Imp's Mischief
Instant
Change the target of target spell with a single target. You lose life equal to that spell's mana value.
- CMC
- 2
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- B
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Commander Masters
- Price
- —
- EDHREC rank
- #691
Imp's Mischief redirects a spell targeting anything to a new target — countering a counterspell, stealing a tutor's fetch, or pointing removal at a better mark — all for two black mana with no blue required. The life-loss rider is real but rarely matters; the effect is worth it, and Toshiro Umezawa can flash it back for free.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Toshiro Umezawa
Toshiro Umezawa's flashback trigger fires whenever a creature dies, and Imp's Mischief is an instant — meaning he rebuys it from the graveyard to redirect removal or counter a counterspell a second time in the same combat.
Rowan, Scion of War
Rowan, Scion of War reduces spell costs based on life lost, so the life payment on Imp's Mischief feeds her discount engine rather than working against it.
Phage the Untouchable
Phage the Untouchable dies on the spot if she enters from anywhere but hand, so Imp's Mischief redirects the Bribery or Zndrsplt's Judgment that would otherwise hand an opponent a free kill-on-sight.
Zenos yae Galvus
Zenos yae Galvus wants combat spells to resolve cleanly, and Imp's Mischief handles the Swords to Plowshares or fog effect that would otherwise stop his engine mid-swing.
Maralen of the Mornsong
Maralen of the Mornsong locks opponents out of drawing cards, so the opponent's only out is often a tutor or targeted removal — Imp's Mischief redirects both, protecting the lock while she's on the board.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Imp's Mischief is legal in Commander, Legacy, Modern, Vintage, and Oathbreaker, but Commander is where it actually sees play. In Legacy and Vintage the countermagic suite is dense enough that paying two mana and life to redirect one spell is rarely efficient compared to Force of Will or Daze; it's a curiosity at best. Modern is theoretically legal but the card sees essentially no play there — the format moves too fast and the effect too narrow. Commander is the natural home: black decks routinely lack access to hard counters, and Imp's Mischief fills that gap by turning an opponent's counterspell into a non-event or redirecting a tutor to fetch nothing useful.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
unknown tier
Pricing data isn't available for Imp's Mischief at the moment, so check Scryfall or your preferred retailer for a current number. It has historically sat in the $3–8 range given its niche but real role in black Commander decks — worth picking up if you see it at the low end.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Toshiro Umezawa
- Rowan, Scion of War
- Phage the Untouchable
- Zenos yae Galvus
- Maralen of the Mornsong
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.