The Unspeakable
Legendary Creature — Spirit
Flying, trample
Whenever The Unspeakable deals combat damage to a player, you may return target Arcane card from your graveyard to your hand.
- CMC
- 9
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might
- Price
- $0.24
- EDHREC rank
- #19519
The Unspeakable is a 7/7 flying, trample, protection from instants that puts itself back in your hand whenever it deals combat damage to a player — a recursive threat that's nearly impossible to answer at instant speed. Nine mana is a steep ask, but the payoff is a clock that resets itself every swing.
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, The Unspeakable is a niche but functional finisher in blue decks that either cheat on mana costs or run enough ramp to hit nine legitimately. Legacy and Vintage both have access to it, but nine mana with no immediate board impact on resolution makes it unplayable in those formats — Emrakul, the Aeons Torn exists and costs less to cheat out. Modern technically allows it, but the same logic applies: the format is too fast and too efficient for a nine-mana creature that doesn't win on the spot. Commander is the only format where The Unspeakable is doing real work, specifically in blue spell-slinger or cost-reduction shells where protection from instants becomes a meaningful defensive ceiling.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.24 bulk tier
At $0.24, The Unspeakable is deep bulk — the price reflects its narrow application and low demand across competitive formats. It's stable at that floor, but don't expect movement unless a new Commander printing creates a critical-mass home for it.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.