Spell Shrivel
Instant
Devoid (This card has no color.)
Counter target spell unless its controller pays 
. If that spell is countered this way, exile it instead of putting it into its owner's graveyard.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Battle for Zendikar
- Price
- $0.23
- EDHREC rank
- #15778
Spell Shrivel counters a spell and exiles it, stripping the graveyard recursion angle before it starts — but four mana is a steep ask for a counterspell in any format where efficiency matters. It's a budget role-player in casual Commander and essentially unplayable anywhere the bar is higher.
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 |
In Commander, Spell Shrivel occupies the low end of playable counterspells — the exile clause has real upside against Meren of Clan Nel Toth or Karador, Ghost Chieftain style graveyard decks, but four mana means you're often choosing between countering a threat and playing your own. In Pauper, common-legal counterspells are competitive, and Spell Shrivel doesn't clear the bar when Counterspell itself is legal in the format. Legacy and Vintage have no interest — the opportunity cost of tapping four mana in those formats is prohibitive. Modern and Pioneer offer better exile-counter options at lower costs, so Spell Shrivel never sees play there either.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.23 bulk tier
At $0.23, Spell Shrivel is firmly bulk — cheap enough to throw into a casual Commander deck without a second thought. Don't expect the price to move; it has no competitive demand anchoring it above bulk bin territory.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.