Illusionist's Gambit
Instant
Cast this spell only during the declare blockers step on an opponent's turn.
Remove all attacking creatures from combat and untap them. After this phase, there is an additional combat phase. Each of those creatures attacks that combat if able. They can't attack you or planeswalkers you control that combat.
- CMC
- 4
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Bloomburrow Commander
- Price
- $0.35
- EDHREC rank
- #3743
Illusionist's Gambit resets a combat mid-swing, forcing all attacking creatures to redirect at a different opponent — effectively stealing an alpha strike and turning it into someone else's problem. Four mana at instant speed is the real cost, and in most pods that's a fine price to neutralize a lethal attack; Tegwyll, Duke of Splendor builds that run lots of evasive fliers get extra mileage by triggering death-matters effects when the redirected attackers run into blockers.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Tegwyll, Duke of Splendor
Tegwyll, Duke of Splendor wants creatures to die, and Illusionist's Gambit forces an entire attacking board into potential blocks — converting an opponent's alpha strike into a Faerie funeral that pings every opponent and draws cards.
Ms. Bumbleflower
Ms. Bumbleflower thrives on chaotic, multiplayer politics, and Illusionist's Gambit is exactly the kind of group-hug-with-teeth card that forces a new attack declaration while keeping the caster's hands visibly clean.
Firkraag, Cunning Instigator
Firkraag, Cunning Instigator's entire game plan revolves around goading creatures into attacking opponents other than you, and Illusionist's Gambit does the same thing at instant speed — doubling up on the redirect plan mid-combat when goad alone isn't enough.
Alela, Cunning Conqueror
Alela, Cunning Conqueror creates Faerie tokens whenever opponents attack you, so Illusionist's Gambit redirecting an attack to a different opponent both protects Alela and denies the free token generation opponents might otherwise set up intentionally to feed her.
Sygg, River Cutthroat
Sygg, River Cutthroat draws cards whenever any opponent loses three or more life in a turn, and Illusionist's Gambit reliably orchestrates exactly that by redirecting a sizable attack into an unsuspecting player's life total.
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 |
Illusionist's Gambit is a Commander-only card in practice — its effect is built entirely around the multiplayer dynamic of choosing a new target opponent, which collapses to near-uselessness in a two-player game. It's technically legal in Legacy and Vintage, but no competitive shell there wants a four-mana do-nothing in a heads-up game. Oathbreaker is the one other format where the card functions as intended, since pods run the same multiplayer structure. Treat Illusionist's Gambit as a Commander card that happens to have a few extra legality checkmarks.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.35 bulk tier
At $0.35, Illusionist's Gambit sits firmly in bulk territory — easy to pick up in any trade binder or cheap online order without a second thought. The price reflects its narrow multiplayer-only utility; it's not going up, but you're not risking anything by grabbing a copy for a politics-oriented build.
Explore
Sources
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.