Smother
Instant
Destroy target creature with mana value 3 or less. It can't be regenerated.
- CMC
- 2
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- B
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. Eldrazi
- Price
- $0.19
- EDHREC rank
- #22704
Smother kills any creature with mana value 3 or less for two mana at instant speed — clean, efficient, no conditions to meet on your end. It misses the format's biggest threats in Commander, but as a cheap answer to mana dorks, hatebears, and early combo pieces, it earns its slot.
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 |
In Commander, Smother is a low-cost answer to the creatures that actually disrupt you early — Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, Esper Sentinel, Collector Ouphe — but it blanks against the six-drop finishers your opponents are also casting, which limits how many decks want it over unconditional removal. In Legacy, the format's density of cheap, high-impact creatures makes Smother genuinely competitive; hitting a Delver of Secrets or Dark Confidant for two mana at instant speed is exactly the trade you want. Modern has largely moved past it as Fatal Push does the same job more efficiently with revolt. Vintage is legal but irrelevant — Smother doesn't have a meaningful niche there.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.19 bulk tier
At $0.19, Smother is deep bulk — you're paying cents for a functional removal spell with zero financial risk. It won't appreciate; it's a card you grab out of a dollar box without thinking twice.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.