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Trickbind

Instant

Split second (As long as this spell is on the stack, players can't cast spells or activate abilities that aren't mana abilities.)
Counter target activated or triggered ability. If a permanent's ability is countered this way, activated abilities of that permanent can't be activated this turn. (Mana abilities can't be targeted.)

CMC
2
Mana cost
{1}{U}
Color identity
U
Rarity
rare
Set
Time Spiral
Price
$13.75
EDHREC rank
#6342
Buy on TCGplayer
Trickbind card art
Trickbind stops an activated or triggered ability cold and locks it out for the rest of the game with split second — no responses, no recourse. The classic application is stapling it to Lethal Vapors to create a permanent lock, but even as a one-off ability counter it's the cleanest answer to fetch triggers, planeswalker ultimates, and combo activations that counterspells can't reach.

Format Analysis

Where it lives, where it can’t

FormatVerdict
commander legal
legacy legal
modern legal
pioneer not legal
standard not legal
vintage legal
pauper not legal
oathbreaker legal

Commander is where Trickbind earns its slot — the format is lousy with activated abilities, sacrifice outlets, and infinite combo triggers that traditional counterspells miss entirely. Split second is especially punishing in a four-player game where opponents often wait to respond until others have acted. In Legacy and Vintage, Trickbind is legal but rarely sees play because those formats move faster than a reactive two-mana spell can keep up with. Modern is the same story: powerful but too slow and narrow to displace format staples in most builds.

Key Combos

Combo lines featuring this card

Budget Alternatives

Cheaper options that do most of the same work

Stifle does the same job for less money and hits all the same targets, just without split second — opponents can respond to it, which matters a lot against experienced players who hold priority carefully. Tale's End is a near-peer that also counters legendary spells, and it runs cheaper than Trickbind, making it the first substitute to consider if the price is the issue rather than the effect.

Price Context

Current price

$13.75 mid tier

At $13.75, Trickbind sits in mid-tier pricing for a niche blue instant — you're paying almost entirely for split second, since Stifle does the functional job for a fraction of the cost. Demand is steady but narrow, so the price is stable rather than climbing; it's fair for what it does, but only worth it if your meta regularly punishes slower interaction.

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Sources

Mentioned

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Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.