Unsummon
Instant
Return target creature to its owner's hand.
- CMC
- 1
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Rivals Quick Start Set
- Price
- —
- EDHREC rank
- #2978
Unsummon trades a single blue mana for tempo — one creature off the board, right now, at instant speed. It's a floor-level rate that earns its slot only in decks that specifically want to recast spells or chain instants, and Zethi, Arcane Blademaster is the clearest example of a commander that turns this commons-bin card into a repeatable engine piece.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Zethi, Arcane Blademaster
Zethi, Arcane Blademaster imprints instants and recasts them for free every combat, so Unsummon becomes a zero-resource tempo spell on a loop — bounce a blocker, swing, repeat. That engine is exactly why a third of Zethi decks run it.
Talrand, Sky Summoner
Every instant or sorcery with Talrand, Sky Summoner in the command zone makes a 2/2 Drake, so Unsummon is a one-mana token factory stapled to a bounce effect. Cheap instants are the whole game plan, and Unsummon is about as cheap as it gets.
Jon Irenicus, Shattered One
Jon Irenicus, Shattered One donates creatures to opponents and wants them back — Unsummon is the cleanest way to reclaim a gifted creature and set up the next donation. It also doubles as interaction against opposing threats when the board demands it.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Unsummon is a role-player, not a staple — it belongs in decks that specifically reward casting instants cheaply, not as generic interaction. In Pauper it sees more serious consideration, where tempo is a real axis and one-mana bounce can buy crucial turns. Across constructed formats like Pioneer and Modern, Unsummon is outclassed by options that replace themselves or permanently answer threats, so it rarely sees competitive play. Legacy and Vintage have access to Brainstorm and Force of Will, which makes a vanilla bounce spell redundant almost everywhere. Standard legality keeps Unsummon on the table for brewers, but the same ceiling applies: it needs a deck built around casting it, not just running it.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
unknown tier
Unsummon has been reprinted so many times that copies are effectively bulk — expect to find it in a common pile for pennies or less. There is no meaningful price floor to worry about; if you need a copy, it's the kind of card you pick up in a trade binder freebie stack.
Explore
Sources
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.