Strix Serenade
Instant
Counter target artifact, creature, or planeswalker spell. Its controller creates a 2/2 blue Bird creature token with flying.
- CMC
- 1
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Modern Horizons 3 Promos
- Price
- —
- EDHREC rank
- #940
Strix Serenade counters a spell and puts a 1/1 flier into play for three mana — that's a two-for-one at instant speed, which is exactly the kind of card Katara, Waterbending Master wants to chain together. It won't win a counterspell war against Force of Will, but in Commander it trades up in card advantage every time it resolves.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Katara, Waterbending Master
Katara, Waterbending Master rewards casting spells on opponents' turns, and Strix Serenade delivers a counterspell plus a flying body in one shot — both halves advance her game plan simultaneously.
Talion, the Kindly Lord
Talion, the Kindly Lord wants interactive spells that also pressure the board, and Strix Serenade fits cleanly: the Strix token adds to the flying-creature count while the counter keeps opponents off their best threats.
Kastral, the Windcrested
Kastral, the Windcrested cares about flying creatures entering the battlefield, so Strix Serenade is pulling double duty — disrupting opponents while fueling Kastral's triggers at instant speed.
Baral, Chief of Compliance
Baral, Chief of Compliance discounts Strix Serenade by one and replaces it on resolution, meaning you're countering a spell, making a flier, and drawing a card for two mana.
Choco, Seeker of Paradise
Choco, Seeker of Paradise benefits from token production, and Strix Serenade slots in as a counterspell that also adds to the board without requiring any extra setup.
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, Strix Serenade earns its slot in blue decks that want interaction without falling behind on board presence — three mana at instant speed is the sweet spot where counterspells stay playable and the free token is pure upside. In Legacy and Vintage, three mana is too slow for a permission suite that runs on one and two, so Strix Serenade doesn't compete there. Modern is legal but similarly uninterested in this rate when cheaper counters dominate. Oathbreaker mirrors the Commander dynamic closely enough that the same token-plus-counter logic applies.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
unknown tier
Pricing data for Strix Serenade isn't available yet, which typically means it's a recent release still finding its market level. Check Scryfall or TCGPlayer for current listings before picking up copies.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Katara, Waterbending Master
- Talion, the Kindly Lord
- Kastral, the Windcrested
- Baral, Chief of Compliance
- Choco, Seeker of Paradise
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.