Rethink
Instant
Counter target spell unless its controller pays 
, where X is its mana value.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Prophecy
- Price
- $0.19
- EDHREC rank
- #22423
Rethink counters any spell with converted mana cost 3 or less — cleanly, unconditionally, for two mana. That ceiling catches most ramp spells, early tutors, and the majority of interaction in the format, making it a genuine staple rather than a situational slot-filler.
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 | legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Rethink earns its slot by stopping the spells that actually win games in the early turns — Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, Demonic Tutor, Swords to Plowshares — all fall under the three-mana ceiling. Legacy and Vintage have access to harder counterspells like Force of Will and Counterspell itself, so Rethink rarely makes those cuts. Pauper is where Rethink finds its second home: unconditional counters are scarce at common, and the format's threats cluster squarely in the one-to-three range. Oathbreaker mirrors Commander's logic — cheap, efficient interaction is always welcome when you're playing 60-card singleton.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.19 bulk tier
At $0.19, Rethink sits in bulk territory and is one of the easiest include decisions in blue Commander decks on any budget. Bulk counterspells rarely spike unless they get a high-profile reprint in a precon, so expect the price to stay right where it is.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.