Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker
Legendary Creature — Bird Monk
Flying
Whenever an opponent casts a spell, put a +1/+1 counter on Ishai.
Partner (You can have two commanders if both have partner.)
- CMC
- 4
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- UW
- Rarity
- mythic
- Set
- Commander Legends
- Price
- —
- EDHREC rank
- #4588
Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker enters as a 1/3 flier and grows a counter for every spell any opponent casts — in a four-player pod, that snowballs into a genuine threat within two or three turns without you spending a single card. The cost is a two-color identity that locks you into a partner, and the best pairings lean into that growth hard; Dargo, the Shipwrecker and Kastral, the Windcrested both show up for exactly that reason.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Kastral, the Windcrested
Kastral, the Windcrested pairs with Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker as the premier flying-tribal partner shell — Kastral rewards you for attacking with the biggest flier, and Ishai's passive counter accumulation means it regularly qualifies as your largest creature without any additional investment.
Choco, Seeker of Paradise
Choco, Seeker of Paradise slots Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker in as a reliable, self-growing threat that demands an answer, freeing Choco to pursue its own engine without needing to devote slots to win conditions.
The Archimandrite
The Archimandrite's Advisor-tribal shell reaches for Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker as a flying beater that swells on its own, adding aerial pressure to a strategy that otherwise operates primarily on the ground.
Kangee, Sky Warden
Kangee, Sky Warden is a Bird-tribal flier commander, and Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker fits the evasive, counter-growing role that Kangee wants to reward — attack triggers and anthem effects apply equally to a Dragon that quietly becomes a 6/8 by mid-game.
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 |
Commander is where Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker lives — the passive trigger scales directly with the number of opponents, and a four-player game is essentially free fuel for its growth. Outside Commander, it's legal in Legacy and Vintage but sees no meaningful play there; a 1/3 flier that grows slowly off opponent casts can't compete in formats where games end before it becomes relevant. Oathbreaker is a reasonable fringe home where the two-player constraint limits the trigger rate, but the floor of a 1/3 flier with flying is still functional.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Dargo, the ShipwreckerIshai, Ojutai DragonspeakerCayth, Famed MechanistAgatha's Soul CauldronReckless Barbarian
Infinite LTB; Infinite ETB; Infinite sacrifice triggers; Infinite death triggers; Infinite storm count; Infinite red mana; Infinite commander casts
View on Commander Spellbook ↗
Dargo, the ShipwreckerIshai, Ojutai DragonspeakerCayth, Famed MechanistAgatha's Soul CauldronCatalyst Elemental
Infinite LTB; Infinite ETB; Infinite sacrifice triggers; Infinite death triggers; Infinite storm count; Infinite red mana; Infinite commander casts
View on Commander Spellbook ↗Price Context
Current price
unknown tier
Current price data for Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker isn't available in this context, so check Scryfall or TCGPlayer for the live market rate. As a partner commander with consistent Commander demand and no reprint saturation concerns flagged, it's generally an accessible pickup — partner legendaries at this popularity tier tend to sit in the $1–$4 range, but verify before buying.
Explore
Sources
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.