Untimely Malfunction
Instant
Choose one —
• Destroy target artifact.
• Change the target of target spell or ability with a single target.
• One or two target creatures can't block this turn.
- CMC
- 2
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- R
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Duskmourn: House of Horror
- Price
- $6.09
- EDHREC rank
- #312
Untimely Malfunction destroys an artifact or creature and leaves a Treasure behind, turning a two-for-one into a mana-neutral play at instant speed. Riku of Many Paths copies it for free, which means one card answers two threats and banks two Treasures — that's the whole argument.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Riku of Many Paths
Riku of Many Paths copies Untimely Malfunction without paying its cost, so a single card kills two artifacts or creatures and produces two Treasures — removal that accelerates your next turn rather than costing it.
Kratos, God of War
Kratos, God of War wants cheap, efficient removal that keeps pace with his aggressive gameplan, and Untimely Malfunction's Treasure softens the mana investment enough to run it alongside heavier interaction without stalling out.
Jaws, Relentless Predator
Jaws, Relentless Predator cares about dealing damage and pushing through threats, and Untimely Malfunction clears blockers at instant speed while the Treasure keeps the mana engine humming on the following turn.
Gornog, the Red Reaper
Gornog, the Red Reaper rewards you for killing creatures, and Untimely Malfunction both removes a blocker and funds the next activation — the Treasure isn't incidental here, it's part of the loop.
Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin
Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin triggers off opponents losing exactly one life, and Untimely Malfunction's three damage hits that threshold cleanly, making it removal that also procs the commander.
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 |
In Commander, Untimely Malfunction earns its slot as instant-speed removal that doesn't cost you a full tempo step — the Treasure means you're only down one mana on the turn you cast it, which matters when you need to leave up interaction. In competitive 60-card formats like Modern and Legacy, three mana is too slow for targeted removal when Fatal Push and Prismatic Ending exist; the Treasure doesn't compensate for the rate gap. Pioneer and Standard are friendlier environments where the flexibility to hit artifacts or creatures at instant speed gives Untimely Malfunction real consideration, especially in midrange shells that want to stay mana-positive. Across every format, the card punches above its mana cost specifically because the Treasure recouped makes it play closer to two mana than three.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Budget Alternatives
Cheaper options that do most of the same work
Generous Gift and Beast Within both answer any permanent for three mana, though neither replaces the Treasure — you're trading the mana recovery for broader targeting. If the goal is purely artifact-or-creature removal at a lower price point, Abrade hits both categories for two mana, though it's limited to three damage and sorcery speed isn't an option.
Price Context
Current price
$6.09 mid tier
At $6.09, Untimely Malfunction sits in the mid tier — reasonable for a modal removal spell with a built-in Treasure, but not a throwaway include. The price reflects genuine Commander demand rather than speculation, so it's stable as long as the card sees consistent play in popular decks like Riku of Many Paths.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Riku of Many Paths
- Kratos, God of War
- Jaws, Relentless Predator
- Gornog, the Red Reaper
- Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.