Lash of Malice
Instant
Target creature gets +2/-2 until end of turn.
- CMC
- 1
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- B
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- The List
- Price
- $0.10
- EDHREC rank
- #23984
Lash of Malice gives a creature +3/-3 until end of turn for a single black mana — that's a meaningful power boost or a removal spell on small creatures, depending on what the board demands. One mana for that flexibility is efficient, and in formats where creature stats matter in combat, it earns its slot.
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, Lash of Malice is a fringe inclusion — black has access to better pump and better removal separately, so the hybrid effect rarely justifies a slot in the 99 unless you're running a dedicated combat-tricks build. Pauper is where Lash of Malice has the most legitimate claim, since the one-mana cost and instant speed play well in aggressive black decks looking to push through damage or kill a small blocker. In Legacy, Modern, and Pioneer, it's outclassed by more efficient options across the board and won't see competitive play. Oathbreaker follows the same logic as Commander — possible in the right aggressive shell, unlikely otherwise.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.10 bulk tier
At $0.10, Lash of Malice is deep bulk — a throw-in card that costs essentially nothing to acquire. That price will hold because demand is low and supply is plentiful; pick it up if the effect fits your build, but don't expect any upward movement.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.