Thoughtbind
Instant
Counter target spell with mana value 4 or less.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Champions of Kamigawa
- Price
- $0.06
- EDHREC rank
- #28635
Thoughtbind counters any spell with converted mana cost 3 or less for a single blue mana — efficient, but hard-capped at three means it blanks against the threats that matter most in Commander. It's a role-player in formats where the curve stays low, and a liability everywhere else.
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 | legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Thoughtbind is at its best in Pauper, where the format's commons-only card pool keeps mana costs low and a one-mana counter pulling real weight. In Legacy and Vintage, the same logic applies to storm pieces and cheap combo enablers, though better options exist at that power level. Commander is where Thoughtbind struggles hardest — the average spell cost climbs fast, and a counterspell that can't touch a five-mana planeswalker or a six-mana threat is a dead card in hand at the worst moment. Oathbreaker's tighter curves make it marginally more viable, but still not a first pick.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.06 bulk tier
At $0.06, Thoughtbind is deep bulk — you're paying for cardboard and shipping, not the card itself. That price is stable because demand is low; there's no competitive context pushing copies off shelves.
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Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.