Rite of the Serpent
Sorcery
Destroy target creature. If that creature had a +1/+1 counter on it, create a 1/1 green Snake creature token.
- CMC
- 6
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- B
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Khans of Tarkir
- Price
- $0.06
- EDHREC rank
- #28974
Rite of the Serpent destroys target creature and leaves a 1/1 Snake token behind — unconditional removal stapled to a body. Six mana is too much for that package in any competitive context, and cheaper removal with better upside exists at every rarity.
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 |
Rite of the Serpent is pauper-legal, and that's the only format where it's worth a second glance — removal options are narrower at common, and the Snake token has marginal utility in token-adjacent lists. In Commander, six mana for a single-target removal spell is a significant overpayment; Doom Blade, Go for the Throat, and a dozen other commons do the same job for a fraction of the cost. Across Legacy, Modern, Pioneer, and Vintage, Rite of the Serpent is strictly unplayable — those formats demand interaction that costs one or two mana, not six.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.06 bulk tier
At $0.06, Rite of the Serpent is deep bulk — the price reflects its limited demand across every format. Don't expect that to move; cards this outclassed on rate don't recover value.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.