Kari Zev's Expertise
Sorcery
Gain control of target creature or Vehicle until end of turn. Untap it. It gains haste until end of turn.
You may cast a spell with mana value 2 or less from your hand without paying its mana cost.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- R
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Kaladesh Remastered
- Price
- —
- EDHREC rank
- #6790
Kari Zev's Expertise steals any creature or Vehicle for a full turn at instant speed, then lets you cast a free spell costing two or less off the top — the tempo swing is immediate and the value is built in. In Zada, Hedron Grinder lists it hits especially hard, but any red deck that wants to weaponize an opponent's best creature for a turn should be running it.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Zada, Hedron Grinder
Zada, Hedron Grinder copies Kari Zev's Expertise to every creature you control when you target Zada — each token and creature steals a separate permanent, turning one spell into a board-wide heist that can end the game on the spot.
Brion Stoutarm
Brion Stoutarm steals a creature with Kari Zev's Expertise, attacks with it, then flings it at an opponent's face before the end step returns it — you deal the damage and deny the creature all in one line.
Zidane, Tantalus Thief
Zidane, Tantalus Thief wants to attack with creatures it doesn't own, and Kari Zev's Expertise supplies a stolen attacker on demand, triggering theft-matters payoffs without needing a dedicated permanent on board.
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 | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Kari Zev's Expertise is a role-player in red-heavy lists that need either interaction or a combo enabler — the free-spell rider is what elevates it above a simple Act of Treason effect. In Modern and Pioneer, it's too slow and too narrow to see serious play; red aggro wants its three-mana slots doing something more proactive. Legacy and Vintage have better options at every point on the curve, so Kari Zev's Expertise doesn't register there outside of highly specific Zada-style shells. Oathbreaker mirrors Commander in the decks that want it.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
unknown tier
Current pricing data for Kari Zev's Expertise isn't available in this context, so check Scryfall or your preferred retailer for the latest figure. Historically it's been an inexpensive pick-up given its narrow application — if you're building Zada or Brion, it's the kind of card you grab without agonizing over cost.
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Sources
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.