Mortify
Instant
Destroy target creature or enchantment.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- BW
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Phyrexia: All Will Be One Commander
- Price
- $0.37
- EDHREC rank
- #545
Mortify answers creatures and enchantments on the same card for three mana — that flexibility is the entire case for running it. The cost is real: three mana at instant speed is a step behind Anguished Unmaking and a step above doing nothing, but commanders like Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness that want cheap, reliable removal in Orzhov colors keep it in steady rotation.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness
Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness cares about draining opponents whenever a nontoken permanent they control dies, so Mortify pulling double duty on creatures and enchantments means more triggers per removal spell — efficiency lines up cleanly with the engine.
Astarion, the Decadent
Astarion, the Decadent rewards stacking spells that interact on multiple axes, and Mortify's ability to tag enchantment-based threats that dodge conventional creature removal makes it a reliable slot in lists that can't afford dead cards.
Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit // Sam, Loyal Attendant
Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit // Sam, Loyal Attendant decks run in Orzhov or four-color shells that lean on efficient, unconditional answers, and Mortify earns its spot by handling the enchantments — pacifisms, curses, sagas — that would otherwise stall Frodo's damage plan.
Ezio Auditore da Firenze
Ezio Auditore da Firenze punishes opponents for having creatures with power three or greater, but enchantment-based protection pieces can neutralize that plan entirely; Mortify cleans those up while doubling as creature removal when needed.
Inquisitor Greyfax
Inquisitor Greyfax decks are Orzhov-adjacent vigilance-matters builds that want clean interactive pieces, and Mortify covers the enchantment slot most removal suites in that color pair otherwise leave open.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Mortify sits comfortably in any Orzhov or multicolor deck that doesn't have access to better three-mana removal — it's not the first choice but it's never embarrassing, and enchantment removal attached to a kill spell pulls real weight in a format full of Rhystic Study and Smothering Tithe. In competitive Commander, it gets cut for Anguished Unmaking or Generous Gift because unconditional is worth the life or the token. In Pioneer and Modern, Mortify is mostly outclassed by cheaper targeted removal, though sideboard applications against enchantment-heavy strategies exist at the budget level. Legacy and Vintage give it no real home — the format speed makes three mana a hard ask. Standard legality means it sees play in limited formats and budget constructed lists where the two-for-one potential on permanents justifies the slot.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.37 bulk tier
At $0.37, Mortify is bulk — pick up as many copies as you need without a second thought. It's been reprinted often enough that the price is unlikely to spike, making it a reliable budget staple for new Orzhov builders.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness
- Astarion, the Decadent
- Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit // Sam, Loyal Attendant
- Ezio Auditore da Firenze
- Inquisitor Greyfax
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.