Malfunction
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant artifact or creature
When this Aura enters, tap enchanted permanent.
Enchanted permanent doesn't untap during its controller's untap step.
- CMC
- 4
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Kaladesh
- Price
- $0.15
- EDHREC rank
- #25748
Malfunction taps a creature or artifact and keeps it locked down as long as the enchantment sticks — permanent pseudo-removal for four mana. It's a serviceable answer in formats where cheap alternatives don't exist, but in any powered environment it's outclassed by hard removal that doesn't fold to an enchantment wipe.
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, Malfunction competes against Arrest, Imprisoned in the Moon, and Darksteel Mutation — all of which either do more or cost less, so it rarely makes the cut in 100-card lists. Pauper is its best home: the common card pool thins out the competition, and locking a key artifact or blocker for four mana is a real tempo play in that format. In Legacy, Modern, and Pioneer the card is technically legal but irrelevant — those formats move too fast for a four-mana aura that leaves the permanent on the board.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.15 bulk tier
At $0.15, Malfunction is bulk — you're paying for cardboard and shipping, not the card itself. Bulk commons rarely appreciate, so grab it if you need it and don't think twice about the price.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.