Puppeteer
Creature — Human Wizard
, 
: You may tap or untap target creature.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Ninth Edition
- Price
- $0.20
- EDHREC rank
- #15066
Puppeteer hands you control of a tapped creature every turn — the payoff is real, and the three-mana activation cost is the only thing keeping it honest. In the right shell, specifically alongside Merieke Ri Berit, it functions as a repeatable theft engine that never needs you to attack.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Merieke Ri Berit
Merieke Ri Berit already steals creatures by tapping, and Puppeteer gives you a second tap outlet that doubles as a theft trigger — together they let you lock down two threats per turn cycle while Merieke's untap clause clears the board on demand.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Commander is where Puppeteer earns its slot — multiplayer tables are full of powerful creatures worth hijacking, and a repeatable tap-to-steal effect scales with the threat density at the table. In Legacy and Vintage it's legal but irrelevant; three mana and a tap for temporary control of one creature doesn't compete in formats built around broken one-drops and free spells. Oathbreaker is a reasonable home if your signature spell supports a tap-heavy game plan, but Commander remains the format where Puppeteer actually does meaningful work.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.20 bulk tier
At $0.20, Puppeteer is deep bulk — you're picking it out of a dollar box, not tracking prices. There's no financial reason to hesitate; grab it when you need it and don't look back.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Merieke Ri Berit
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.