Memory Drain
Instant
Counter target spell. Scry 2.
- CMC
- 4
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Theros Beyond Death
- Price
- $0.15
- EDHREC rank
- #16202
Memory Drain counters a spell and mills two cards — a Counterspell that replaces itself in the opponent's graveyard. Four mana is the honest cost of that bonus, and at that price it's a role-player, not a staple.
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, Memory Drain fits mill-adjacent strategies — Phenax, God of Deception or Traumatize-style decks that want every card in the yard to count. Outside that niche, four mana is too much to pay for a counterspell when Counterspell, Arcane Denial, and Mana Drain all exist at lower cost. In Pauper, the common slot is competitive and Memory Drain can't justify four mana when cheaper options dominate. In Legacy, Modern, and Vintage, it simply isn't played — the formats move too fast for a four-mana counter with a minor upside.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.15 bulk tier
At $0.15, Memory Drain is bulk — you're paying for cardboard, not demand. That price is stable because the card sees narrow play; don't expect movement in either direction.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.