. In Legacy, Modern, and Pioneer it's simply outclassed — Brazen Borrower and Resculpt do the job faster and with more upside. Vintage has no reason to register it. Stick to Pauper as the primary home.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.13 bulk tier
At $0.13, Griptide is pure bulk — you'll find copies in any common bin without thinking twice. The price won't move; demand is narrow enough that it stays a throw-in rather than a spec.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.