Unexpected Request
Sorcery
Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn. You may attach an Equipment you control to that creature. If you do, unattach it at the beginning of the next end step.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- R
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Final Fantasy
- Price
- $0.13
- EDHREC rank
- #13130
Unexpected Request replaces itself and puts an extra card in hand — two cards for three mana — at the cost of giving each opponent a Treasure token. In Zidane, Tantalus Thief builds, that downside flips into upside the moment you steal those Treasures back.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Zidane, Tantalus Thief
Zidane, Tantalus Thief turns the Treasure tokens Unexpected Request hands out into free fuel — opponents crack them, Zidane steals the mana, and the card disadvantage you 'paid' evaporates.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Unexpected Request is a Commander card through and through — the Treasure-for-each-opponent clause is either a real cost in a two-player game or a minor annoyance spread thin across a four-person table. In competitive Commander it's too slow at three mana for a cantrip effect, but in casual pods the net card gain is clean enough to earn a slot. Constructed formats like Modern and Pioneer have access to strictly better card draw at the same cost, so it won't see play there. Legacy and Vintage ignore it entirely.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.13 bulk tier
At $0.13, Unexpected Request is deep bulk — grab a copy out of any common box without a second thought. Bulk cantrips rarely spike unless they hit a competitive format, and this one is Commander-only, so expect the price to stay flat.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.