Magical Hack
Instant
Change the text of target spell or permanent by replacing all instances of one basic land type with another. (For example, you may change "swampwalk" to "plainswalk." This effect lasts indefinitely.)
- CMC
- 1
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Fifth Edition
- Price
- $4.09
- EDHREC rank
- #21865
Magical Hack changes a basic land type or the word 'swamp,' 'forest,' 'mountain,' 'island,' or 'plains' in any target spell or ability for a single blue mana. The effect is real in the right corner cases — blanking a Choke, redirecting a Boil, or retargeting a Tithe — but those corners are narrow enough that Magical Hack sits in near-unplayable territory for most decks.
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 |
Magical Hack is legal in Commander, Legacy, Vintage, and Oathbreaker, but 'legal' and 'worth running' are different sentences. In Legacy and Vintage, it has the most credible case — Choke and Boil see real sideboard play, and a one-mana instant that neutralizes them mid-resolution is at least arguable. In Commander, the effect is too narrow and too reactive: you're running a card that does nothing unless an opponent happens to resolve a land-type-matters effect at the right moment. Oathbreaker shares Commander's problem. Magical Hack is a corner-case answer to corner-case threats, which makes it a 15th sideboard card in eternal formats and a near-miss in the 99.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$4.09 cheap tier
At $4.09, Magical Hack is priced entirely on scarcity — it's an old card with limited printings, not a staple with steady demand. The price reflects collector interest more than play demand, so don't expect it to anchor a trade or hold value against a reprint.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.