Izzet Charm
Instant
Choose one —
• Counter target noncreature spell unless its controller pays 
.
• Izzet Charm deals 2 damage to target creature.
• Draw two cards, then discard two cards.
- CMC
- 2
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- RU
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Friday Night Magic 2013
- Price
- —
- EDHREC rank
- #1414
Izzet Charm earns its slot by doing three different jobs — counter a noncreature spell, deal 2 damage to a creature, or loot two cards — on a single modal frame at instant speed for two mana. In Lilah, Undefeated Slickshot builds specifically, it's nearly an auto-include: every mode triggers prowess and copies stack, so you're rarely paying full price for the flexibility.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Lilah, Undefeated Slickshot
Izzet Charm appears in 87% of Lilah, Undefeated Slickshot decks for good reason — Lilah copies the first instant or sorcery you cast each turn, turning a two-mana charm into two counterspells, two loots, or a removal spell plus a free copy at no additional cost.
Riku of Many Paths
Riku of Many Paths rewards running flexible instants and sorceries, and Izzet Charm delivers three different lines from one card slot — the loot mode in particular helps dig to the spells Riku wants to copy next.
Rielle, the Everwise
The loot mode on Izzet Charm is why Rielle, the Everwise builds want it: discarding two cards at instant speed is card selection that simultaneously fuels Rielle's draw replacement and grows her power.
Captain Howler, Sea Scourge
Captain Howler, Sea Scourge cares about instants and sorceries leaving the graveyard and entering exile, making Izzet Charm's modal flexibility valuable as a cheap, low-risk spell to sequence before the payoff turn.
Brallin, Skyshark Rider // Shabraz, the Skyshark
The loot mode on Izzet Charm directly triggers Brallin, Skyshark Rider // Shabraz, the Skyshark — each card discarded pings all opponents and pumps Shabraz, so even a reactive counter-plus-loot line generates meaningful damage.
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, Izzet Charm is a staple role-player in any blue-red deck that values instant-speed flexibility — the loot mode replaces itself, the counterspell handles problematic noncreature permanents before they land, and the damage mode picks off mana dorks and small utility creatures. In older formats like Legacy and Vintage, it sees niche play but rarely displaces more efficient dedicated spells — a deck that needs a hard counter runs a real counter, and a deck that needs card draw runs Brainstorm. Modern is where it has historically had the most relevance outside Commander, fitting into tempo and spellslinger shells that want modal optionality on a budget. In Pauper it's legal and genuinely competitive as a cheap versatile tool in Izzet Faeries or tempo lists where the three-mode spread justifies the single slot.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
unknown tier
Izzet Charm has been reprinted multiple times and is widely available, typically sitting well under a dollar for most printings — budget is not a barrier to picking it up. If you're building blue-red in any format, grab a copy whenever you see one in a bulk bin; there's no reason to pay above bulk rates.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Lilah, Undefeated Slickshot
- Riku of Many Paths
- Rielle, the Everwise
- Captain Howler, Sea Scourge
- Brallin, Skyshark Rider // Shabraz, the Skyshark
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.