Strangle
Sorcery
Strangle deals 3 damage to target creature or planeswalker.
- CMC
- 1
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- R
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Streets of New Capenna
- Price
- $0.20
- EDHREC rank
- #13804
Strangle kills a creature with three or less power for one red mana — clean, instant-speed, and no setup required. Outside of Imodane, the Pyrohammer shells where that single damage ping copies across your whole board, this is a budget-tier role-player with a real power ceiling.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy

Imodane, the Pyrohammer
Imodane, the Pyrohammer copies single-target damage spells to every opponent, so Strangle's one damage becomes a three-player sweeper trigger while still handling the creature — that's two effects for one mana, which is exactly why it shows up in 21% of Imodane lists.
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, Strangle earns its slot in Imodane, the Pyrohammer decks specifically; everywhere else, one-mana removal that misses large creatures is too conditional against 40-life tables full of haymakers. In Pauper it's a legitimate consideration — the format runs low to the ground and one mana at instant speed trades efficiently with most threats. Modern and Pioneer have enough efficient competition that Strangle rarely makes the cut outside of budget builds or very specific aggro sideboards. Legacy and Vintage don't want it; the creatures worth killing there ignore the power restriction entirely.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.20 bulk tier
At $0.20, Strangle is pure bulk — easy to pick up as a playset without thinking twice. Bulk commons this narrow don't move much in either direction, so treat it as a cheap slot-filler rather than anything to acquire speculatively.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.